Building Dispute Pack: Notice, Regulator Complaint and Evidence Schedule
In a dispute with your builder? Three documents: a formal notice of dispute to the builder, a complaint statement set out for your state building regulator's dispute or complaint process (the step the tribunal requires first in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland), and a chronology and evidence schedule. You download them, send the notice and lodge the complaint yourself.
What this document does
- A formal notice of dispute to your builder, with every issue numbered.
- A complaint statement set out for your state building regulator's dispute or complaint process.
- A chronology and an evidence schedule that tie each document to an issue.
- Names the right regulator for your state, and says where the tribunal requires that step first.
- Drafted in about 5 minutes, as three separate PDFs.
- You download them, send the notice to the builder and lodge the complaint yourself.
What we'll ask you
Plain-English questions, one at a time. No legal knowledge needed — if you don't know an answer exactly, your best estimate is fine.
- What stage is the build at?
- Do you live in this home, or plan to live in it once the work is done?
- Does the claim or invoice you are disputing say it is made under a Security of Payment Act (the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act, or your state's version)?
- Does the claim or invoice you are disputing say it is made under a Security of Payment Act (the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act, or your state's version)?
- Who is the builder? The business name on your contract, plus their licence or registration number if you have it.
- Tell me what the dispute is about, in order: the job and what went wrong.
- The property address, the date you signed the contract, the contract price and the type of contract.
- List each issue in dispute, numbered 1, 2, 3: unfinished work, defects, charges or variations you dispute, delays. Say where it is and when you first raised it.
- Key dates, in order: work started, each payment (date and amount), when problems started, and each time you contacted the builder and what was said.
- What documents and evidence do you have? The contract, variations, invoices, receipts, emails and texts, photos, inspection reports, certificates.optional
- What outcome do you want? For example: finish listed work by a date, fix defects, withdraw or reduce a charge, a refund or credit, an extension of time claim withdrawn.
- If you are claiming money (a refund, a credit, or the cost to fix or finish), how much? Enter 0 if you are not claiming money.optional
- Have you already contacted your state's building regulator about this dispute?
- You review it first · Nothing is sent to anyone else
- 2 free amendments included
- All Australian states and territories
- Stripe secured · 256-bit encrypted
Your builder dispute: the regulator and tribunal in your state
Each state and territory has its own home building law and building regulator. We only ever name the regulator and the tribunal or court for your state.
New South Wales
Legislation: Home Building Act 1989 (NSW). Section 18B(1) implies into every contract to do residential building work warranties that the work will be done with due care and skill and in accordance with the plans and specifications set out in the contract (s 18B(1)(a)).
Building regulator: Building Commission NSW
Tribunal: NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT), home building (after the Building Commission NSW step)
Victoria
Legislation: Domestic Building Contracts Act 1995 (Vic). Section 8 makes part of every domestic building contract warranties that the work will be carried out in a proper and workmanlike manner and in accordance with the plans and specifications set out in the contract (s 8(a)).
Building regulator: Building and Plumbing Commission (dispute resolution service)
Tribunal: VCAT, with a certificate of conciliation (s 56, Domestic Building Contracts Act 1995)
Queensland
Legislation: Queensland Building and Construction Commission Act 1991 (Qld), Schedule 1B. The warranties in Schedule 1B, Part 3, Division 2 are part of every regulated contract (Sch 1B s 19).
Building regulator: Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC)
Tribunal: QCAT, domestic building dispute (after the QBCC process)
Western Australia
Legislation: Home Building Contracts Act 1991 (WA), which applies to contracts for home building work valued between $7,500 and $500,000, and the Building Services (Complaint Resolution and Administration) Act 2011 (WA).
Building regulator: Building Commissioner, Building and Energy (after a Notice of proposed complaint)
Tribunal: State Administrative Tribunal (SAT), on referral from the Building Commissioner or review of an order
Money claims: Magistrates Court of Western Australia, when the Commissioner or SAT is not dealing with it
South Australia
Legislation: Building Work Contractors Act 1995 (SA). Section 32(2) implies into every domestic building work contract warranties that the work will be performed in a proper manner to accepted trade standards and in accordance with the plans and specifications agreed by the parties (s 32(2)(a)).
Building regulator: Consumer and Business Services (CBS), building disputes
Money claims: Magistrates Court of South Australia
Tasmania
Legislation: Residential Building Work Contracts and Dispute Resolution Act 2016 (Tas). Regulator and dispute step: the Director of Building Control, part of Building Standards Tasmania (within the Department of Justice).
Building regulator: Director of Building Control (Building Standards Tasmania), notice of dispute and mediation
Tribunal: TASCAT, Civil and Consumer stream (after the notice of dispute; contracts of $20,000 or more)
Money claims: Magistrates Court of Tasmania (Civil Division)
Australian Capital Territory
Legislation: Building Act 2004 (ACT).
Building regulator: Access Canberra
Tribunal: ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal (ACAT)
Northern Territory
Legislation: Building Act 1993 (NT). Section 54B(1) sets consumer guarantees for prescribed residential building work (for example a new home, a unit in a complex of up to three storeys, or a renovation or extension that increases floor area above the threshold).
Building disputes: NT Consumer Affairs; Commissioner of Residential Building Disputes (fidelity fund work)
Tribunal or court: NTCAT up to $25,000; Local Court up to $250,000
From your answers to a finished Building Dispute Pack in three steps
Answer 13 quick questions
Who it’s about, what happened and what you want. Plain English, one question at a time.
We draft it for your state
Your Building Dispute Pack: Notice, Regulator Complaint and Evidence Schedule is drafted to the legislation, regulator and tribunal for your state or territory, then formatted as a professional PDF. Usually ready within about five minutes.
Review, confirm, receive
The draft lands in your dashboard for you to read. Change anything that isn't right (two free amendments), confirm it, and we email you the final PDF. Nothing is sent to anyone else.
Ready? Start now.
No card required until the end. No account needed to start.
Start My Building Dispute Pack — $97 →$97 flat fee · You review it first · edit it yourself any time, plus 2 redrafts
Everything about the Building Dispute Pack: Notice, Regulator Complaint and Evidence Schedule
How much does the Building Dispute Pack cost?
A flat $97 AUD, including GST. There is no card required to start, no subscription and no hourly rate — you see the full summary of your answers before you pay.
How long does it take?
There are 13 questions, which take a few minutes to answer. You see a full summary of your answers before you pay; your document is drafted once your payment is confirmed.
When do I get the document?
The draft of your Building Dispute Pack: Notice, Regulator Complaint and Evidence Schedule is usually ready in about 5 minutes. You read it on your dashboard and can change the wording; once you confirm it, the final PDF is available to download and emailed to you.
What if I need changes?
You read the full Building Dispute Pack on your dashboard first. You can change the wording or ask for a redraft, with unlimited edits and 2 redrafts included, then confirm it and the final PDF is yours to download and keep.
Does it work in my state?
Yes. The Building Dispute Pack: Notice, Regulator Complaint and Evidence Schedule is drafted to the law of the state or territory the matter is in — NSW, Victoria, Queensland, WA, SA, Tasmania, the ACT and the NT — citing the right Act, regulator and tribunal or court for that state.
Do I have to go to the regulator before the tribunal?
In New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland the tribunal will not take most home building disputes until you have been through the regulator: Building Commission NSW, the Building and Plumbing Commission, or the QBCC. The other states and territories have their own processes, which the pack names for your state.
Does Claim Done lodge the complaint?
No. You download the documents, send the notice to the builder and lodge the complaint with the regulator yourself, using the regulator's own form.
Read up before you send
Other building & property documents
Put it in writing today.
A few quick questions and your Building Dispute Pack: Notice, Regulator Complaint and Evidence Schedule is drafted for your state. No card required until the end.
Start My Building Dispute Pack — $97 →