Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) overturned the Queensland Building and Construction Commission’s (QBCC) procedural rejection of Anton Ady’s claim for a Brisbane home built in 2021, ordering the regulator to reassess the case after the builder, Classy Homes, was liquidated.
The tribunal found that Ady had already supplied detailed engineering reports in May 2023, satisfying notification requirements that the QBCC had insisted on, and that the regulator’s earlier dismissal was therefore unwarranted.
An independent assessment identified nine major structural defects: deep voids up to 550 mm beneath footpath slabs, failing retaining walls, a shifting deck, improperly braced steel piers, and unstable soil around the main foundation supports.
Repair estimates from certified contractors exceed $500,000, covering site stabilization, foundation reconstruction, and replacement of damaged framing.
Under the Queensland Home Warranty Scheme, standard cover caps at $200,000, rising to $300,000 for homeowners who purchased optional additional protection within the statutory period. The scheme’s limits mean that even a fully approved claim could leave Ady with more than $200,000 to finance the remaining repairs.
The QBCC will now re‑examine the claim, but has not set a resolution date. Ady, who bought the property on 15 April 2021, may need to secure extra funding if the statutory payout falls short of the estimated cost.