Owners corporations are the managers of the common property of an apartment building, and are ultimately responsible for managing and rectifying issues brought to their attention through Building Orders and Building Notices issued by the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) or the local council. This includes notices and orders in relation to the rectification of combustible cladding.
Cladding Safety Victoria may provide funding for rectification of cladding for buildings found to be highest-risk. For buildings within this scope, Cladding Safety Victoria assists owners corporations to rectify combustible cladding on their apartment buildings. CSV also provides practical guidance and non-financial assistance to owners of buildings not eligible for funding but who may still require to take some action regarding combustible cladding on their building. Responsibility for a building always rests with the owners and owners corporations and participation in Cladding Safety Victoria’s program is entirely voluntary.
What is the role of an owners corporation in our Program?
The owners corporation is an essential part of any process to rectify non-compliant cladding.
Find out more information about the role of the owners corporation in Cladding Safety Victoria’s Cladding Rectification Program.
I’m not sure if my building is eligible under Cladding Safety Victoria’s program – how can I find out more?
Find out more about our Program, including information about eligibility in the program, and how you will be contacted if you are eligible.
Cladding Safety Victoria has advised that our building is eligible for cladding rectification works under its program – what now?
Owners corporations of buildings within the program will be guided through the rectification process by Cladding Safety Victoria, who will appoint a Customer Liaison Officer to assist with the process. The owners corporation will be ultimately responsible for the rectification works, with funding where appropriate and expert guidance provided by Cladding Safety Victoria. Find out more about the role of the Customer Liaison Officer.
If Cladding Safety Victoria have contacted the owners corporation about their involvement in the program, should I advise tenants in the building?
Once contacted by a Customer Liaison Officer at Cladding Safety Victoria, we advise that you contact all tenants living in the building to inform them of involvement in the program and to remind all tenants to be fire safe. To help with this process, owners corporations can advise tenants of our website for more information and remind tenants of practical fire safety tips to ensure they keep themselves, their families and their residence safe from the risk of fire.
Find more information about fire safety including the maintenance of Essential Safety Measures.
Combustible cladding replacements you can claim
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has information about cost deductions available if you replace or contribute to the replacement of combustible cladding in line with government requirements.
To claim a deduction, you must replace the combustible cladding with fire resistant cladding. You must treat replacement of combustible cladding as capital works. This is because the ATO treats the replacement of cladding as:
- an entire functional structure (being the outer covering of the building)
- an improvement in the function of the outer covering of the building
Combustible cladding replacement doesn’t meet the requirements to be deductible as a repair or environmental protection activity.
For more information visit the ATO website.
How can owners corporations ensure buildings are fire safe?
It is the legal responsibility of the owners corporation to ensure all Essential Safety Measures (ESMs) are in place to best protect a building from the risk of fire. Find more information about ESMs and other practical fire safety tips.
How can I contact Cladding Safety Victoria for more information?
We’ve provided information on our website about the program, your building’s eligibility, funding and the steps to rectification. If you can’t find what you’re looking for or have questions, contact Cladding Safety Victoria:
- email: support@claddingsafety.vic.gov.au
- phone our support line Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm on 1300 456 542
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