Builder faults & failures

Clarke Homes collapsed in February 2025 owing $3.1 million to over 100 creditors, leaving homes unfinished across the NSW Central Coast. Staff were left without pay. The company held a valid NSW Fair Trading contractor licence at the time of collapse. Homeowners were advised to contact their home warranty insurance provider.

What this means for affected homeowners: Homeowners with incomplete projects may be eligible to claim under NSW home indemnity insurance. Contact NSW Fair Trading and your insurer directly. The liquidator’s contact details are available via ASIC Connect.

Sydney’s J&CG Constructions collapsed in May 2025 under $12.9 million in defect claims, primarily relating to apartment buildings in Mascot. Homeowners who had been fighting defect issues for years found themselves with no builder to compel and a significant recovery challenge.

What this means: Apartment owners in affected buildings should seek independent legal advice. The collapse compounds ongoing defect issues. ASIC records reflect the appointment of a liquidator.

Roberts Co’s Victorian arm collapsed in March 2025, abandoning 8 major projects with an estimated $60 million in losses. Projects included Australia’s largest Amazon warehouse. The collapse illustrated how quickly a company with a strong reputation and active pipeline can fail — and the consequences for subcontractors and project owners when it does.

What this means: Primarily a commercial builder, but the collapse affected subcontractor networks significantly. Subcontractors owed payment should register as creditors with the appointed liquidator through ASIC.

ASIC records show a Queensland-based residential building company entered voluntary administration in 2024. The company had been operating for approximately six years and held a QBCC licence at the time of administration. Affected homeowners were advised to contact QBCC regarding home warranty insurance claims.

What this means: Homeowners with incomplete projects may be eligible to claim under home warranty insurance. Claims must be lodged directly with the insurer. QBCC provides a dedicated assistance service for affected homeowners.

The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) published a decision ordering a Melbourne building contractor to rectify defective work and pay compensation to affected homeowners. The decision noted repeated failures to respond to defect notices and a pattern of variation overcharging documented in the proceedings.

What this means: VCAT decisions are publicly available and searchable. If you are researching a Victorian builder, searching their name in VCAT’s published decisions is a valuable step. Our background reports include tribunal search results as standard.

A New South Wales residential building company with multiple active projects entered liquidation in 2024 following a period of financial difficulty. ASIC records reflect the appointment of a liquidator. NSW Fair Trading confirmed the company held a contractor licence up to the date of liquidation. Affected homeowners were directed to contact their domestic building insurance provider.

What this means: Homeowners with active contracts at the time of liquidation may be eligible for home indemnity insurance claims in NSW. The liquidator’s contact details are available through ASIC. Always obtain independent legal advice before agreeing to any settlement with a liquidator.

The QBCC published a licence cancellation decision in 2023 following an investigation into multiple complaints relating to defective residential building work and non-compliance with building standards. The licensee had been subject to prior disciplinary action and had failed to rectify work as ordered.

What this means: QBCC publishes disciplinary outcomes on their website. If a builder has been subject to QBCC disciplinary action, this will appear in their published decisions register. Always check the QBCC register directly — a suspended or cancelled licence is not visible without checking.

The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) published a decision in a residential building matter, awarding compensation for defective work including structural, waterproofing and finishing defects identified by an independent building inspector. The decision noted that the contractor had failed to respond to repeated written requests for rectification.

What this means: NCAT decisions are publicly searchable. A pattern of prior tribunal decisions against a contractor is one of the strongest indicators of future risk. Our background reports include NCAT search results for NSW contractors.

A Victorian residential building company with a documented history of VCAT appearances entered liquidation in 2023. ASIC records reflect the appointment of a liquidator. Prior VCAT decisions against the company — available in the public decisions register — had been noted by the VBA in regulatory correspondence.

What this means: This case illustrates why both tribunal records and insolvency checks are needed. A builder can hold a valid licence, lose multiple VCAT decisions, and continue trading for years before eventually collapsing. By the time they enter liquidation, affected homeowners face a difficult recovery path.