The state's construction tsar is warning some developers may try to pressure buyers to settle off-the-plan apartment purchases in the next five weeks before tougher new laws designed to clean up the industry come into force.
It has prompted Building Commissioner David Chandler to urge buyers, certifiers and builders who experience pressure to complete work on apartment buildings, or settle on purchases of units, before September to report it to Fair Trading for investigation.
Karen Stiles, executive officer of the non-profit Owners Corporation Network, said the start of the commissioner's new powers would result in "real consumer protection" for buyers of off-the-plan apartments.
"The threat to dodgy developers and builders will be very real and include not being able to obtain an occupation certificate," she said. "No occupation certificate means no sales until the building meets the building code of Australia."