Concerns About Quality Industry Certification
Posted 10 December 2010
Category: Certifiers
The court’s response to unsatisfactory industry practices by accredited certifiers.
Since the last property boom in 1998, many strata buildings have experienced an array of defect issues. Yet these buildings are still being privately certified for occupation, even in instances where there is a failure to inspect the site. As such, questions must be asked about the asserted practices of accredited certifiers.
Two recent decisions from the Administrative Appeals Tribunal have dealt with this issue. Building Professionals Board v Cohen (No 2) [2010] NSWADT 266 and Dix v Building Professionals Board [2010] NSWADT 160 raise concerns about the practices of these certifiers, including:
a. Buildings not being certified in accordance with relevant legislation and the public’s reasonable expectations;
b. Potential non-compliance with regulations such as fire safety issues;
c. Claimed reliance on alleged “industry practices”, which in fact reflect deficient practices;
d. Buildings being certified without independent inspection or judgment by the accredited certifier.
Owners Corporation face issues with certification such as building defects and providing annual fire safety statements. These two decisions from the AAT show asserted industry practices to be deficient, and consequently raise concerns about the quality of building certification. Such practices should and do expose certifiers to claims for negligence.
Key Points
- The regulatory body for private certifiers has found that the asserted practices of certifiers to be deficient
- A failure to inspect and then seek to rely on self-certification is not satisfactory industry practice
- Owners’ Corporation can find relief against certifiers with regard to negligent certification
- Where there is no builder, insurer or developer to sue for defects, certifiers can and will come under the magnifying glass
***The information contained in this article is general information only and not legal advice. The currency, accuracy and completeness of this article (and its contents) should be checked by obtaining independent legal advice before you take any action or otherwise rely upon its contents in any way.
