Victoria consulting on new regulations for apartments

The Victorian government has released a regulatory impact statement (RIS) on the introduction of building reforms for new apartment buildings and other residential buildings.

The first major change would be to introduce a building manual to collate key information and documentation on the design, construction and maintenance of buildings.

The second major change would be to introduce two additional mandatory inspections during construction, with a focus on the building frame prior to internal plastering or lining and on waterproofing.

According to the government, the proposals aim to reduce the prevalence of non-compliant building work, identify and rectify non-compliant work when it does occur, and to support ongoing building maintenance. The changes are part of a broader program of reform.

More information about the proposed building manual and mandatory inspection reforms is available at the Engage Victoria website.