Residential Construction Law: The UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand

(Hardback, 2nd edition)

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Description

"This much-needed and excellent book fills a real gap in the residential construction field" Her Honour Frances Kirkham CBE, Atkin Chambers This acclaimed book is the first of its kind to offer a systematic and analytical overview of the legal framework for residential construction. The updated edition addresses two fundamental questions: what assurances can the law give buyers (and later owners and occupiers, including renters) of homes that construction work from building a complete home to adding an extension or replacing a shower unit will comply with applicable standards of design, safety and build quality And what forms of redress from whom, and by what route can residents expect, when, often long after completion of construction, they discover defects The resulting problems pose big and difficult questions of principle and policy about standards, rights and remedies, which in turn concern justice more generally. The book addresses these central issues in a comparative context across the four nations of the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. The pioneering ideas advanced in the 1st edition are supplemented by key new topics, such as the Building Safety Act 2022, building control and long leasehold reforms (England & Wales); the Phase 2 report of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry; further housing quality changes in the UK via Consumer Codes and a new ombudsman; and significant reforms in Australia. This is an accessible and critical guide to the existing law for residents and construction professionals (and their legal advisers), with tables, figures and case studies, as well as a glossary. It also charts a course to further, meaningful reforms of the legal landscape for residential construction around the world.

Reviews

Philip Britton and Matthew Bell have accumulated decades of research and teaching, culminating in this authoritative book... This book is powerful rebuttal to any denial that there is something wrong in this area, both in the UK and elsewhere. * David Sawtell, Housing After Grenfell Blog *
A landmark book that will serve well the needs of anyone involved in this neglected area of law. The authors are to be congratulated on their fine achievement. * Julian Bailey, White & Case LLP, International Construction Law Review *
This book is an excellent analysis of residential construction law in a multitude of jurisdictions... I would recommend this as a very important and well researched analysis of the history of construction law, the current status of construction law and where it may be heading. * Kelvin Oldridge, BDPS News *
This much-needed and excellent book fills a real gap in the residential construction field. It is a practical, comprehensive guide, packed with highly authoritative analysis and all presented in a most readable form. One of the book's main strengths is that it takes a comparative approach, discussing problems and remedies in Ireland, New Zealand, the different states in Australia and in each of the three main jurisdictions within the UK. * Her Honour Frances Kirkham CBE, Chartered Arbitrator, Adjudicator and Mediator, Atkin Chambers, UK *
It is a breath of fresh air to have a book devoted entirely to the oft neglected area of residential building... this book is a valuable resource for anyone involved in residential building work... Britton and Bell have [provided] the data and analysis that is the bedrock of any evidence-based reforms. * Paula Gerber, Building and Construction Law Journal *

Author Bio

Philip Britton is Former Visiting Professor and Director of the Centre of Construction Law, King's College London, UK. Matthew Bell is Associate Professor and Co-Director of Studies for Construction Law at Melbourne Law School, Australia. Deirdre N Fhloinn is a barrister practising at the Bar of Ireland. Kim Vernau is Chair of Womens Pioneer Housing and Non-Executive Director of the Housing Association Property Mutual, UK.