Building Contract Review Services in Victoria – Protect Your Rights Before You Sign
Building or renovating is one of the biggest financial commitments you’ll ever make. At Bastion Legal, we review residential and commercial building contracts to ensure your rights are protected, risks are minimised, and costly disputes are avoided. With clear, practical advice, we give you confidence before signing.
Common Risks
Disputes often arise from unclear, unfair, or incomplete contracts.
We Cover
Inclusions, timelines, payment stages, risk allocation, and dispute processes
Opt Fixed-Fee
Available for most standard residential contracts.
How We Help
Homeowners, builders, developers – clear advice before you commit.
Why contract reviews matter
Building or renovating is a major investment, and the contract you sign sets the foundation for your entire project. Too often, disputes arise because contracts were not properly reviewed or tailored. These disputes can be costly, stressful, and slow to resolve, with limited support from regulators.
At Bastion Legal, we identify risks before they become problems. A review ensures all inclusions are documented, timelines and payment stages are clear, and protections are built in for delays, price rises, or defective work. Our advice is practical, tailored, and designed to safeguard your rights and reduce the chance of disputes.
Fixed-fee contract review
For most standard residential building contracts, we offer a fixed-fee review service. This includes:
A written summary highlighting key risks and issues
Clear recommendations for changes or protections
A consultation in plain language, so you fully understand your position
If required, we can also assist in negotiating amendments with the other party to make sure your interests are protected before signing.
FAQ
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Our contract review services focus on protecting your legal and financial interests.
Common matters we advise on include:Entitlements to independent inspections without additional costs
Rights to payment for completed work
Rectification processes following identification of defects
Deposit amounts and staged payments
Variations and how they must be approved
Completion dates and extensions of time
Liquidated damages and penalties for delay
Scope of works and performance standards
Insurance obligations and risk allocation
Termination rights and consequences
Dispute resolution clauses and escalation pathways
We also draft and advise on special conditions that are designed to protect your position where standard contract terms fall short.
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Yes. A building contract is a binding legal document. Having it reviewed ensures that your rights are protected and your expectations are clearly defined.
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Yes. Special conditions can be added to tailor the contract to your specific project and risk profile. We can draft conditions that help avoid common disputes.
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If the build has not yet started, it may still be possible to renegotiate certain terms. Contact us promptly for advice.
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Yes. We regularly review contracts from HIA, Master Builders Victoria, and custom builder agreements.
Why choose us…
At Bastion Legal, we provide tailored contract review services for anyone involved in construction. From homeowners preparing to sign a domestic building contract, to builders and subcontractors formalising agreements, to developers undertaking larger projects, and even owner-builders navigating compliance.
We carefully review your contract, explain your rights in plain language, and highlight practical changes to protect your position. For most standard residential contracts, we offer a fixed-fee review that includes:
A written summary of the key risks and issues
Clear recommendations for changes or special conditions
A consultation where we explain everything in straightforward terms
Where needed, we can also assist in negotiating amendments with the other party, ensuring your interests are protected from the very start.
“Dean was very thorough in my property contract review, and provided good advice…”
Dean was very thorough in my property contract review, and provided good advice - especially in the areas of defects and warranties in off-the-plan builds. Thank you to the team at Bastion Legal!
- Daewin
Contact us
If you are about to sign a building contract, or would like your existing contract reviewed before construction begins, contact Bastion Legal for experienced and practical legal advice.
You may call us for a free initial consultation, or complete our online enquiry form and one of our experienced team members will get in touch.
