The Law Handbook 2024

574 Section 6: Houses, communities and the road Where to get help Cladding Safety Victoria Cladding Safety Victoria is a Victorian Government program that works to reduce the risk associated with combustible cladding on residential apartment buildings. Cladding Safety Victoria Tel: 1300 456 542 Email: support@claddingsafety.vic.gov.au Web: www.vic.gov.au/cladding-safety Domestic Building Dispute Resolution Victoria DBDRV commenced operating in 2017. This service replaced the BACV. The DBDRV helps to resolve domestic (residential) building disputes. DBDRV’s services are free. The DBDRV is a heavily engaged service and consumers should anticipate delays in the processing of their dispute. Domestic Building Dispute Resolution Victoria Tel: 1300 557 559 Web: www.dbdrv.vic.gov.au Victorian Building Authority The VBA is a statutory authority that oversees building legislation, regulates building practices, advises government and provides services to industry and consumers. The VBA regulates the Victorian building industry, administers the registration of Victorian building practitioners and monitors their conduct, accredits building products and construction methods and advises government on building policy. The VBA has the power to intervene on a building site and issue directions to a builder to fix or repair work. The VBA can also secure an enforceable undertaking from a builder, which can require a builder to do a specified thing or refrain from doing it, or to pay the owner a sufficient sum to undertake repairs or complete work. An enforceable undertaking may act as an alternative to disciplinary action against the builder. VBA’s website is useful for those contemplating building and renovation work; it provides technical and regulatory advice and practical hints. Victorian Building Authority Goods Shed North, 733 Bourke Street, Docklands Vic 3008 Tel: 1300 815 127 Email: customerservice@vba.vic.gov.au Web: www.vba.vic.gov.au Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal For information on the role of VCAT in resolving domestic building disputes, see ‘Disputes’, above. Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Tel: 1300 018 228 Email: civil@vcat.vic.gov.au Web: www.vcat.vic.gov.au VCAT hears matters at venues throughout metropolitan and regional Victoria; see VCAT’s website for addresses.