You shouldn’t have to lose your home to fix it. But costly building disputes mean that taking your builder to VCAT is too expensive for many homeowners.

Jane and her husband were excited to move into their new home. But their excitement soon turned to despair when they noticed leaks in the ceiling, walls and plumbing. The leaks were slowly destroying their home. The builder’s warranty should cover the damage, but after two years of back and forth, the builder still hadn’t fixed the house.

Jane needed legal help and initially hired a private lawyer. However, as the months dragged on, Jane and her husband could not afford the lawyer any longer. Instead, they decided to represent themselves.

After a one-hour appointment with our lawyer, Jane had the knowledge and confidence she needed to represent herself at VCAT and win the costs to fix her home.

Many Australians, like Jane, can’t afford the expensive cost of litigation. But they also don’t meet the criteria for free legal help. These people are considered the “missing middle”, and we’ve designed tailored models of legal help to give them the support they need, when they need it.

If you’re a Victorian homeowner in a building dispute at VCAT, our Domestic Building Legal Service may be able to help. You can access self-help resources on to help you prepare for representing yourself at VCAT.