Bastion Legal’s Dean Charalambous recently contributed to an ABC News investigation uncovering widespread failures in Victoria’s plumbing-insurance system. The report shines a light on families whose homes have been left uninhabitable after defective plumbing works, only to discover that the insurance meant to protect them is either inadequate, incorrectly issued, or denied altogether.

Under the Licensed Plumbers General Insurance Order 2002, every licensed plumber in Victoria must hold insurance that protects homeowners when work is defective. Yet, as the investigation revealed, many insurance policies fall well short of these requirements. In some cases, homeowners are offered payouts of around $50,000 despite repair costs exceeding hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Dean was asked to provide clarity on the legal realities behind these failures. His key insights included:

The ministerial order overrides the policy. If an insurance policy does not meet the minimum protections set out in the order, homeowners may still be legally entitled to broader coverage than the insurer acknowledges.
Insurers are capitalising on the lack of legal precedent. Because no plumbing-insurance case has gone to judgment in Victoria, insurers are taking advantage of the uncertainty to limit or deny claims.
Homeowners are being left in limbo. Many are caught between builders, insurers and regulators, with no clear information about their rights or the protections that should exist.

Dean highlighted that these issues are not isolated. They reflect a systemic problem affecting homeowners across the state. For families already facing the stress and expense of defective work, the additional barrier of a non-compliant or uncooperative insurer can be overwhelming.

His contribution to the ABC investigation brings essential legal context to a problem that has gone largely unnoticed for two decades. It also reinforces the need for homeowners to seek specialised legal advice when dealing with defective plumbing and insurance disputes, particularly when insurers attempt to rely on policy wording that contradicts the ministerial order.

Bastion Legal regularly assists clients facing defective plumbing, incomplete or invalid insurance coverage, and denied claims. Dean’s involvement in the ABC report reflects his ongoing commitment to ensuring homeowners understand their rights and receive the protection the law is meant to guarantee.

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If you’re facing a situation like the one discussed above, you do not need to face these issues alone. We’re here to protect your interests and work towards the outcome you deserve.

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