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Victorian home owners left with $1.3m disaster after builder walks away
The home owners of a Melbourne property are facing a potential $1.3 million bill after their build was left unfinished and riddled with significant defects, while their builder was convicted and fined $150,000.
The owners of a new build in Melbourne’s inner-west are facing a potential $1.3 million bill to demolish and replace their home after it was left unfinished and riddled with defects.
Point Cook builder Lance Ferris abandoned the Footscray home and walked away with the home owners’ $580,000 after the project blew out to four years, instead of the originally specified two.
Ferris was convicted and fined $150,000 after abandoning the half-finished home and ignoring the building watchdog’s orders to rectify significant issues.
Ferris, who failed to appear in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court, was found guilty on all three charges brought by the Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC).
The court heard that the home owners of the Footscray property signed a major domestic building contract with Ferris to build a two-storey house and garage.
After being dragged out by years, Ferris abandoned the half-finished property, with BPC inspectors later finding 19 building defects at the site, including extensive structural non-compliances,
While Ferris was ordered to fix them within a specified time frame, he never responded to the BPC’s directions despite having multiple opportunities.
A plumbing inspection also uncovered non-compliant work in drainage, refrigeration, mechanical, sanitary, water supply, gasfitting, and roofing.
However, the building watchdog could not issue Ferris with rectification notices as he had not lodged the required plumbing compliance certificates.
Ferris was convicted of carrying out non-compliant building work, failing to cooperate with a direction to fix defective building work, and failing to comply with a direction to provide information to the BPC.
According to an independent report, a complete demolition and replacement would cost $1.3 million, while fixing the defects and completing the remaining work would cost more than $400,000.
In a victim impact statement, one of the home owners described the significant toll the matter had taken on her wellbeing.
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She said that the financial losses and disruption to her life had turned an exciting milestone into a prolonged and distressing ordeal for her and her family.
Magistrate Simon Zebrowski said the matter warranted a high penalty due to the professional obligations expected of a registered builder, and the significant loss suffered by the home owners.
According to BPC commissioner and CEO, Anna Cronin, the BPC was intent on making it clear that illegal and poor building work was not acceptable.
“Home owners who notice red flags when dealing with their builder should engage their building surveyor early and, if problems persist, contact the BPC,” she said.
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