Owner Builders Victoria

Being an owner builder can be a great learning experience, one which some enjoy immensely and others have nothing but stress. If you have the time, the knowledge, good organizational and communication skills, it can be a great hands-on experience. You need to be prepared."

• An owner-builder is a person who constructs or renovates a domestic building on his or her own land, who is not in the business of building.
• Owner-builders must carry out domestic building work in compliance with the Building Act 1993 and Building Regulations. 
• Owner-builders must ensure that they maintain a safe workplace and should have appropriate and public safety insurance policies in place. 
• They should also consider purchasing policies to protect themselves against fire, theft and defective work. When protection work is required for an adjoining property, the owner-builder must also obtain insurance for adjoining property protection during construction, and for twelve months following completion.
• Owner-builders are required to obtain a Certificate of Consent for any domestic building work with a value over $12,000 in order to obtain a building permit.
• A Certificate of Consent is an individual's written approval to act as an owner-builder on their own land in the State of Victoria.
• Owners who intend to apply for a building permit for domestic building work as an owner-builder must provide to the relevant building surveyor a Certificate of Consent issued by the Building Practitioners Board. 
• Obtain a defects report if selling within 6.5 years of completing the work.
• Provide warranty insurance for a future purchaser of the property if selling within 6 years of completing the work.
• Insure the adjoining property against damage when undertaking protection work.
• Owner-builders do not build for a profit (rent or sale).
• Owner-builders must be an owner of the land/property (must have their name on the Certificate of Title).
• Owner-builders must reside and continue to reside, or intend to reside in the property.
• Owner-builders can only obtain a building permit for one home in a three year period.
• Be wary of project cost increases as a result of poor estimating.
• Be wary of rework due to faulty workmanship and/or non-compliance.
• Consider associated costs with variations from the original plans.
• Consider loss by theft or fire on the site.
• Consider site protection costs (security, safety).
• Consider occupational health and safety claims.
• Consider adjoining property owner claims.