Building permits may be illegal

– Sarah Schwager
BUILDING permits issued under a local building inspector are believed to be invalid.
This has raised fears that numerous Casey properties could be illegally occupied or not covered by insurance.
The concerns were highlighted after a Cranbourne-based company, Casey Building Services, was last week suspended by the Building Commission after an investigation into the alleged issuing of irregular building permits.
The Building Practitioners Board is now taking disciplinary action for unprofessional conduct against Casey Building Services after 780 suspect permits were issued to clients by the company between September 2005 and August 2006 for works including new homes, renovations and swimming pools and spas.
Building Commissioner Tony Arnel said the building permit irregularities had been reported to police and the Building Commission was working hard to ensure that consumers who received the irregular building permits would not be disadvantaged.
“The Building Commission is offering householders and builders free advice, inspections and reports,” Mr Arnel said.
“The commission will also meet the cost of issuing new building permits where they are needed in order to complete the work.”
Mr Arnel said that the irregularities related to paperwork issues, believed to include false signatures, and while the Building Commission took the matter very seriously, there was no reason to believe that the actual building work was substandard or dangerous.
City of Casey CEO Mike Tyler said the Building Commission has advised the council that while the company was based in Cranbourne, the building permits in question were spread over 53 different councils and that Casey Building Services was not associated in any way with the City of Casey.
Affected consumers who have concerns can call the Building Commission’s hotline between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday on 1300 360 320.