Being charged for “variations” — extras or changes — you never agreed to, or hit with a final bill far above the contract price? In Victoria, variations to a domestic building contract generally have to be in writing, and a builder who doesn’t follow the variation rules may not be able to recover the extra cost (except with VCAT’s permission). We help you challenge disputed variations and cost blowouts.
Part of our Building & construction practice.
We test each claimed variation against the contract and the Victorian rules on how variations must be documented.
A clear, lawyer-drafted response setting out what you will and won’t pay, and why.
Free DBDRV conciliation first; VCAT if the builder won’t back down.
Generally yes for domestic building contracts. A builder who carries out a variation without following the required process may be unable to recover the cost of it, except with VCAT’s permission — so many disputed variations can be challenged.
Not automatically. Extras must be properly documented variations, and prime cost / provisional sum items have their own rules. We can review the bill and tell you what is genuinely owed.
General information only — for advice about your situation, get a free quote or book a consult.
Speak with an experienced Victorian building lawyer — book online, or call us 7 days.
