Dire warning to Aussies in apartments

Sky News host Caleb Bond has responded to a dire warning to New South Wales residents about the quality of their new build apartments.
A new report from the New South Wales government, which looked at 600 new or strata buildings, found 53 per cent of them had serious or major defects within six years of being built.
“People would prefer not to live in cheaply built apartments, but they don’t have much choice," Mr Bond said.
“There’s not much choice around.
“We dud ourselves on two accounts, we bring all these people in for whom we don’t have housing.
“We build the housing, but then the housing is rubbish and you have to pay more to fix it up further down the line.”

[@gabebabe1]

The developers need to be jailed

[@Nathan-ry3yu]

More than half of the builders aren't even qualified builders they from overseas, and they don't meet Australian qualifications to build. You will find many of them probably worked for builders as apprentice or handyman overseas. But they are not qualified to be a builder in Australia. And yet someone passed their doggy overseas certificates here in Australia to have an ABN licence to build. Most of them probably only have a 2nd or 3rd year certificates or have only worked as handyman for a builder for a decade or so and have no certification other than reference coming to Australia and getting ABN numbers. People wonder why the houses and buildings have many defects

[@deborahcurtis1385]

This is what happens with hands-off government, and self regulation. We want low taxes and small government? This is what you get. Leave it to the market? This is what you get. We are at a low water mark for government intervention and supply of affordable housing. Even Sir Robert Menzies who founded the Liberal Party, actively was involved in the supply of affordable housing built by government using taxes. Nothing else will work. Nothing.

[@Nathan-ry3yu]

​​​​​@@deborahcurtis1385I agree..more government regulations inspection needed on building. During the 80s it was big. Not so much today. Too many doggy builders not meeting compliance regulations. And you will find more than half of them aren't even qualified. Overseas builders who have 2nd or 3rd year apprentice or was handyman for a builders for over a decade or so and now living here in Australia with ABN number claiming to be qualified builders. Inspector not long ago found over 134 defects on just one house. Theirs no way the builders could be qualified to have so much defects. This is happening on regular basis. Theirs some buildings gone up that the government has banned anyone to live in as they are considered dangerous.

[@mikiandfriends1820]

What are you guys on, the gov regulations and fees are extreme, only dodgy builders can survive?

[@condew6103]

I have a distant relative who built sub-standard housing in an earthquake zone, and he did go to prison. Well, actually it was his father-in-law who built the substandard housing and set my relative up as a patsy. My relative knew nothing of construction, but his father-in-law made him president of his construction company! And he didn't realize anything was wrong until the SHTF and the father-in-law disappeared.

[@amon5124]

One word - CORRUPTION

[@colinpeacock7648]

Yes you are absolutely right there Thank you. Corruption is is slowly creeping into the country and if not nipped in the bud will get worse and out of control. Australia is no more the country it used to be sorry to say that

[@amon5124]

@@colinpeacock7648 couldn’t agree with you more mate.

[@vernonwhite4660]

So the Councils that approve these developments should be held accountable!

[@munch7676]

Council’s didn’t build these buildings. Councils role is approving the use and design of the building appropriate in the specific zoning and area

[@k.b4273]

Private Certifiers are approving these buildings, the developers are changing the plans from the original architectural drawings to make more money, the inspectors inspect as per the building regulations only 1% of the building, they are not on site enough, and they dont get paid to go the extra mile. ITS CALLED GREED and the biggest benefiter is the real estate agents that add on 10% for selling the apartment and the developer and the councils that are raking in the rates from each unit. Every step of the way its against the purchaser.

[@colinmeehan791]

@@munch7676 Who checks the quality of workmsnship as its being built?Councils used to have inspectors to ensure quality of the build,they no longer do so,hence.dodgy builders.Councils are only interested in the Rates they collect.Councils themselves are dodgy.Who would have thought.

[@prof.mor1arty]

how about the buyers get an expert opinion like they would with any other major purchase

[@secondchance6603]

@@prof.mor1arty How about the buildings get built to the standard they're meant to.

[@goatranchgaming2922]

Gov inspectectors need to be held accountable for not doing there job or taking bribes to approve buildings that are dangerous

[@PsyQoBoy]

You're talking about Building Surveyors. They need to do their due diligence.

[@Funkteon]

You could write a blank cheque to a developer and tell them they can build it in whatever timeline they prefer, and you'd still get absolute junk because Australian developers and builders/tradies are clueless asshats who don't actually know HOW to build a quality structure. Approximately 100% of Australia's residential tradies would not last a week if they took a build job in Germany or Scandinavia. They'd be fired on account of spending their entire day talking utter codshit to the site manager and for taking shortcuts at every turn.

[@xxxxxxxxx3944]

With the rate of housing that needs to be built and remediated, you need a whole army of construction workers and inspectors. It is NOT labour shortage, but shortage of MONEY, CAPITAL and CREDIT.

[@peterc4632]

Bribes are common, poor quality buildings are the norm.

[@colinpeacock7648]

Yes,bribery is now creeping into Australia What is happening now in this country proves it

[@bruceevennett955]

There are plenty of beautifully well built buildings from the the 50s and 60s that will stand the test of time as architectural masterpieces

[@black0hat]

Two years ago I was looking for apartment because that's all I could afford and I went to a new building where an investor was willing to sell their apartment -100k. The building looked and smelled like an old hospital. I ran away and then I found an oldish 23yr old double brick building and I loved it. No issues with strata and no defects. So happy with my purchase

[@user-ry6hy3vp1o]

I’ve said that to my son.when he is looking to buy,go as old as possible.at least 20 years back. Pay extra for inspections and searches.

[@sriramcan]

old is gold

[@markferguson7563]

About 8 years ago, I encountered an article in the Toronto Sun, focusing on defective buildings. The person being interviewed was Prof. Ted Kesik of the John Daniels Faculty of Building Science and Architecture, at Toronto. To cut a long story short, Prof. Kesik lambasted the government of Ontario in that article for allowing developers to construct both shonky apartments, and the inevitable costs that owners will be saddled with, when they start to deteriorate. Apropos to that, and in order to ascertain the horrors that will eventuate with high-rise apartments, I urge you to google the KZbin, which features Prof. Kesik presaging what to expect what, in the grand scale of affairs, in the not-too-distant future, and it’s titled: ‘Glass Walled Condos: Short-Term Durability and Long-Term Costs’.

[@colossus8418]

@@user-ry6hy3vp1o yeah, be careful for asbestos and such like dangerous things.

[@caroliner2029]

It's so depressing that shoddy housing is the norm now.

[@Leaptab]

Have you seen the dickheads who are building anything? Bunch of yobbos, druggies, bogans, dead shits, shit kickers and shit munchers.

[@mariebou6859]

Yes. If I were looking for an apartment I would go for an older building.

[@Funkteon]

You could write a blank cheque to a developer and tell them they can build it in whatever timeline they prefer, and you'd still get absolute junk because Australian developers and builders/tradies are clueless asshats who don't actually know HOW to build a quality structure. Approximately 100% of Australia's residential tradies would not last a week if they took a build job in Germany or Scandinavia. They'd be fired on account of spending their entire day talking utter codshit to the site manager and for taking shortcuts at every turn.

[@user-mg1p]

A lot of Australians live in tent's because of the immigration of so many..why aren't they sent to regional areas! The roads are clogged all day!

[@markferguson7563]

About 8 years ago, I encountered an article in the Toronto Sun, focusing on defective buildings. The person being interviewed was Prof. Ted Kesik of the John Daniels Faculty of Building Science and Architecture, at Toronto. To cut a long story short, Prof. Kesik lambasted the government of Ontario in that article for allowing developers to construct both shonky apartments, and the inevitable costs that owners will be saddled with, when they start to deteriorate. Apropos to that, and in order to ascertain the horrors that will eventuate with high-rise apartments, I urge you to google the KZbin, which features Prof. Kesik presaging what to expect what, in the grand scale of affairs, in the not-too-distant future, and it’s titled: ‘Glass Walled Condos: Short-Term Durability and Long-Term Costs’.

[@trigger0403]

I live regional and the houses here are just as expensive as houses in the city. Were all buggered

[@cianmoriarty7345]

Right?! I had to move to the western suburbs of Sydney from a lovely country town, after my scumbag land lord used the excuse of COVID to kick me out of my house because after 6 years of always paying and doing anything they asked I dared to complain about the two out of three lights that wouldn't work. Couldn't find anything affordable in my town!

[@trigger0403]

@@cianmoriarty7345 I dono how were gonna survive

[@Salaryman_]

This is purely corporate greed, they build as cheap and quick as possible regardless of a housing crisis. Need stronger building regulations to protect buyers/owners.

[@Paul-qq7mh]

100%

[@eat_ze_bugs]

It's not the regulations, it's the engineers, architects, supervisors and labourers in this country whom many are not qualified enough to build such housing. Universities, colleges, and TAFE had been churning out mediocre graduates for decades and the results of that are now self evident. No one takes their job seriously nowadays unless they were held directly responsible for the project and its consequences. People will tolerate mediocre workmanship for as long as they are protected by the unions and can hide their mistakes within the corporate structure. No amount of red tape can prevent that complacency.

[@petersanders2815]

@@eat_ze_bugsah yes, developers make squillions ripping off people with defective buildings and it’s all “the unions” fault. LOL.

[@deborahcurtis1385]

AND government to fund and build affordable housing just like Sir Robert Menzies' government did in the late 1940s - 1960s. That was the backbone of a strong society. Without affordable. housing people are desperate and at each other's throats. It's cruel and unAustralian and neoConservative. It's a long way from traditional Liberal values. To do this you must have a progressive tax system and tax the rich. This is the last thing that Liz, James and Caleb want you to understand.

[@user-bu8lz7kz3g]

VAN SAN CONSTRUCTION! STAY AWAY !!!! DODGY BUILDS INDIAN BUILDER

[@tasmaniancaptain7768]

The old redbrickers or art deco, no lifts no pools low strata bullet proof bunkers is the way to go solid build by professional tradespeople that did apprenticeships with old school tradesmen thats the difference

[@indiathylane2158]

Some of them are quite stylish inside, many decorative touches. And yep, built to last, quality materials all the way.

[@samhunt9380]

Built on the cheap but sold for gold. They ain't cheap to begin with......

[@sapiens7821]

Australia should go to Government Certifiers in which every stage of the build is inspected and can not go forward until it is certified and signed off. The buyer should have a break lease in which if the property is deemed unsafe they can walk away with compensation. The buildings should come with warranties. STOP builders, developers who go into liquidation or named and shamed stop operating under different names and companies

[@TBird89]

Nah mate, won’t change anything everyone has a price. I’ll tell you this…developers I’ve work for have picked up the tab for council inspectors before PCA come into the industry eg; brown paper bags, prepaid brothels, drugs of choice, cars for kids and the list goes on, engineers that design it should inspect and sign off on the build…. Simple.

[@dtang3288]

Corruption, corruption and more corruption!

[@InfinityIsland2203]

Another huge risk of buying an Australian shoddy constructed highrise apartment is that once you go to tribunal to fix defects or major defects are uncovered it can appear in strata records for many years making it impossible to sell

[@jpgrygus]

not just apartments. a friend of mine cleans houses for a living. she said the new modern houses are absolute junk made of poor quality. welcome to the new Australia.

[@markferguson7563]

About 8 years ago, I encountered an article in the Toronto Sun, focusing on defective buildings. The person being interviewed was Prof. Ted Kesik of the John Daniels Faculty of Building Science and Architecture, at Toronto. To cut a long story short, Prof. Kesik lambasted the government of Ontario in that article for allowing developers to construct both shonky apartments, and the inevitable costs that owners will be saddled with, when they start to deteriorate. Apropos to that, and in order to ascertain the horrors that will eventuate with high-rise apartments, I urge you to google the KZbin, which features Prof. Kesik presaging what to expect what, in the grand scale of affairs, in the not-too-distant future, and it’s titled: ‘Glass Walled Condos: Short-Term Durability and Long-Term Costs’.

[@zoolander1721]

They are, we built a new home, the wall frame in one room came loose after a few door slams lol, sold that thing when covid prices kicked in.

[@naturally2729]

The poor building quality of residential appartments and houses started in 2011 and continued because greedy builders and developers got away with it. Builders and developers in the residential sector have too much power and there is not enough third party supervision and certification. Masterbuilders Association is widely known to be corrupt. Deep systemic issues.

[@antontsau]

Poor quality started in 1788. It always was here. Buildings from 1970s which I service time after time are even the worse nightmare than modern ones. Leaking walls, bursting pipes, burning cables, cracking walls - wide choice!

[@arohanui922]

Are you comparing old builds to new ones

[@Paul-qq7mh]

Blame the Victorian Building Authority for this they are all corrupt.

[@antontsau]

@@arohanui922 new builds use modern technology, but the same poor quality. Yes old building is old, it already collected all these bursts and cracks for 50 years of its existence, you can see them all at once, but it clearly shows the quality.

[@buildmotosykletist1987]

@@antontsau : Older buildings show their defects. Buying off a plan is a wing and a prayer. There were good quality builders back then just as there are good quality builders now but the proof is in the pudding wait until you can see what you are buying.

[@arthurwatts1680]

This rant would make sense if said apartments were cheap - they are only 'cheap' when compared to houses in the same suburb. Paying 500K+ to live in a glorified hotel room is bonkers. Investors love dog boxes - or at least they did until interest rates hit the fan.

[@jasperhorace7147]

What happens to the price when an owner wants to sell?

[@tomr6955]

If they're cheap by comparison they're cheap..

[@user-ry6hy3vp1o]

I love our unit, we are fortunate the finishes are well done. It’s not perfect by any means,but it’s where we are up to in our lives. And we still have the skills to do things ourselves. We are on the other side of the curve now as we age and do not miss having the upkeep and associated problems of gardens and house exterior. I’m just a little concerned that the government will find a way of folks not being able to pass their house and land onto future generations.

[@user-ry6hy3vp1o]

@@jasperhorace7147the “value” ebbs and flows as with all property types. However the increase in value is definitely not that of a house and land.

[@bencoad8492]

@@tomr6955 no that is cheaper not cheap....

[@EllieMaes-Grandad]

It's not about a shortage of housing but a surfeit of people . . .

[@rennmaxbeta]

🎯

[@martinepstein3332]

It's about a Government not running the country better, but at least you have the power to remove it at the next election

[@jasperhorace7147]

Well said. Wait for the accusations of xenophobia, when all this is just common sense.

[@martinepstein3332]

@@jasperhorace7147 it's about inequality and the shortage of decent housing for all Australians irrespective of race or colour

[@tomr6955]

Plenty of room in the country but everyone wants to be in the city

[@russell_beddyoisken]

There's oversight into the building trade, it's just riddled with corruption. Many of them 'sign-off' on substandard non-compliant structures , get paid, walk away...

[@paulsz6194]

That’s right, it’s not the people who build it are ever going to live in it or own it…

[@LongJohnnn]

Thank the Liberal government for passing those laws under the guise of making the process more efficient. Waiting for building inspections from the council was a pain in the ass but at least it wasn't riddled with corruption. I understand privatising building inspections for homes and whatnot, but doing it for large projects like apartments is a horrible idea.

[@MelodyMan69]

The Australian market is flooded with Asian Developers building Asian sized and design Apartments. Target is for Immigrants and Students from overseas. I spent 20+ years selling to the Contractors that construct these buildings. They are sized to be prison cells, not really an Apartment. This market is not interested in the Australian quarter acre block with a back yard. Australia has been changed for the worse and may never recover what these selfish vandals have done. 🇦🇺

[@Gary-vv5gt]

I think we all need to change that "quarter acre block with a backyard" mindset if you want to live in the city but however there needs to be extremely strict and have government based inspectors checking apartment at all stages of the build (and halted right away if issues arises) and maybe halt off the plan sales as well on top of an 25+ year warranty and your building will not pass muster if you can't guarantee that. Also have set areas (probs for every 5 5+ stories buildings, there an open aired area, such as a park or a plaza or shops within a reasonable size, the more stories, the bigger the space). Also if there issues in apartments after the building and its found the inspector or builder are lazy, the whole management and inspectors can be jailed very harshly (equal to defrauding the tax office) and pay a fine equal to all the mortgage bills of the owners and rent of tenants. If they use friend/family to evade the ban, their friend/family get the same punishment even tho they might have nothing to do with it.

[@MelodyMan69]

@@Gary-vv5gt You started with "I think". Let me tell you what I know. You shit opinion about quarter block suggests you are batting for the Real Estate or Developer segment that have fckd Australia for their own personel gain. Since 1971, I have seen Builder/Developers that have screwed the market and Aussies. They DO NOT CARE aboyt ANYBODY and they have no INTEGRITY. Check all the crap tgat has gone down in ALL Australian Cities yet no effective resolution. Your a wanker when it cines to protection Australian living Standards, Building Controls, Legal Remedies that STOP the rot and lazy Politicians that DO NOT CARE.

[@MelodyMan69]

@@Gary-vv5gt Bollocks. You have no idea. Have you worked in the Industry 50+ Years. ???? Australia accepting Asia is our downfall. We do not NEED Asian highrise Culture with grocery store, bars and nightclubs in the same building. Deveplopers have fcked Australia

[@paulsz6194]

What about the infamous Top Place Developments ? I Don’t think the person who owned or ran the company was Asian? He done a "Skasey " and left for overseas…

[@sueelliott4793]

I am a single person in my 50's in New Zealand and our house/apartment prices are so high that I would love to afford a prison cell apartment. As long as it has a bedroom, kitchen and dunny/shower then I am happy. It beats flatting with strangers.

[@caroliner2029]

Noise issues from having no carpet on the floors, mould from poor ventilation, smoke drift from addicts so you can't open your windows or doors to have fresh air....these things make life depressing in high density housing.

[@antontsau]

The same in houses. Smoke from neighbours wooden heater, barking dog next house, mould everywhere. And caaaaarpet, dirt and rotting.

[@InfinityIsland2203]

@@antontsau not even close. Have you ever lived in Australian high-rise apartment? It's nearly impossible as the walls are made from gyprock or plywood you get to hear people talking how loud you flush your toilet or run your bathroom tap.

[@leeevans2929]

@@antontsaubetter than listening to your neighbour pissing and shitting in the toilet

[@antontsau]

@@InfinityIsland2203 I do live in 13storey building in Wolli Creek, 500m from airport, built 2017. Yes our building has defects for $2M, from water leaks to glitchy fire alarm, but in general its good. Soundproofing is good because between this gyprock walls there is acoustic foam. Floors are on modern synthetic underlay which supresses noise very well. Its simple, but you cant meet all this used before 2000.

[@tomr6955]

@@antontsau Lol that's delusional thinking. My neighbours have wood heaters and all neighbours have dogs but this is nothing like how bad it would be in an apartment

[@SapphireGirl3]

Liz, James, Caleb....you are great....you all speak TRUTH.

[@EricaMTB]

CFMEU workers are getting their pay, that's all Labor care about.

[@buildmotosykletist1987]

That sums it up well.

[@kallekas8551]

You have absolutely no idea what you are talking about…😂

[@buildmotosykletist1987]

@@kallekas8551 : It was an excellent summary of Labor's interests and actions.

[@kallekas8551]

@@buildmotosykletist1987 Really? Ok…and what are the Coalitions?

[@buildmotosykletist1987]

@@kallekas8551 : The LNP does not receive union funding.

[@ausforaus7617]

Look at who is building the dodgy apartments (or the owners of the building companies), also, at the council officers who sign off on them.

[@mieczyslawawozniak2305]

People who approve those building applications are not accountable. The moment it becomes criminal charge everything will change.

[@Azzow15]

What’s this rubbish about? Cheap apartments. Most apartments in Sydney are selling from $500,000-$700,000. What’s cheaper about that?

[@sensaznal]

Yeah and strata fee is also expensive

[@antontsau]

Houses in the same location are 1.5M.

[@InfinityIsland2203]

Your price range appears to be a few years old. Albosleezy brought that up a few hundred grand with his mass immigration and foreign buyer tax grants

[@bullethead1953]

Where’d you find that? 700k for an apparentment in Sydney is super cheap

[@ZELJKO472]

700k for Sydney?? Where?? Out 30 kms from city for a small flat if u r lucky

[@Nabraska49]

Most stuff is cheep and nasty these days.. it’s more of the new normal system..

[@xxxxxxxxx3944]

Cheap for them to make. Not for you to buy

[@seang2822]

The build quality is cheap because the council’s don’t do their jobs with permits and QC… politicians are in the pockets of developers… incentivized to look the other way… not to mention the lack of good trades people because the over budget infrastructure projects and the CFMU putting pressure on costs 🤬

[@alexanderpepkin4110]

They are not exactly “cheap” either

[@nomyafiftyonefifty8081]

Only going to get worse with AnAl's push to build more housing because of the massive immigrate intake.

[@judyb1643]

Sydney and Melbourne have signed up with the WEF to become C40 cities. The plan is to have up to 70% of the population living in cities. Melbourne has already approved planning for many high rise complexes ranging from 18 - 40 stories high.

[@DebNewton-kh4cv]

But they can’t see what’s coming or refuse to…

[@davidladd9544]

name an shame the companies that are building these apartments/homes we need to know who's the dodgy ones that are still doing this type of crappy work!!

[@Le_coq_sportiff]

Ive worked on thousands of units on the gold coast n brisbane n they are built soooooo cheap n dodgy ,if u only knew you wouldnt pay ur hard earned for them,no way👎

[@dumdumbrown4225]

These apartments are surely not cheap - and builder/construction accountability legislation in Australia is so toothless that building inspections are a scary joke (with state government funding drastically reduced) and construction companies _have almost never_ been held accountable. Housing in Oz is a joke, and the housing market is a nightmare.

[@RichardAnderson-wi3vz]

how did you ever get to a point where your building inspectors were not inspecting as the construction was being carried out?

[@lappo2534]

Convict nation

[@markferguson7563]

About 8 years ago, I encountered an article in the Toronto Sun, focusing on defective buildings. The person being interviewed was Prof. Ted Kesik of the John Daniels Faculty of Building Science and Architecture, at Toronto. To cut a long story short, Prof. Kesik lambasted the government of Ontario in that article for allowing developers to construct both shonky apartments, and the inevitable costs that owners will be saddled with, when they start to deteriorate. Apropos to that, and in order to ascertain the horrors that will eventuate with high-rise apartments, I urge you to google the KZbin, which features Prof. Kesik presaging what to expect what, in the grand scale of affairs, in the not-too-distant future, and it’s titled: ‘Glass Walled Condos: Short-Term Durability and Long-Term Costs’.

[@justme.9711]

Who are the building inspectors giving them a tick?

[@G-Man01]

Chinese developers.... All money, no concern for quality.

[@v8beamer]

Building what they know…tofu dreg buildings

[@user-un2ws5xg4i]

In China developers would get big punishment ,in Australia they get rewards in milliards.

[@daveo3122]

Someone been taking lessons from Chinese building companies?

[@AndrewW2015]

Tofu builders

[@kingcoong]

Chinese developers are taking over Australia, so it makes sense.

[@Cantshred777]

It's not just apartments. People are doing a poor job in terms of care taken to do something right, in general. That with companies cutting overheads for profit, leads to decline in QA practices. The old school understood what it means to make a quality product. This lot can't slap a burger together without making it look like a 3 year old made it.

[@Henry1965ism]

Don't these new apartments also have EV charging stations in the underground carpark? What could possibly go wrong there? 😬

[@user-ry6hy3vp1o]

Thank f&*k ours doesn’t. I’m not paying for other rich virtue signallers to charge the dangerous EVs.

[@lisadolan689]

The assessor’s NEED to be independent, work in 3’s on site, and have no communication with the developer.

[@Gary-vv5gt]

Yep i agree and if issues arises due to the fault of the builder and assessors passed, both the manager of the site and assessors are punished the same way, can range from jail, up to paying the full 30 years or whatnot mortgages of the owners for each unit.... Also assessors needs to go on site at all stages of the build, have work in 3's like you said (preferably from different areas or even states) and if you want to become an assessors, you gotta cut all ties with the developers and you won't be able to inspect the site if is being developed by your old workplace.

[@ivanf6938]

The building industry is fairly heavily regulated in Australia compared to other countries. Including most western nations. It is our second biggest industry. If the rules and standards were followed we would have a first world gold standard product. NSW seems to have its own issues for some reason. You can glean what you like from that. But my personal experience after 40 years in the industry is the move to private certification is the biggest problem. Prior to that there was a lot of whinging about red tape and delays with councils, but never about standards. We have bred whole new industries of box tickers just in the last 20 years. Energy, public safety, bushfire, fire safety, quality, equality, disabled access, environment, first nations heritage blah blah blah. All whom have to have their bit before approval. Ticking all those boxes required by an avalanche of legislation is an onerous task and shifts the focus away from quality and the absolute basics of construction, ie: water ingress, structure etc. The second issue is "performance based solutions" which have crept into legislation. These have allowed one off "interpretations" of rules by certifiers, who in my experience still claim the rules are black and white and not up for interpretation, bizarrely. I've seen too much grey to be convinced. Interpretations vary from certifier to certifier. I've been part of large scale high quality apartment projects and know what goes into it, and what it costs. There is no apparent reason I can see for the basic defects on some Sydney apartment projects seen in the media short of corruption somewhere in the process.

[@daleviker5884]

I agree 100% about there being too much useless legislation these days and that we need to get back to basics. Houses and flats were built better forty years ago, before councils added thousands of pages to planning approvals dealing with green causes. I had reason to look at a recent Council meeting, and a large18 storey development got just over 5 minutes of discussion before being approved, and then the indigenous urban art grants scheme was talked through for 1 1/2 hours.

[@eb2505]

Had a concreter come to do part of my drive years ago. He was meant to put in reinforcement and had it lined up against the retaining wall. I asked him when the cement was being delivered and he said in about 30 minutes. I said to him well your reinforcement isn’t in place, how will you be ready. He said ok, then took the reinforcement and took off - never saw him again. He had a good relationship it seems with the official who checked his work who thought highly enough of him to not have to check what he did, but take him at his word. Fortunately Ihada builder friend, an old German, who knew what he was doing, even though concreting wasn’t what he was trained in. He put the reinforcement in place from his brother n law, also a builder. We got a Hansen to deliver the cement and he smoothed it out. Never had a problem with it, and it looks better than the rest of the drive.

[@deborahcurtis1385]

You nailed it. Corruption is the issue as is self certification.

[@PeterMcInnes-ti8ou]

Once saw 3 sets of footings poured but the same reo set was moved to each one for certification before each pour,guess why I didn't buy in the area

[@user-hl6yp4vc1l]

We need more builders and trade people from Europe

[@noni6656]

I have house in my town in India which was build over 100 yrs and still standing firm and still in use. When I came to Australia in 2004 ,I was looking at homes which are not concrete I start calling them cardboard boxes. Wooden frame homes being build but builders don't even give 28 days to cure the concrete slab properly. No doubt cracks appear later on...I am an engineer and I build my 2 homes 1 in Melbourne and 1 in Perth , in 2010 and 2015....forced builders to wait for 28 days after pouring slab and very few cracks after all these years so far nothing major...People need to pay attention . I never buy apartment in Australia....so much shonky work

[@antontsau]

100 years old houses? Welcome to Balmain or so, full suburb of this crap. Some of them even marked on facade like "1916" or so. Yes they stand still and cost $2M each because of location, but its impossible to live there.

[@noni6656]

@@antontsau 1910 build to be precise. Bricks 4 layers, dug foundations, concrete home. Bit of work done with wiring and piping as maintaince but not 1 crack. In India homes are buid in solid bricks, concrete and dug in ground foundations for each wall rather than on concrete slab. With roof as celeing and roof are concrete. 3 story 8 bd...this is normal . Mostly like Victorian era style construction like you find in Old UK homes. Only diff is roof is flat as no snow in most of India. Positive is you have tarrece for kids to fly kites when I was a child :)) No one uses wood apart from doors n windows. Here its all wooden frame cardboard homes. Those homes last long....

[@antontsau]

@@noni6656 I am from Russia. Its where, you know, brick houses, cold winter, no money and lot of vodka. I do know what is it 50 years old brick/concrete house built cheap and for absoluyely different conditions. Yes it stands. May be no cracks apoeared and metal beams still alive. But electricity to redo completely, piping - completely replace, roof - redo or it leaks like vaterfall... No carpark, no modern fast lifts, nothing. I simply do not need such a house, it is impossible to live there.

[@noni6656]

@@antontsau labour is cheap in India. So wiring or other repairs not an issue.

[@antontsau]

@@noni6656 it not a question of labor, its just physical possibility. In 100 yo house it requires to destroy walls, open cavities, rebuild everything to install moderm infrastructure to where it was never intended. Not just repair the rotten cable for light, but make new one, by modern standards and requirements. And what will happen in the next 100 years we do not know either, so can not prepare newbuilt house to be usable in 22 century. Especially if it is thick brick walls, ancient floors on timbers, plastered ceilings. Of course if you have army of builders who earn 100 times less than you it is possible, but result will be, ummmm, not very appealing.

[@ausbare140]

When people in power never suffer things will not change. Like with all things follow the money. If CEO could go to jail things might change.

[@paulsz6194]

They just leave the country, and do a Skasey …

[@HouseWinchester1874]

What’s wrong with having a nice small population… Why do we have to have such large populations of humans in each country. Australia too too over populated.

[@user-jw9lq5ib6g]

yea... all the POMS... living on stolen land.. f-off.. to the fields of Englandershire.. these rotten cabbages won't roll home on their own

[@bradsharpe9413]

It seems like people enjoy having sex and children.

[@bettinafullerton6452]

Totally agree with you.

[@Maxkil]

whos going to deliver your food and make you a latte

[@Leaptab]

Because we are a dumb country that relies on dugging stuff up and importing a new tax base to pay for things. We dont make anything and you can only sell so many overpriced cups of coffee.

[@johnschuring5726]

Please remind me to never to move to Australia.

[@MaTtRoSiTy]

Please don't, we already have enough immigrants here

[@dickdiver9614]

​@MaTtRoSiTy The aborigines thought the same at one time too 😂

[@tamarawest6203]

I don't know why you would want to? Don't forget how our human rights were confiscated from us during the pandemic? The worst in the world. Stay well away!

[@walterbolter4320]

Then move to the Pacific Group of Island chain, & marry-into a Chief’s family. That’s the only way you can own property-there. More discriminatory than you can imagine.

[@antontsau]

Do not come, everything is very bad here! (unofficial slogan of Russian Au-immigration website)

[@sagarm7098]

It’s not shoddy cheap construction in apartments but cheap shoddy construction in general. Not immigration rather an overly inflated wage paid to tradies with low productivity that is the problem. Any house build after 2005 has shoddy construction, mainly waterproofing issues. Bulk of the cost of building a house goes towards high cost of manpower with lower skills and productivity than their Asia Pacific cohort. Sub contracting trades ensures each layer taking their pound of flesh at the expense of the sucker who buys these new homes (likely immigrants who don’t seem to have issues saving up a deposit). ANZ standards are an indicator of poor quality, all our poor Asian neighbours have far better quality construction. Builders insurance is a joke!

[@DavdMar]

Buy one built 25 years ago when they were built bigger and better. I’ll never own another one with $10k a year in owners Corp fees who don’t do anything when there’s a problem

[@daleviker5884]

Why not join the Owners Committee then and change things? I'm on the OC in my building and it is a thankless task.

[@DavdMar]

@@daleviker5884 Yeah no thanks. It was a boys club and I couldn’t think of a worse way to spend my time. Preferred to sell and move in to a house I owned nearby

[@paulsz6194]

The thing is, some developers are strata corporations as well . Pardon the pun, but it’s all becoming vertically integrated…when you move into one of these apartments, you have to " hire" the loading dock at $120 per day, just to move in.Same when moving out. That’s just Bull 💩.

[@DavdMar]

@@paulsz6194 To have to ‘hire’ something you own is ridiculous. Reserve it sure but pay to use something you own is just them laughing at you. Also if you want to sue the OC over building defects such as water through your ceiling from a skylight, you are basically suing yourself. It’s all just stupid it hurts my brain. Then a Karen walks in and your head explodes

[@camwells9726]

I’m early 60s and can remember as a kid watching American tv , and you had all these people in various shows living in high rise apartments and it seemed like another planet compared to us living on our suburban quarter acre blocks . And here we are

[@markferguson7563]

About 8 years ago, I encountered an article in the Toronto Sun, focusing on defective buildings. The person being interviewed was Prof. Ted Kesik of the John Daniels Faculty of Building Science and Architecture, at Toronto. To cut a long story short, Prof. Kesik lambasted the government of Ontario in that article for allowing developers to construct both shonky apartments, and the inevitable costs that owners will be saddled with, when they start to deteriorate. Apropos to that, and in order to ascertain the horrors that will eventuate with high-rise apartments, I urge you to google the KZbin, which features Prof. Kesik presaging what to expect what, in the grand scale of affairs, in the not-too-distant future, and it’s titled: ‘Glass Walled Condos: Short-Term Durability and Long-Term Costs’.

[@janpolo799]

My 3 month renovation started with knocking down my homes back wall and that’s the last I saw of him. $20,000 in legal fees to get rid of him and 2 years later finally got another builder. Never again. Self regulated nonsense just like the nonsense government 😡

[@paulsz6194]

Should have named him here, then.

[@user-ry6hy3vp1o]

Our strata has jumped $600 per quarter in the four years we have been here. Our building came out of guarantee period two years ago. The cladding laws have been changed every two years for the past eight years. So there’s another special levy waiting to happen. We’ve avoided it thus far . This is where we could afford and ticked the most boxes. It’s close to the city for work and play and atm we all just keep to ourselves.

[@leevan2332]

Its not just apartments its homes as well...I had a person come to see my home as it was cracking...We are in Victoria...The guy told us never by a new home especially in Melbourne....Houses are done on the cheap with a certain culture doing the foundational slabs all wrong and building inspectors are not doing their jobs...He said that they are making houses to last 10 years then the trouble all starts...Governmental standards have dropped and lets face it the government are good for nothing when it comes to standards in most of government departments...Im not talking about the honest people working its policies...Politicians do not work for the people any longer and most dont care!

[@markferguson7563]

About 8 years ago, I encountered an article in the Toronto Sun, focusing on defective buildings. The person being interviewed was Prof. Ted Kesik of the John Daniels Faculty of Building Science and Architecture, at Toronto. To cut a long story short, Prof. Kesik lambasted the government of Ontario in that article for allowing developers to construct both shonky apartments, and the inevitable costs that owners will be saddled with, when they start to deteriorate. Apropos to that, and in order to ascertain the horrors that will eventuate with high-rise apartments, I urge you to google the KZbin, which features Prof. Kesik presaging what to expect what, in the grand scale of affairs, in the not-too-distant future, and it’s titled: ‘Glass Walled Condos: Short-Term Durability and Long-Term Costs’.

[@Cardifftoyboy1]

A surveyor told me years ago to only buy traditional brick with traditional slate roofs on good ground with traditional deep foundations. I have always taken his advice and never had the problems the people buying the tiki taki are.

[@paulveenings6861]

That song was prophetic.

[@buckhornz2184]

Little boxes

[@gregculverwell]

Tofu dregs construction came to Australia a long time ago.

[@jpgrygus]

builders and tradies obviously dont take pride in their work. and they demand premium fees.

[@heytam7162]

… and Australia wants to build a Nuclear Reactor , can’t build hospitals or apartments properly… make it make sense !

[@ross4970]

Two different things entirely.

[@rawnature8148]

​@@ross4970correct, Australia doesn't have the trained work force to make a nuclear reactor....

[@user-ry6hy3vp1o]

Hah love it! After hearing all the problems of a brand new hospital just handed over recently, the thought of a nuclear reactor is just plain scary.

[@paulsz6194]

@@rawnature8148Just like Australia doesn’t have a trained workforce to build decent submarines….That’s why were buying the next generation from a country who has the expretise in this. Same thing goes with Nuclear reactors & Nuclear Power stations. You do know we have a Nuclear reactor in Lucas Heights, NSW . Right?? Who do you think built that? A Local home builder?? 🤔

[@rawnature8148]

@@paulsz6194 when was Lucas built? I know people who work there and their doctorates make them a homer Simpson level employee.

[@troubleabout5137]

There are no houses out in the country available to rent

[@vincentcacciola7161]

These apartment are terribly built

[@deborahcurtis1385]

Yes but the brochures are shiny, and the interior designer convinces you that you can live in a minimal way with no storage!

[@user-fr5nm1yx8o]

Well thats what you get when builders are allowed to pass their own work .

[@user-zh5ri2fx8t]

Old news. Those who were awake knew all this years ago. Wakie, wakie.

[@anitacohen8753]

Quality? The only country where you pay the same amount for a house as a small flat!!!!!

[@markferguson7563]

About 8 years ago, I encountered an article in the Toronto Sun, focusing on defective buildings. The person being interviewed was Prof. Ted Kesik of the John Daniels Faculty of Building Science and Architecture, at Toronto. To cut a long story short, Prof. Kesik lambasted the government of Ontario in that article for allowing developers to construct both shonky apartments, and the inevitable costs that owners will be saddled with, when they start to deteriorate. Apropos to that, and in order to ascertain the horrors that will eventuate with high-rise apartments, I urge you to google the KZbin, which features Prof. Kesik presaging what to expect what, in the grand scale of affairs, in the not-too-distant future, and it’s titled: ‘Glass Walled Condos: Short-Term Durability and Long-Term Costs’.

[@caroliner2029]

They're done on the shonk. Dodgy Brothers Builders.

[@advanceaustralia4861]

2.8m temp visa people live in Australia.

[@clydesimpson1462]

Australia needs more Uber Drivers.

[@paulsz6194]

@@clydesimpson1462really, then send them to Alice Springs, lol…

[@stevejones9062]

The entire building industry need a shake up, developers need to keep detailed records of who did what and when for at least a decade and tradies should have their qualification cancelled (not suspended) if it is found they have done substandard work. A second offence should result in jail time for fraud.

[@user-gs3tq6bx2u]

What happens is that these shoddy builders form a new company with people other than themselves as the directors, build the high rise, cut corners and use low quality materials, then when the building is sold and completed, they dissolve the company, send it into bankruptcy ...this way you can't successfully sue a company that is an empty shell on paper with company owner who is some fall guy with zero assets. The actual guy with money forms a new company, signs up a street person to be the director ..rinse and repeat.

[@Nanobits]

I went to Mexico once and found that they build all their stuff in concrete and brick and with serious internal fortification. Give it to the Mexicans to build homes that will last for 100yrs plus, they got families living in these homes that have been in the family for centuries.

[@Prognosis__]

A lot of cowboys out there

[@terencejay8845]

Interesting watching this chap, with a large crack in the brickwork behind him.

[@David_Camerwrongun]

Anyone can get into construction but it doesn't make them any good at it

[@lappo2534]

Especially in our grubberment

[@markferguson7563]

About 8 years ago, I encountered an article in the Toronto Sun, focusing on defective buildings. The person being interviewed was Prof. Ted Kesik of the John Daniels Faculty of Building Science and Architecture, at Toronto. To cut a long story short, Prof. Kesik lambasted the government of Ontario in that article for allowing developers to construct both shonky apartments, and the inevitable costs that owners will be saddled with, when they start to deteriorate. Apropos to that, and in order to ascertain the horrors that will eventuate with high-rise apartments, I urge you to google the KZbin, which features Prof. Kesik presaging what to expect what, in the grand scale of affairs, in the not-too-distant future, and it’s titled: ‘Glass Walled Condos: Short-Term Durability and Long-Term Costs’.

[@NinjaKuma]

This is why you buy existing builds with no history of defects... lol

[@just.jules.973]

I dont think its because we are desperate on where to live, blame the corruption of developers from building substandard residential and commercial property at sky high prices. blame the politicians who are not making proper laws to ensure issues like these are curbed.

[@user-hl6yp4vc1l]

We need more building inspectors

[@mollynorth5627]

That's what happens when you remove tech schools.

[@ZELJKO472]

That is true too. Young now want to study woke and social justice. Don't build or innovate, be a social justice warrior and color your hair orange or green

[@CLH-of5rr]

Just like state housing.

[@ewtwetrwerwteet]

I'm better off on the dole + rent assistance, if i'm going to live in an apartment with defects, at least someone else can pay .

[@user-ry6hy3vp1o]

Oh there’s that special victim mentality that has poisoned our society.you go ahead and live off the public purse then. Sadly you’ll never know what self satisfaction is.

[@antontsau]

90% of houses have not only defects, but inevitable problems. Several channels like "home inspections" are full of it fun. So no choice at all.

[@andrew6526]

Humans living like Battery hens, sad really on both accounts.

[@clydesimpson1462]

It's not sad if you get free eggs.

[@Jed-yp8yg]

My son worked as a high rise crane driver in Sydney. He told me that no one should never buy an apartment that is less than 20 to 25 years old. He left because he was asked to do unsafe and illegal lifts plus the workmanship was terrible and the waste was ridiculous. He couldn't be part of that anymore.

[@rodneywatson7855]

Years ago I was an electrician working on a large block of units and shops up at Noosa, and one day I nonchalantly ran my fingernail across the dry mortar in between 2 concrete blocks in an outer wall while I was on my mobile, and the mortar just fell on the floor and it seemed like the brickies forgot to add the lime and cement. I tried a few other places on the wall and it was all the same. I drive past this place every now and again and wonder how it's still standing, but must be just good luck as there's nothing much else keeping it up.

[@jesusisking8502]

Do you speed up a little just in-case? lol

[@rodneywatson7855]

@@jesusisking8502 Ha ha, Yep.

[@jolla9963]

There is oversight, it just goes blind at the first brown paper bag passed from citizen A to politician B. Corruption is rife within councils aswell as state and federal politics.

[@owainjohns2815]

asymmetric warfare, wake up...

[@G-Man01]

China...

[@eat_ze_bugs]

Average priced housing with shoddy build quality is what the third world commonly faces. Australia is becoming just that.

[@kellywiewall4928]

I've worked at a lot of construction sites in Ohio an inspector's come in every stage you can only put drywall on one side of a wall until it gets inspected

[@theresaotoole9141]

The argument that because of imported population explosion plus everyone wants to live in a city is the reason for poorly built shoddy defective buildings is false - these are are separate issues. First, there is no reason why a multi storey building can't be built without serious defect. As a Chartered Structural Engineer with over 40 years experience I know that this is so. As a modern society we have the technical expertise to do this, supported by good building standards, rules and regulations. The real problem for these defective buildings result from corruption of the building system processes. Building developers (not all, but a lot) bribe and bully those in regulatory oversight to bend or ignore the rules, use cheap imported unproven building material, used inexperience staff, ignore or fail to provide proper building supervision during construction, take unwise shortcuts - all to enhance profits. The whole building process in Australia is rotten to the core and needs to be clean out and overhauled.

[@leroyybrown]

Why are the commercial skyscrapers built in the CBD’s for office or hotels not affected as badly? Why don’t the buyers off the plan privately employee their own engineers and inspectors?

[@Matto_Harvo]

Build up more. The people in rural areas don't want city people

[@rogermouton2273]

In an apartment block in Melbourne that's probably about 15 yo; bought mine about 6 years ago. Pretty much no issues related to poor quality construction. More than big enough for me, 10 minute walk to the office. Worked out OK.

[@user-gs3tq6bx2u]

Yes, there are good builders building decent quality apartment highrise buildings out there but the problem is that with the news focusing on all those shoddy apartments, the price for all apartments suffer.

[@rogermouton2273]

@@user-gs3tq6bx2u Hmmm, but isn't it the case that, if an apartment is say, over 15 yo, and buyers can see that it's showing no signs of construction issues, then the price should not suffer?

[@user-hl6yp4vc1l]

Ban private tafe who issuing dodgy trade certificates

[@tom-vx1lp]

even the body corp fees in high rises. gee whiz

[@vernonwhite4660]

The government supplies nothing I need!

[@BelieveAllMen]

From all the Australians across the land living in tents or old station wagons or vans or under bridges and getting fined by sadistic council rangers for sleeping ion a public place, we have four short words. Nana, Nana, Nah, and Naah.

[@user-hb6ti6mt7i]

The report isn't new, from 2002 to 2018 during the housing boom years unqualified tradesman and dodgy Indian engineers from overseas built them, 60 minutes AU warned if this in 2019 not to buy a unit or house built after 2002!

[@Eric-jo8uh]

When things go bang crash,…………it’s politics, paperwork and platitudes.

[@RoyceAlcorn]

I cant remember what artist said, but looking at the old buildings in New York he said "Humans have lost the capacity and roman civic pride to build art"

[@brettleonard8602]

Screw owning a unit... 100% paid for ,ohh what I still have to pay an amount equal to rent 10 years ago in strata fees.

[@caravanlifenz]

Every Australian builder I've met talks about the awful quality of Aussie houses and apartments. And they say health and safety practices are a problem too - a lot of Aussie tradies are getting injured building these rushed projects.

[@cianmoriarty7345]

The council has more power than the Gestapo but can't even keep apartment complexes safe? What's going on?!

[@onikn9138]

On the base level there is no reasonably priced rent in a serviced regional town.

[@commonsense6611]

Builders only build what the government and government regulations allow. If it is crap, then it is inspected, or not inspected, signed off, or "kick-back" crap.

[@peterso5669]

Before you buy any apartments off the plan , you must do research on the developer and the builder for their credibility!

[@Larimuss]

We have shit building standards and laws compared to some other countries. Big apartment blocked should be inspected every few weeks.

[@peterfmodel]

Having lived in apartments in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Seoul, Beijing and Singapore i have to say most modern apartment in Sydney are very flimsy. Apartments built in Sydney prior to 1996 seem good, they are normally full brick and concrete and all internal walls are brick, but the windows are very flimsy. I was told the main reason for this was the federal government rules changes in 1986 and then followed by the NSW state government rules changes in 1996. If i had to buy an apartment i think i would stay with those built prior to 2000.