Home Demolition Done without Council Approval with a Lot of Asbestos Remaining - What to Do Next?

Immeg on 27/10/2019 - 12:20
Last edited 27/10/2019 - 13:37 by 1 other user

Hi there,

My relative is currently building a home with a company and has opted for an external demolition. Upon completion, the company inspected the site and told them that the demolition was done without council approval and was not done properly (there is a lot of asbestos remaining - apparently only 60% of the process was completed).

They went to the council and informed them about the situation however they have to wait a while for an inspection which may result in a lot of costs from the building company associated with a delay.

Has anyone been in this situation? What did you do afterwards?
What do you recommend as the cheapest and fastest option?
I really appreciate your help!

• 

  MrHyde on 27/10/2019 - 13:13

  +3

  Go back to the company that did the demolition and ask them to show their permits and to do a proper job. Likely scenario, they will say to take a hike; after which your options is to take them to court.

  As for any fines the council may apply, you are responsible since you should have checked that all permits were obtained before the job commenced.

  • 

    Ugly on 28/10/2019 - 09:02

    Also, be sure to ask the Demolition company for an asbestos clearance certificate.
    If they can't (or won't) provide one, then I would also consider reporting the company to the safe work organisation (https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/) in your state.

• 

  qwerty on 27/10/2019 - 14:05

  +6

  Cheapest and fastest ?

  You guys risked / are risking the health of yourself , all the neighbors and employees

  I would be contacting a company to contain the asbestos and a lawyer

  • 

    brendanm on 27/10/2019 - 14:45

    +3

    This. How did cheapest and fastest work out for you the first time? Probably found the "demolition professional" on gumtree.

• 

  Immeg on 27/10/2019 - 14:21

  Thank you all for your help. In terms of "fastest", I meant the fastest way to get rid of the asbestos as it is obviously a very problematic issue. They have been able to get in contact with the demolition people and I think they'll be coming back tomorrow. It's just the approval paperwork that has to be sorted and I guess that will mean that they will incur a fine.

  • 

    holdenmg on 27/10/2019 - 14:41

    Assuming this is in NSW, it is questionable whether the people that put your relative in this position are best placed to resolve it.

    Do they have a Class A License, adequate public liability insurance and workers’ compensation insurance?
    https://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/licences-and-registrations/l…

    • 

      whooah1979 on 27/10/2019 - 15:25

      A class a isn’t required for bonded ACM.

      • 

        holdenmg on 27/10/2019 - 16:09

        Sure, but friable does…

        Sounds like an expensive mess to contain and clean up either way.

• 

  onetwothreefour on 27/10/2019 - 15:03

  +7

  Relative? around here we blame our mistakes on our "friends"

• 

  tightpike on 27/10/2019 - 15:03

  You can use a certifier to do all the paper work and submit it to council. From memory ours was about 300, this included the site clearance certificate to say it was free of asbestos

• 

  thatonethere on 27/10/2019 - 17:53

  These guys only got a $20k fine https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/fury-over-totall…

  • 

    whooah1979 on 27/10/2019 - 18:05

    This wouldn’t have happen if they were given the permission to demolish the building when first asked.