Building and planning complaints

Council investigates dangerous buildings and buildings that don't comply with, or are constructed without, the required planning permits.

Contact Council if you see a dangerous building or the wrong use of buildings.

For example:

• a warehouse being used as a boarding house
• loose or falling building materials
• walls or fences that are in danger of collapse
• unstable chimneys, or 
• demolition of a building with asbestos.

What makes a building dangerous?

Buildings grow older just like people and their structure can weaken. Buildings or structures can become dangerous because of poor maintenance, fire, storm, a car accident or an explosion.

The owner of any building that becomes dangerous is responsible for all the costs involved in making the building safe.

Section 126 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987

Offence to contravene scheme, permit or agreement

(1) Any person who uses or develops land in contravention of or fails to comply with a planning scheme, or a permit, or an agreement under section 173 is guilty of an offence.

(2) The owner of any land is guilty of an offence if—

(a) the land is used or developed in contravention of a planning scheme, a permit or an agreement under section 173; or

(b) there is any failure to comply with any planning scheme, permit or agreement under section 173 applying to the land.

Report your complaint about a building

1. Give your complaint to Council in person, by phone, letter or email.

2. Your complaint will be investigated.

3. You will be told the result of the investigation.

Who investigates your complaint?

This depends on who issued the building permit for the building.

If Moreland Council issued the building permit for the project, then Council investigates the complaint.

Council will also investigate the complaint if the project requires a planning permit.

If a private building surveyor issued the building permit for the building project, then the building surveyor investigates the complaint. Council can give you the name and contact details for the building surveyor.

If there was no building permit issued, Council will investigate the complaint.

Council issues notices and orders, and may take the owner of a dangerous building to court.  Emergency works and fines may apply to dangerous buildings.

Council will always investigate breaches of its planning scheme and breaches of planning permits

Further information about contraventions of the planning permit or section 173 agreement is available by contacting Council’s Building and Planning Enforcement Unit on 9240 1111.