Disputes with designers
What to do when something goes wrong on your building project.
What to do when something goes wrong on your building project.
What to do when something goes wrong on your building project.
During the building phase your builder will probably need to talk with the architect/designer at various stages, to clarify something on the plans, or to ask for a variation, for example, if a particular material is not available.
So it is important that these two people get on well professionally.
Depending on who is managing the project, the architect/designer may have an active ongoing role during construction or may take a step back and only be involved when required.
If you are taking on a supervisory role at the site and see something going wrong, talk to your architect/designer first and record your concerns.
When something goes wrong
If you have a serious breakdown in communication with your architect/designer, your options for resolving disputes are:
DANZ offers a mediation service, part of which entails getting another practitioner to look at the design documents and assess a fair and market price. This is called peer review.
The service that your architect or designer provides will be covered by the provisions of the Consumer Guarantees Act (CGA). The service must be performed with reasonable care and skill, and result in a house fit for its purpose.
If the services don’t meet these standards you have remedies under the Act.
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