Subcontractor

Land Title Release and Contracts

Sometimes people sign a building contract and pay a deposit on a home when land title is not yet available. Delays in the processing of land title can be lengthy and with building costs increasing rapidly, so there can be contract complications and inconvenience to both parties. Under normal conditions and under most building contracts […]

Owner Building

If you are considering building your own home, excluding some of the finishing work from your building contract, or renovating your existing home, you will need to apply to the Building Commission of Western Australia. All of the owners of the land must apply, and at least one applicant must provide evidence that he/she has […]

Preliminary Agreements

A Preliminary Agreement (PA), or Preparation of Plans Agreement, is a common document used by builders dealing with clients in the early stages of building a new home. These agreements do not involve building work and are preparatory to entering a building contract. Some common features are: the consumer is committed to paying a “deposit”, […]

Pool and Spa Safety Barriers

With hot weather across the state, pools are a hot topic. Most people would be aware that an approval is required to install a swimming pool. Concrete, fibre-glass, or liner pools all need approval, as well as above-ground and temporary pools. The reason for the need for a Building Permit for swimming pools is not […]

Employment and Agreement Making

Agreement Making The Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (FW Act) substabtially changes the process and nature of agreement making and emphasises collective agreement making. The scope of matters that an agreement can cover has been expanded by the FW Act. This fact sheet outlines the agreement making process, types of agreements and content of agreements. […]

Employment and Good Faith Bargaining

Bargaining representatives must comply with various ‘good faith bargaining’ requirements when negotiating an enterprise agreement (other than a greenfields agreement). These requirements do not apply to the process of varying or terminating an enterprise agreement. The good faith bargaining requirements imposed on all bargaining representatives include: Attending and participating in meetings at reasonable times; Disclosing […]

Employer Record Keeping

Building Documentation

When applying for a building permit, the documents required need to be to a “ready for construction” standard. The minimum requirements for a building project when it comes to documenting can be summarised as: Drawings or Plans – These describe visually, what will be built, where the building is situated, the size of rooms and […]

Energy Rating

The Energy Rating Label was first introduced in 1986 in NSW and Victoria. It is now mandatory in all Australian states and territories for televisions, fridges and freezers, washers and dryers, dishwashers and air-conditioners to carry the label when they are offered for sale. The Energy Rating Labeling Scheme assists consumers with assessing the energy […]

Buying a Display Home

Investment in a builder’s display home may be a sound decision depending on your circumstances. Many builders sell and rent back their display homes to recover some of the capital construction costs. Usually a display home will have a limited life until a new development area is built out, so the lease back option can […]