Hi, I got this brand new house in western suburb more than…

Hello and thank you for your question.

Referring the matter to consumer affairs is the right initial approach and sometimes can result in resolving the problems without recourse to the Consumer Trader and Tenancy Tribunal.

If you are going overseas, however, I would strongly recommend you engage a lawyer with domestic building dispute experience to handle the matter for you. Very often, particularly if the problems are extensive, such mattes will ultimately have to be dealt with in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, and it will assist your case substantially if you have a lawyer acting for you and able to take instructions whilst you are away.

If you don't then what is likely to happen is that your issues will simply not be dealt with whilst you are absent and the longer you delay the easier it may be for the builder to attribute problems to a lack of maintenance on your part, etc. A lawyer brought in early on a case like this can also assist greatly in negotiations to achieve a good early compromise.

If you need assistance locating a suitable lawyer contact the Law Institute of Victoria as they can refer you to suitable building lawyers in your area.

http://www.liv.asn.au/

I trust the above assists your understanding.

Please rate my answer so that I can be paid for my time and effort.

Please not I am only paid if you rate me with three or more smileys/stars. Funds paid to me come out of the funds you previously paid to Just Answer and it costs you nothing extra to give me a positive rating.

Thanks,

Patrick