Tips for Owner Builders in Victoria

Being an owner builder in Victoria has its own set of perks. You can supervise the work on your land for yourself. Expenses over labours are cut off and you can be flexible with your timings. But, like there is always a bad side to something good, being owner builder has its own risk factors that need to be taken care of. Since changes in the state based regulations have been initiated, the job of an owner builder demands a lot of attention. You cannot go easy on important stuff and definitely cannot neglect them.

Given below are tips for owner builders in Victoria. They are as follows:

• Get a permit:

The norms set for getting an owner builder permit vary from state to state. These differences are mainly because of the variations in the market value of your property. It also depends upon factors like the training that you are required to do, whether it is you who shall live here after the work is done or you currently live there and also the number of permits that can be granted to individuals over a period of time. Now, if you are not a registered owner builder, then you need to check over that whether the work you’re about to carry out on that land requires an owner builder permit or not. In Victoria, a permit is mandatory if the expenses of your building work are more than $12,000.

• What to expect?

When you get an owner builder permit, you have a huge responsibility of your project on your shoulders. You function as a fully licensed builder. This also serves as an opportunity for unlicensed builders wherein they ask homeowners to apply for permit as an owner builder. They use their permits to cover their works. You should beware of such builders and regulators warn you about them too. You can also talk to your state based authority if any builder asks you to get a permit.

• Is training helpful?

It certainly is. When you work as an owner builder, you’ll have to take care of a number of things at your workplace. You will have to maintain the health and safety of your labours and the location. You should also generate a white card that indicates that your activity is legal. Training is the best option if you wish to understand and manage all of these efficiently.

Roles and responsibilities of Owner Builders in Victoria

The task of an Owner Builder in Victoria is the one with a number of responsibilities and roles to be played. Right from the initiation of the construction activity till the time it ends, an owner builder is responsible for all the allied activities that go in the construction site. At the same time, he also has to take care of his co – workers. 

Violation of any of these could lead to some serious consequences against the owner builder. Let us discuss in brief the roles and responsibilities of an owner builder in Victoria. 

• The construction activity is not the only work that has to be done. The legal procedures before starting the activity are essential too. It is the owner builder’s responsibility to look into legal matters and fulfil them to avoid trouble and issues in the future. An owner builder should obtain a building permit which clearly shows that he is permissible to construct and build on the land he desires to use. 

• Once the work begins, the owner builder has to make proper arrangements to safeguard the health and safety of his co – workers. He should be answerable to an accident or injury that occurs on the site. He should also make arrangements to treat the injured co – worker by financing him. 

• An owner builder is about to build a house or a building on his land. People or he himself shall stay there. Thus, safety should be at its peak in matters concerning the building of the house or the building. An owner builder should dutifully keep a check on the building materials that are being used. He has to rectify and replace defective or weak building materials. 

• An insurance policy plays a key role in the life of an owner builder, and he simply cannot work without it. He is prone to additional losses during accidents that damage his property if he does not have a hold of an insurance policy. He also has to make sure that all insurance policies and legal documents are in a proper and secured place.

Benefits of Owner Builder Insurances in Australia

As an owner builder, you are responsible for the managing construction or renovation of your home. You will have the pleasure of successfully renovating the home in the way you like. You will also have to face a set of risks and responsibilities. But you can avoid risks by buying a comprehensive owner builder insurance.

As the owner builder in Australia, you are the primary contractor, responsible for appropriate cover. So it is important for you to choose the insurance of construction, which takes care of employees and possible site damages. Select the owner builder insurance in Australia which provides the best protection you need during the construction process. The insurance must be taken before the construction begins.

There are many benefits of owner builder insurance

• Without the site insurance, you may lose the home and may have to pay mortgage too.

• The insurance can prevent you from the effects of many potential liabilities, risks and the exposures when managing building work at the construction site. 

• Prevention includes the damage to on-site accidents, construction materials delivered, as well as the value of the progressive work completed. 

• Insurance companies give proper protection for you in case the workers get injured, killed or die due to any mishaps or the accident on your site. Insurance companies will provide adequate protection and provide the peace of mind, the income protection, and safety, keep you secure, and provide the real benefits.

• Owner Builder Personal Accident and Volunteer Workers provide protection for you and other unpaid workers in case these workers injure themselves and are unable to attend the paid employment. By organizing this type of insurance, you are serving to compensate family, friends and you.

• Construction insurance protects the owner builder during the building process, including theft, fire, damage, water and wind damage.

Building Regulations for Owner Builders in Australia

An owner-builder is one who takes responsibility for home building work carried out on their own land.He obtains building permits, supervises the building work, and makes sure the work meets building regulations and standards.

As an owner builder, you are responsible for:

• Getting relevant permits from your local council

• Getting a Certificate of Consent from the VBA before starthome building works over $16,000

• Ensuring that the work meets building regulations, standards and other laws

• Arranging for building inspections as necessary by law at specific stages of the building work

• Obtaining domestic building insurance if you sell within six years of obtaining the Certificate of Final Inspection or Occupancy Permit

• Ensuring that the financial, taxation and insurance requirements of the building work are met and fully comply with all laws

Owner builders are prescribed by law to meet the same legislative requirements relating to building work as certifiedor licensed builders. These requirements are contained in the Development Act 1993 and Development Regulations 2008

Under the Act, owner builders proposing to undertake building construction must:

• Obtain a Development Approval

• Lodge all copies of certificates of indemnity insurance for building or construction work to be undertaken by a certified building work contractor with the council before commencing that stage of building work.

• Advise the council of the name and contact information of the person who will be supervising the building work and construction.

• Undertake the building work in accordance with the approved documents 

• Submit a signed Statement of Compliance   (Schedule 19A) to the relevant authority on completion of the building work.

Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) is a joint initiative of all levels of Australian Government. The ABCB is responsible for:

• Managing and developing a nationally uniform way to technical building requirements, embodied in the Building Code of Australia (BCA)

• Developing a simpler and more efficient building regulatory system