A Clear Path Through Your Building Dispute

Building or renovating a property is a massive financial and emotional investment. When you’re facing major defects, endless delays, or a dispute over payment, it can feel overwhelming. Whether you are a homeowner or a builder, you need a clear path to resolution.

Irvine Lawyers provides practical advice on building contracts and construction disputes. We help you understand your rights under Victorian law, protect your position, and find the most sensible and cost-effective way forward.

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Building and Construction Law in Victoria

Building and construction law in Victoria is complex and technical. We cut through the jargon and provide clear, practical guidance. Representing homeowners, builders, and tradespeople from our Warrnambool and South Morang offices, we navigate domestic building contracts, payment claims, and disputes.

We are experienced in handling VCAT building disputes and explain your rights under laws like the Domestic Building Contracts Act 1995. Our goal is to get your project back on track and find a commercial solution as quickly as possible.

Why Choose Irvine Lawyers for Building & Construction Law Concerns

• Practical Advice: Focused on sensible outcomes and commercial realities.
• Support for Homeowners & Builders: Unique perspective from acting on both sides of disputes.
• VCAT & Dispute Specialists: Experienced advocates, prioritising mediation but ready for hearings.
• Fixed-Fee Contract Reviews: Preventative reviews of domestic building contracts in Victoria.
• Security of Payment Experts: Helping builders, subcontractors, and consultants recover payments efficiently.

Building & Construction Law: What It Covers

• Building Contract Reviews & Advice: Translating contracts into plain English for homeowners; drafting compliant contracts for builders and subcontractors.
• Building & Construction Disputes (VCAT): Representing homeowners, builders, and tradies for defective work, incomplete work, and delays.
• Security of Payment & Debt Recovery: Using the Security of Payment Act and other legal tools to recover unpaid invoices.

How It Works: Our Resolution Process

1. Free Consult & Review: 30-minute chat to review contracts, defects, or unpaid invoices and give initial guidance.
2. Clear Strategy & Quote: Outline options (VCAT, Security of Payment, letter of demand) and provide cost estimate.
3. Building Your Case: Gather evidence, engage experts, and prepare VCAT applications or defences.
4. Negotiation & Mediation: Engage with the other party to resolve disputes, attending mediation or compulsory conferences with you.
5. Resolution (VCAT or Settlement): Finalise the matter through settlement or VCAT hearing to obtain a Tribunal order.

Pricing & Transparency

We offer fixed fees for reviewing standard domestic building contracts. For dispute work, we provide clear cost estimates for each stage (lodging the application, mediation, final hearing). Your first 30-minute consultation is always free.

Common Situations We Handle

• Homeowners discovering major defects (waterproofing, slabs, structural issues) in new builds or renovations.
• Builders or tradies needing payment under the Security of Payment Act.
• Local building dispute representation in Warrnambool or South Morang.
• Homeowners abandoned by their builder before work completion.
• Reviewing complex domestic building contracts before signing.
• Responding to or defending VCAT applications.
• Disputes over contract variations, delays, and cost overruns.

Meet Our Team

Our construction lawyers are sharp negotiators and experienced litigators. We are practical, commercially minded, and understand technical details that win building disputes. As part of our commercial and business law team, we focus on cost-effective resolutions.

Service Areas & Contact

From our Warrnambool and South Morang offices, we provide building law advice across greater Melbourne and regional Victoria.

Get clear advice from a building and construction lawyer today.

Call us on (03) 9422 5439 for South Morang or (03) 5562 9196 for Warrnambool, or Book your free 30-minute case assessment online.

FAQs: Building Law in Victoria

What’s the first thing I should do in a building dispute?

Do not stop paying a builder or lock them out of the site without legal advice. Gather all documents (contract, emails, photos) and book a free chat to understand your rights.

What is VCAT?

The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) handles domestic building disputes in Victoria. It is cheaper, faster, and less formal than traditional courts.

What is the Security of Payment Act?

This Victorian law helps builders and tradies get paid fast via a formal “payment claim” that must be responded to within a strict timeframe.

I’m a homeowner. Can I use the Security of Payment Act?

No. It generally applies to builders, subcontractors, and consultants, not domestic contracts with homeowners.

My builder has gone insolvent (bankrupt). What do I do?

Act quickly to secure your site and check for domestic building insurance (required for most projects over $16,000 in Victoria). We can advise on insurance claims.