How the NSW government is addressing defects in residential buildings

Project Intervene is an initiative by the NSW Government aimed at addressing serious defects in residential apartment buildings to improve construction quality and rebuild trust in the building industry.
Kate Sargent
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Launched in 2022, Project Intervene is managed by the NSW Building Commissioner and provides an alternative to litigation for owners’ corporations to resolve defects with developers or builders.

Key Features:

Eligibility

  • Buildings must have been issued an occupation certificate within the past six years.
  • Developers or builders must still be active.
  • Applies to Class 2 residential apartment buildings with four or more stories.
  • Defects must involve critical elements like waterproofing, fire safety, structural systems, or building enclosures.

Process

  • Owners’ corporations or their strata committees lodge complaints through NSW Fair Trading.
  • The Building Commissioner mediates between owners and developers to agree on rectification measures.
  • If no agreement is reached, enforceable orders can compel developers to address the defects.

Benefits

  • Avoids lengthy and costly court battles.
  • Offers expert oversight to ensure defects are properly resolved.
  • Reduces disruption and expense for affected apartment owners.

As of mid-2023, over 100 owners’ corporations had registered, and dozens of inspections had been completed. The program aims to rebuild confidence in the housing market while ensuring safe, quality homes for NSW residents.

For further details please see link below: 

Project Intervene | NSW Government

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