Hello, I'm David Chandler, the New South Wales Building Commissioner. And I'm Steven Brell, the president of Strata Community Association in New South Wales. And we're back to share the results of the 2023 Strata Defects Survey for which we're most appreciative of the work that's been done collaboratively between our offices.
And I particularly want to thank all of those strata managers that have helped fill that survey out this year and give us this important data. I'm extremely proud of the role that our members have had to play in the participation of this valuable research.
The participation rate is increased by more than 30% from the 2021 survey. And I sincerely wanna thank all of the strata managers, strata committees and owners corporations that participated in the survey.
Yes, the numbers are certainly up, aren't they? They've gone from, uh, what, 492 in 2021 to 642 this year, so That's right. Impressive effort, isn't it? Absolutely. So again, sincerely thank you to all of our members.
Well, Steve, the, uh, results show some pretty promising findings this year. So, uh, we're starting to see some real trends in the right direction. Um, albeit that an average of 53% of buildings in this survey reported one on more serious defects in their common property.
What we're seeing is that from the commencement of the reforms back in 2020, it's a very steep decline now in the incidents of reported defects. So some pretty positive, um, signs on, on the way forward.
Uh, absolutely David. Um, the, the results are very pleasing, but it's a timely reminder that of the problems with the construction sector in New South Wales before these reforms commenced in 2019 and the valuable work that the Building Commission is providing for strata owners in New South Wales.
Let's have a look at the survey. The, it, it's pointing to a rapid decline in the number of buildings that have got waterproofing issues. I mean, that's a very significant reduction.
Um, we're seeing across the board a reduction, but some items have lifted to the fore so much more attention required for fire service installations going forward. Um, it's also pleasing that the consumers are now more confident to report to the regulator so that that number's doubled in the survey.
It's gone up from 15% to 34%. That's right. And I think that's a really important awareness piece for all of our members and strata owners to know that the regulator is here to help and that they will hold builders and developers to account if they, you know, build shoddy, um, apartment blocks.
And on the other side. But I think it's also positive to see that the surveys reporting that 71% of apartment owners are saying that they fully resolve their defects with the builder and the developer.
So that's a sign as well that they're paying attention. No, it is, and it's also a sign that, you know, owners corporation should be aware that there are a number of different ways that they can have their defects resolved.
And if they can mediate directly with their builder or developer, then that's a good result for everyone. Commissioner, there's many people that are living in vibrant and thriving strata communities in New South Wales and that is a no short part to the work that you've done over the last few years to restore confidence to the construction sector in New South Wales.
Steven, it's been a big effort. There's been so many stakeholders on this journey. Um, industry, consumers, lenders, insurers, everybody's on board. So this is not just a single effort by one group of people.
So I hope that the 2023 survey is gonna provide consumers with another layer of confidence that the market is improving in their favor. We are looking at a large increase in the number of strata buildings being built in New South Wales, and this is the sort of evidence-based information that we need to preserve that confidence.
So the report is available on our website and I urge people to read it because it actually provides very interesting and positive information about the work that is now being done and the results that are being achieved.
So Steve, thank you very much again. No Worries. David, thank you for all of your hard work and restoring confidence to the New South Wales Construction Sector team effort. Thank you. Thank you.
