15d (edited) • Property News & Updates
Melbourne Apartment Buyers: July 1st Buyer Protections Act - What's Changing
Lots of Melbourne apartment buyers have assumed the new Buyer Protections Act means the government now has defects covered.
Read the full article here: Building Inspections for Melbourne Apartments: What's Covered, What Changed in 2026
It doesn't. Here's why your own inspection still matters.
The Building Legislation Amendment (Buyer Protections) Act 2025 (Vic) commences 1 July 2026 and only applies to new apartment buildings over three storeys. It introduces a developer bond (2% of build cost) and a Building Assessor process, but that process happens after you've moved in, not before you sign.
For established apartments, the Act doesn't apply at all.
What a pre-purchase building inspection actually covers for an apartment:
- Your unit: internal condition, walls, ceilings, wet areas, balcony where accessible
- Not common property: the roof, facade, lifts, fire systems, or anything outside your lot
That's why you need two separate reports when buying a Melbourne apartment:
- A building inspection for the physical condition of your unit
- A strata/owners corporation report for the building's financial health, special levies, known defects, and insurance claims
A clean strata report is not a clean bill of health. And the Building Assessor is not your inspector.
For a more detailed breakdown of what changed, what's covered, and what you still need to do yourself:
Are you looking to buy an Apartment? Leave a comment below.
What do strata reports typically reveal that surprises people? Any experiences with an owners corporation that seemed fine on paper but wasn't?
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Melbourne Apartment Buyers: July 1st Buyer Protections Act - What's Changing
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