Deadline for cladding assessment extended

PROPERTY owners on the Gold Coast will be given more time to survey their buildings for combustible cladding.

The State Government yesterday said it was extending the stage 2 deadline of its Safer Buildings Program by two months so more than 5000 Queensland property owners could have their buildings properly assessed.

The Bulletin last week revealed 677 Coast property owners were in a race to prove their homes did not have the combustible cladding that turned a London tower into an inferno in 2017, killing 72 people.

Owners and body corporates were being slugged between $4000 and $6000 for the inspection and were required to have it done before May 29 or face fines of up to $20,000.

Industry heads said the tight deadline was creating a bottleneck and price gouging. The deadline has been extended to July 31.

“Property owners now have additional time and they are encouraged to shop around and get their buildings assessed at a competitive price,” Minister for Housing and Public Works Mick de Brenni said.

Simon Barnard, president of peak industry body Strata Community Association (SCA), welcomed the move.

“Bodies corporate require time to make collective decisions in a compliant manner and it has been difficult for many lot owners to do so.”

The SCA urged bodies corporate not to be complacent with the extended timelines.

Michael Hart, the Shadow Minister for Housing and Public Works, said he was glad the government had “swallowed their pride, taken our advice and given Queensland home owners more time”.