Kyrillos Ghaly

In a revealing article by business reporter Gareth Hutchens for the ABC, the profound implications of Australia’s housing crisis on the building industry are meticulously outlined, with a specific focus on the challenges that building surveyors and inspectors face. The Albanese government, recognising the severity of the situation, has committed a dedicated chapter in the 2024–25 federal budget to address this “historic underinvestment” in housing, which has exacerbated a significant supply shortage. The budget details, illustrated through more than 20 graphs, show that Australia significantly trails other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries in housing supply per 1,000 people. This deficit has not only escalated property prices but also tightened the rental market, with vacancy rates dropping below the balanced market threshold of 3%. For building surveyors and inspectors, these statistics underline a growing demand for rigorous inspections and compr...

  The recent federal budget has highlighted the government's significant focus on addressing Australia's housing crisis, bringing crucial implications for the building inspection and surveying industry. As a professional building inspector, I see these developments as both timely and essential for our sector.   Increased Demand: The government's pledge to construct 1.2 million new homes by 2029 is set to substantially boost demand for our services. This growth is not just a business opportunity; it's a call to ensure that these homes adhere strictly to the highest building standards.   Stricter Compliance: The tightened building standards underline the increasing importance of our roles. Every construction site must meet the highest quality and safety standards, and we are the frontline ensuring this compliance.   Professional Development: The budget significantly invests in our professional growth, offering fee-free TAFE places and access to construction-relat...

Author: Kyrillos Ghaly In an illuminating piece by Jordyn Beazley for The Guardian Australia, a troubling trend has emerged across the nation's strata properties: owners are being hit with unexpected and substantial special levies for urgent repairs, often not disclosed at the point of sale. These levies, which can exceed $100,000, typically cover critical waterproofing and structural issues, underscoring a systemic failing within the sector.   Amanda Farmer, a strata lawyer, notes that 90% of the disputes she encounters are linked to failures in repair and maintenance. Buildings frequently require large sums of money at short notice to address these deficiencies. Supporting this, research from the Australian Apartment Advocacy reveals that between 50-60% of new apartments across Australia are afflicted with defects, significantly contributing to the frequency and scale of these levies.   Despite requirements for strata-titled properties to maintain maintenance plans, th...

Author: Kyrillos Ghaly In a recent exposition on LinkedIn, Mr Chandler, the NSW Building Commissioner, elucidated the strides made in construction reforms across New South Wales. Since its inception in December 2023, the Building Commission of NSW has been instrumental in pinpointing and mitigating risks posed by the less scrupulous elements within the residential building sector. Mr Chandler underscored the necessity of fortified intelligence and investigative efforts, which underpin the Commission’s strategic undertakings encompassing inspections, enforcement, licensing, and policy formulation. This comprehensive integration has yielded palpable results, notably through the utilisation of 'Heat Maps'. These innovative tools enable focused surveillance of over 70,000 residential building sites throughout NSW, boasting an impressive 95% success rate in identifying sites likely to engage in non-compliant building practices. For building inspectors and surveyors, Mr Chandler’s di...