Extension for cladding claims

Victorians will be given an extra two years to pursue legal action against builders responsible for installing combustible cladding on their homes under legislation being introduced to the Victorian Parliament on September 3.

The Cladding Safety Victoria Bill 2020 will give homeowners more opportunity to recover the cost of removing the combustible cladding by increasing the time limit on compensation claims from 10 years to 12 years.

This extension applies to all claims where the claim period expired or was due to expire between the date of the government’s announcement of the cladding rectification program on July 16, 2019 and 12 months after the new Bill commences.

Minister for Planning Richard Wynne said the government was also chasing wrongdoers through the courts on behalf of owners in the most serious cases, where the state paid for rectification costs and the builder was found to have a case to answer after a thorough investigation.

The Bill will also formally separate Cladding Safety Victoria (CSV) from the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) and establish it as the responsible authority for delivering the Cladding Rectification Program.

“Establishing CSV as a stand-alone entity will ensure it is best placed to deliver the Victorian Government’s world-leading cladding rectification program,” Minister for Planning Richard Wynne said.

In July last year, the Government announced a $600 million package to fix buildings with combustible cladding and establish CSV to oversee the world first program.  

CSV provides information and funding to building owners, owners’ corporations (OCs) and the building sector to rectify buildings and make them safe. Funding for rectification works are prioritised based on risk •