Thousands of WA home owners could benefit from class action alleging delays by builder BGC
Summary
Thousands of Western Australian homeowners may benefit from a class action against BGC Housing, alleging unreasonable delays in the construction of their homes. The legal proceedings, launched two years ago, have gained more participants from Perth and the South West, with lawyers aiming for a payout exceeding $100 million. Homeowners like Jo and David Dimov have faced nearly two years of waiting for their “forever home” to be completed, experiencing significant stress and financial strain.
Lawyer Spencer Lieberfreund stated that the delays and cost increases experienced by customers “shouldn’t have happened,” estimating that between six and seven thousand BGC customers were affected. The class action seeks compensation for expenses incurred due to the delays, such as additional rent, interest payments, or lost rental income.
BGC has acknowledged a backlog of 61 unfinished homes and confirmed it stopped taking new home orders in April 2023 to focus on completing existing projects. While the company states progress is being made on each build, the class action highlights the need for greater accountability and potential mandatory building inspections to prevent similar issues in the future.
(Source:ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation))