Complaints about practitioners or their work
The conduct of building and plumbing practitioners is a primary focus of the VBA.
Visit our Complaints portal for more information about the complaints process.
Victorian Statewide Cladding Audit
If your building has been inspected for combustible cladding by the VBA, your building manager or owners’ corporation will be aware. They will be in the best position to provide up-to-date information on the status of your building. The VBA can also provide a status update.
Victorian Statewide Cladding Audit
The VBA continues to inspect buildings across the state, however is unable to give a timeline for inspections of individual buildings. If your building is identified as requiring inspection, the VBA will contact your building manager or owners’ corporation in advance to arrange a time for inspection.
The VBA considers the following factors when prioritising buildings:
intelligence from local councils that confirms the likelihood of expanded polystyrene or aluminium composite panels on an in-scope building;
vulnerability of occupants (for example, aged care facilities, hospitals, child care);
use of the building (for example, likely number of occupants and whether they sleep in the building);
history of the builder, building surveyor and fire engineer;
height of building; and
date of construction.
For more information about the audit process, please read: Assessing and fixing cladding – a start-to-finish guide for building and apartment owners .
Victorian Statewide Cladding Audit
Please ensure you have read the VBA’s factsheet for prospective apartment buyers .
You should ask the building manager, owners'’ corporation, seller or agent if the building has aluminium composite panels or expanded polystyrene attached to it.
Also, thoroughly review the seller’s Section 32 statement and review information about the owners’ corporation to check for information about combustible cladding.
Victorian Statewide Cladding Audit
A building notice starts the conversation between building owners and the Municipal Building Surveyor about what should be done to fix the building.
It provides the owners with an opportunity to address the concerns of the Municipal Building Surveyor, and develop a plan to fix the cladding.
The Municipal Building Surveyor will be either from your local council or the VBA.
For more information, please read the VBA’s guide to building notices .
Are you a resident or an owner?
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Are you an affected resident, apartment owner, owners’ corporation, building manager or prospective buyer?
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Please enter the address of the building you wish to enquire about in the fields below.
Building Act
The Building Act 1993 governs building activity in Victoria. It sets out the legislative framework for the regulation of building construction, building standards and the maintenance of specific building safety features.
Visit our Legislation webpage to find out more.
Building Practice Notes
The VBA publishes a range of Practice Notes to assist building practitioners in the design, construction and evaluation of compliant building work.
The Practice Notes cover a range of subject areas, including building administration and processes, design and construction, and commercial building.
Visit our Practitioner Resources portal for more information.
Building Regulations
Victoria’s Building Regulations are derived from the Building Act. They specify, amongst other things, requirements relating to:
building permits
building inspections
occupancy permits
building maintenance; and
the enforcement of the Regulations.
Visit our Legislation webpage to find out more.
Building Standards and Tolerances
The Guide to Standards and Tolerances
National Construction Code
The National Construction Code (NCC) specifies the minimum requirements necessary for the compliant construction of new buildings (or new building work in existing buildings) throughout Australia.
It incorporates all on-site construction requirements into a single code, and is comprised of the Building Code of Australia and the Plumbing Code of Australia.
Learn more about the NCC on our Legislation webpage or the Australian Building Codes Board website.
Plumbing Regulations
Victoria’s Plumbing Regulations are derived from the Building Act. They contain, amongst other things:
definitions of various classes of plumbing work
eligibility requirements for registration and licensing
the fees payable for registration and licensing applications; and
the technical requirements that specified classes of plumbing work must comply with.
Visit our Legislation webpage to find out more.
Plumbing Codes
The Plumbing Code of Australia specifies the technical performance requirements for the design, construction, installation and deemed-to-satisfy method of all plumbing and drainage work.
Visit our Legislation webpage to find out more.
Plumbing Modifications
Plumbing practitioners may apply for a technical modification if they believe they are unable to complete a job in compliance with the relevant regulations, codes and standards.
The process allows practitioners to provide acceptable plumbing solutions that achieve the necessary performance requirements by making one-off or site-specific variations to the technical regulations.
For more information, or to download the required application forms, visit our Modifications webpage.
Plumbing Technical Solutions
The VBA publishes a range of Technical Solution Sheets to assist plumbing practitioners in the design, installation and testing of compliant plumbing solutions. Topics covered are relevant to all main and specialised classes of plumbing work.
Visit our Plumbing Industry Resources page for more information.
Security of Payment Act
The Security of Payment Act helps ensure that any person who carries out construction work or supplies related goods and services under a construction contract gets paid.
It provides a fast and inexpensive means of recovering payments due under a construction contract, and applies to all public and private sector projects in Victoria.
Visit our Security of Payment webpage to find out how the SOP Act can help you.
Compliance Certificates
Compliance certificates are issued by licensed plumbers to certify that their work complies with the relevant regulations, codes and standards.
They must be issued to clients (and lodged with the VBA) upon completion of any work valued at $750 or more (including materials, appliances, labour and GST), or any work involving below ground sanitary drains, gas piping or cooling towers.
For more information, visit the compliance certificate sections of our consumer and practitioner portals.
VBA360
Visit VBA360 to purchase, lodge or look up a compliance certificate.
New Owner-Builder Applications
An owner-builder is someone who takes responsibility for domestic building work carried out on their own land.
They are responsible for obtaining building permits, supervising or undertaking building work, and ensuring the work meets the relevant regulations, standards and codes.
Learn more about becoming an owner-builder in our consumers portal.
Owner-Builder eLearning Assessment
The Owner-Builder eLearning Assessment is designed to help applicants understand the duties and responsibilities they will be taking on as an owner-builder.
Applicants must successfully complete the eLearning Assessment before applying for an owner-builder certificate of consent.
Careers at the VBA
At the VBA, our staff are our most important asset and are vital for ensuring Victorians have access to efficient and competitive building and plumbing industries.
To find a role that fits your skills and aspirations, visit our Careers portal .
About the VBA
The VBA regulates building and plumbing practitioners to ensure Victorians have access to efficient and competitive building and plumbing industries.
Our services include:
registering and licensing building and plumbing practitioners
providing industry with expert technical advice and solutions
undertaking inspections, investigations and audits; and
protecting consumers from non-compliant work and practitioner misconduct.
Learn more about the VBA by browsing our website .
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