Archer Lawyers advises and represents clients in building and construction disputes, including matters involving defective work, payment claims, contract issues, delays, variations, termination and disputes between owners, builders, developers, subcontractors and owners corporations.

This work complements the firm’s practice areas in property, planning, strata and dispute resolution. Construction issues often arise alongside questions concerning land, development approval, strata schemes, property rights, statutory duties and the proper completion of works.

The firm assists clients from the early stages of a dispute through to final resolution, including by negotiation, mediation, expert determination, adjudication, tribunal proceedings and court proceedings where required.

Our services include:

• advice to landowners affected by compulsory acquisition or proposed resumption

• advice on compensation claims arising from government acquisition of land or interests in land

• advice on disturbance, valuation, market value and other compensation issues

• property litigation involving ownership, use, access, interference or loss affecting land

• disputes concerning easements, rights of way, access, boundaries and encroachments

• planning and development disputes affecting landowners and adjoining owners

• advice on development applications, development objections and planning appeals

• disputes involving neighbouring owners, developers, builders, councils, acquiring authorities or other property stakeholders

• claims involving defective or incomplete building work affecting residential or commercial property

• disputes involving damage to land, buildings, improvements or property interests

• strata-related disputes affecting lot owners, owners corporations or common property

• advice on statutory rights and obligations affecting property, development, acquisition and compensation

• representation in negotiation, mediation, tribunal proceedings and court proceedings where resolution cannot otherwise be achieved

Matters where Archer Lawyers can assist include:

• land being acquired by a government authority for road, rail, infrastructure or public works

• disputes about the amount of compensation offered for compulsory acquisition or resumption

• claims involving loss of land value, business disturbance, relocation costs or other acquisition-related loss

• disputes about access to land, driveways, easements, rights of carriageway or shared property rights

• boundary, encroachment or retaining wall disputes between neighbouring owners

• planning disputes affecting the use, development or value of land

• objections to nearby development or disputes concerning development approvals

• property damage caused by building work, excavation, neighbouring works or defective construction

• disputes with builders, developers, contractors or consultants concerning works carried out on land

• claims involving incomplete, defective or non-compliant building work

• strata disputes affecting apartment owners, common property, by-laws, repairs or responsibility for defects

• disputes about whether another party has interfered with the use, value or enjoyment of land

• urgent property disputes where works are continuing, access is being blocked, land is being affected or a deadline for objection, review or response is approaching

Property owners and landowners often become involved in legal issues without knowing which area of law applies. A matter may begin as a dispute about access, a proposed acquisition, a development next door, defective works, a valuation issue, or a disagreement with a builder, neighbour, council or authority. Archer Lawyers assists clients to identify the issues, understand their rights and determine the most appropriate path forward.

Please contact Archer Lawyers on (02) 9127 6656 for more information.