Victoria’s building manuals are a good start

Victoria's Housing and Building Minister Nick Staikos has confirmed plans to mandate building manuals under the Building Amendment (Building Manuals) Regulations 2026. The requirement applies to Class 1b, 2, and 3 buildings and requires a comprehensive repository of construction records, warranties, and safety documentation to be verified before occupancy permits are issued. Implementation has been staggered—the amendment takes effect 1 February 2027, with submission requirements deferred to 1 January 2028. Early-stage approvals have been removed from manual contents to reduce administrative burden.

The reforms address a significant information gap between builders and building owners that can create serious complications during the building's operational life. For remedial professionals and strata managers, complete building manuals mean easier access to critical baseline data for maintenance, safety testing, and remedial works. Engineers Australia confirmed minimal additional costs for industry compliance since documentation already exists as part of standard practice. This positions Victoria as a leader in building transparency and sets a potential benchmark for other Australian jurisdictions.