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ARTICLE · 18 FEBRUARY 2015

Beware traps in new home building laws in NSW

Stacks Law Firm
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Anybody buying a newly completed home in NSW or builders doing the construction should be aware of changes to the laws.

AustraliaReal Estate and Construction
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Anybody buying a newly completed home or builders doing the construction should be aware of changes to laws governing building that came into force in January. The laws were brought in by the NSW government to try and fix problems regarding shonky builders, but there are complaints that in fixing one problem the new laws create others.

The Home Building Amendment Act introduces a 12 month prison term for builders who repeatedly perform unlicensed construction work. They also crack down on so-called phoenix companies that repeatedly go broke and resurface under a new trading name. Construction work worth less than $5,000 can now be done without a licence, but specialist work like plumbing and electrical jobs will still need a licence no matter the cost.

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