Rebilt has often been requested by disgruntled homeowners to rectify substandard and non-compliant works carried out by previous contractors due to on-site failures, and in some cases the contractor was actually found to be unlicensed and/or uninsured.
It is no secret that the grief and damage caused by unlicensed and uninsured contractors in the building industry in NSW has been substantial, however the Security of Payment Act (SOPA) has now closed a loophole that allowed unlicensed and uninsured contractors to claim progress payments.
Upon further investigation of this home, Rebilt found subsidence and compromised foundations partially due to soil erosion and partially due to previous non-compliant works.
Contractors who are unlicensed or uninsured are no longer able to claim progress payments under the SOPA. The change ensures that only contractors who comply with the Home Building Act (HBA) can benefit from the SOPA and this change reinforces the consumer protections that the Home Building Act (HBA) was designed to provide.
Contractors must have a valid contractor license to work on residential or specialist work and must obtain Home Building Compensation Fund (HBCF) Insurance for residential work over $20,000.
Contractors must also maintain a certificate of insurance for any residential work they undertake.
Fretting of foundational brick piers is a condition of masonry decay. It may occur when moisture and salt pass through brickwork weakening the brick and mortar causing destabilisation — in this case piers are crumbling and deteriorating losing their ability to lend structural support.
If a contractor is unlicensed or has failed to obtain the relevant insurance, they are effectively barred from making claims. This amendment provides needed protection against unscrupulous contractors promoting better industry practises and ensuring that homeowners are engaging with responsible contractors.
Rebilt welcomes the initiative for a more ethical building industry and the greater protection for homeowners. Want to know more? We recommend an article by Bartier Perry’s David Creais: https://www.bartier.com.au/insights/articles/loophole-closed-unlicensed-and-uninsured-contractors-excluded
Got A Renovation or Structural Remediation Project? Call Rebilt on 1300 732 458
