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Articles from Professional Edge Lawyers and the plain-English guides on this site: consumer rights, building disputes, VCAT and time limits.
Articles from Professional Edge Lawyers
Consumer Lawyers is a service of Professional Edge Lawyers. These are the firm’s latest articles on building disputes, building contracts and taking a dispute to court or VCAT, from prolawyers.com.au. The list updates itself when a new article is published.
Building & ConstructionNew Domestic Building Contract Laws in Victoria: What Changes for Owners and Builders
The Domestic Building Contracts Amendment Act 2025 (Vic) changes deposits, progress payments, cost escalation clauses, variations and an owner’s right to end a contract. The changes start by 31 March 2027.Read article
Building & ConstructionVictoria’s Building Law Overhaul: What Homeowners Need to Know in 2026
Victoria’s building laws changed significantly on 1 July 2026. Learn what the new buyer protections, Home Warranty reforms and rectification orders mean for homeowners.Read article
Litigation & DisputesTaking Someone to Court in Victoria: A Plain-English Guide to Civil Litigation
Thinking about taking someone to court in Victoria? This plain-English guide explains which court to use, how costs work, what alternative dispute resolution involves, and what to expect from civil litigation.Read article
Building & ConstructionBuilding Defects in Victoria: Your Rights as a Home Owner
Discovering defects in your new home or renovation is stressful and expensive. Victorian law provides protections for home owners against defective building work.Read article
Guides on this site
Plain-English guides to the rules behind consumer disputes in Victoria.
Guide
Consumer guarantees explained
The rights that come with almost everything a consumer buys from a business in Australia, in plain English.
Guide
Major and minor failures: repair, replace or refund
Whether you can insist on a refund depends on one question: is the failure major?
Guide
Warranties, refunds and "no refund" signs
A warranty adds to your rights. It never replaces them.
Guide
VCAT consumer claims: how they work
Most consumer disputes in Victoria that cannot be settled end up at VCAT. Here is how it works, for consumers and businesses.
Guide
Time limits for consumer claims
Most consumer claims have a six-year limit. Some deadlines are much shorter.
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Email: info@consumerlawyers.com.au
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Office: 435 Nepean Highway, Frankston VIC 3199 (by appointment)
I act for consumers and for businesses, but never for both sides of the same dispute. Before I start, I check that I have not acted for the other party.