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Thousands of Sydney strata buildings at risk from worst building certifications

The multibillion dollar New South Wales strata property sector is calling for a major shakeup of what it calls almost “third world” building standards in operation in locations such as Sydney.

The sector says the time is now for thousands of stakeholders in Sydney and throughout the state to voice their concerns on building standards, after a report recently identified the state’s building certification system as the worst in the country.

As part of an active Building Professionals Review, Engineers Australia have released a report revealing that 85% of strata lots were defective on completion.

The main problem identified was the failure of numerous buildings to embrace fire safety through their construction, and experts say this may lead to disaster.

Three in every four residences in the City of Sydney are apartments, and in the midst of a statewide apartment boom which will see 20,000 new units coming into the market over the next few years, the strata sector says there has never been a more important time for strata stakeholders to have their say.

The peak organisation for Strata and Community Title Management in New South Wales says the Building Professionals Review has made a community forum and open survey available to the public, and wants “all hands on deck” to help inform policy makers and push this necessary change forward.

“The standard of building and construction in New South Wales is a huge worry for our members and the thousands of residents who call strata home,” Strata Community Australia (NSW) President Greg Haywood said today.

“There needs to be a significant overhaul regarding the building of strata communities, and we urge strata managers, property owners and all other concerned stakeholders to use the mouthpiece that has been provided to them and make this case for change even stronger.”

Mr Haywood says that a failure in building certification systems has left stakeholders exposed to unacceptable risks; including the now widespread nature of inferior construction products.

“In the past financial year alone, we have witnessed countless products that put properties and lives on the line,” Mr Haywood said.

“On the back of electric cabling and aluminium cladding posing a series of fire threats, I would think fire safety of construction products needs to be a priority within any change moving forward.”

Mr Haywood said the strata sector is hopeful stakeholder advocacy and the findings of industry reports will see the completion of the review fast-tracked.

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