Defects & quality
The property you received should match the property you bought.
Defect disputes have a rhythm to them. The unit is inspected, a snagging list is produced, some items are fixed, the difficult ones are not, and the purchaser is asked to complete handover anyway. Months later the same items are still open and the leverage has gone. The most valuable thing a purchaser can do is document properly and early, and understand what the SPA says about condition, tolerance and the handover process before signing anything at the unit.
The issues these disputes involve
- Poor workmanship
- Water ingress
- Mechanical problems
- Electrical problems
- Flooring
- Joinery
- Finishes
- Doors and windows
- Façade issues
- Material substitutions
- Layout differences
- Significant snagging problems
- Repeated unresolved defects
- Common-area quality
- Amenities
Not every defect carries the same weight
The significance of a defect depends upon the SPA, the technical evidence and the individual circumstances. A cosmetic snag on a door frame and a recurring water ingress problem affecting the structure of a unit are not the same issue. An independent inspection or snagging report carries considerably more weight than a purchaser’s own list of complaints.
What to gather
Dated photographs and video of each item. An independent snagging or inspection report. The written list submitted to the developer and every response received. Copies of the specification, the finishes schedule and the marketing material describing what was to be installed. Any handover documents you were asked to sign. If you have not completed handover yet, be careful about what an acceptance document says.
Questions on this page
That depends on the SPA, the nature of the outstanding items and how the handover documentation is drafted. It is worth having the documents reviewed before signing rather than afterwards.