The Victorian Building Authority (VBA) is urging all do-it-yourself handypeople wanting to replicate home renovation projects from reality television to learn the rules and regulations of domestic building work.
State Building Surveyor at VBA, Andrew Cialini warned people not to be fooled by reality television shows, saying that DIY projects could often end up costing more than expected if things went wrong
“Reality television can give the wrong impression on how the system works,” Mr Cialini said.
“Your home is your greatest asset, you need to make sure you’re fully aware of the rules, if you’re not, things can easily go wrong, causing stress and costing you money,” he said.
“The shows you see have teams of industry practitioners assisting with the builds and doing the heavy lifting, don’t be fooled and end up ruining your dream home.”
Mr Cialini said anyone trying to carry out larger and more complicated projects needed to hire a professional to stay safe.
“Building and renovating work is complex, so you need to know when to hire professionals,” the State Building Surveyor said.
“Although we love to take on big projects ourselves, if the project costs more than $10,000 and involves structural work or two or more specific trade skills, you will need to use a registered practitioner.”
He said some landscaping work was considered domestic building work and required a registered building practitioner, including retaining structures, some fencing and building verandas and decks attached to the home.
Mr Cialini said plumbing work was also strictly regulated in Victoria.
“A plumbing practitioner must be licensed or registered by the VBA and if the total value of the works is $750 or greater, a licenced plumber must issue you a compliance certificate, which is an important consumer protection tool,” he said.
Further information on home renovations is available on the VBA’s home renovation essential hub at this PS News link.
