Lovegrove & Cotton Lawyers Bulletin 

It is common practice in the building industry for a Builder and Owner to enter into “Architect Administered” domestic building contracts. Architects practising in Victoria need to be aware of the Domestic Building Contracts Regulations 2017.  In this article, Justin Cotton looks at how the Regulations impact Architect administered building contracts in Victoria.

The penalties for failing to have regard to the probity pillars of the Building Act 1993 have been ratcheted up. This is noteworthy given there are many ways by which building practitioners and property owners can find themselves face-to-face with the penalty provisions of the Building Act 1993. For some of the specifics regarding these penalties, be sure to read this article penned by Kim Lovegrove RML, FAIB.

A sound and reliable way of avoiding disputes for Architects and building practitioners alike is to ensure that key communications are habitually made in writing, rather than being confined to verbal discourse. Many disputes involving Architects and building practitioners arguably can be avoided in circumstances where the “paper trail” is well maintained. Justin Cotton writes on point.