What if my builder has died, disappeared or become insolvent?
Last updated 2 December 2020
Last updated 2 December 2020
If you have a dispute with a builder who has died, disappeared or become insolvent (bankrupt), you may be able to make a claim on their builder’s warranty insurance.
This fact sheet explains when you can make a claim on your builder’s warranty insurance and how to do it.
Builders in Victoria must take out domestic building insurance, also known as builder’s warranty insurance, for work valued at more than $16,000. This insurance provides cover to homeowners for incomplete or defective building work if their builder has died, disappeared or become insolvent.
Builders are not required to have domestic building insurance for works under $16,000. However, if your builder is in external administration, you can still submit a claim as an unsecured creditor by contacting the builder’s administrator or liquidator. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission or Australian Financial Security Authority can provide administrator or liquidator details and factsheets on insolvency procedures.
If you paid the builder by credit card, contact your card provider and request a chargeback.
If the builder is not in external administration, seek legal advice.
If your policy was issued on or after 31 May 2010, the Victorian Managed Insurance Authority (VMIA) might be the insurer. You can check the details of your builder’s warranty insurance on the certificate of insurance or your building permit.
If you do not have the certificate of insurance or your building permit, contact the VMIA on 03 9270 6900 or lodge an enquiry about your property and any relevant policies with the VMIA.
Firstly, find out who the insurer is by contacting the builder/building surveyor or local council and ask them for the name of the insurer and the policy number, which is usually listed on the building permit.
Then, contact the insurer and obtain the relevant policy statement and details regarding how to make a claim. We recommend that you seek legal advice with this step
If you cannot find details of the insurer, or it appears that the builder might not have builder’s warranty insurance, you should contact the Building Information Line on 1300 55 75 59 for advice.
You can make a claim with VMIA if your building or renovation project has incomplete or defective works and your builder has died, disappeared or become insolvent (went bankrupt).
If you suspect your builder is insolvent, you should take the following steps:
You will first need to identify the correct person or entity as the builder by checking the name of the person or entity listed as the “builder” on any of the following documents:
For more detail on identifying your builder see our resource Tips to identify the correct builder in building disputes.
If your builder is a sole trader or a partnership, you will need to check the Bankruptcy register to find out if a sole trader or one of the partners is bankrupt.
If your builder is a company, you will need to check the ASIC register to find out if the company is deregistered or insolvent.
You can search obituaries, social media, or hire a private investigator.
A builder is considered ‘disappeared’ if the builder cannot be found after you conducted reasonable searches and enquiries. Reasonable searches include trying to contact the builder, conducting searches and enquiring at the last known business address of the builder. Note that the VMIA will make further enquiries to confirm that the builder cannot be found.
Note, only builders operating as sole traders or partnerships can disappear- companies cannot disappear.
Once you are satisfied that the builder has died, disappeared or become insolvent (bankrupt), you can lodge a VMIA claim online. You will need to have the following information ready:
Once you submit your claim, VMIA will assess your claim by conducting searches and enquiries.
If VMIA finds that you are eligible to make a claim, VMIA will arrange a building consultant to visit your property and inspect the builder’s work.
The building consultant will assess and report on each item you are claiming for. VMIA will then review the building consultant’s report and prepare a schedule of works which sets out all items that will be accepted under the policy. Once this is finalised, you may be asked to get at least one quote from a builder of your choice to complete or rectify the items in the schedule of works. Alternatively, the quote can be arranged by the VMIA. Once the VMIA has the quotes, they will decide what is a reasonable amount to pay to complete the incomplete works or rectify the defects. The VMIA will then pay a builder to complete or rectify the works. In some cases, the VMIA will pay this money to you directly.
For more information, read VMIA’s claims process fact sheet.
Yes.
A claim for structural building defects must be made within 6 years after the completion of work or termination of the building contract.
A claim for non-structural building defects must be made within 2 years after the completion of work or termination of the building contract.
You should act quickly, and if you are concerned that you may be out of time for making a VMIA claim, seek legal advice.
You can request a review of VMIA’s decision by making an application to VCAT within 28 days of the decision.
This resource was last updated on 2 December 2020. This is legal information only and does not constitute legal advice. You should always contact a lawyer for advice specific to your situation. Please view our disclaimer for more information.