第三解, 泳池安全证明问题。

Jason Yang
swimming ball floats in swimming pool


在这个系列前两章,我们提到了essential terms和比较重要的两个买家条款,今天我们来说一下第三个重要的买家条款,泳池安全证明条款。 


什么是泳池安全证明 

在昆州的法律中规定,如果一个房产里有泳池, 房主必须在泳池周围建起围栏防止人直接进入跌入泳池发生意外。所以,对围栏的标准做了一些要求,比如围栏的高度不能少于1.2,进泳池的门不能设计成向内打开,还必须带有自动关闭和自锁等功能。 在昆州合同买卖中,卖家有义务在泳池周围建立符合要求的围栏防护,买家有义务在检查日之前找专业人士检查并提供 FORM 23 (泳池安全证明),来证明泳池周围的围栏安装条件是符合昆州泳池安全标准的。 

在REIQ合同里,如果房产带泳池,房主有泳池安全证明,那合同里必须写明泳池安全证明的到期时间,一般共享泳池的安全证明期限是一年,别墅里单独泳池的期限是两年。同时卖家必须给买家提供泳池安全证明。如果合同里没有泳池安全证明或该证明过期,那卖家必须在签订合同之前向买家提供FORM 36(无泳池安全证明通知)。如果买家在知道卖家里没有泳池安全证明的情况下购买了这个房子,那这边法律规定,买家必须在交割90天之内自费拿到泳池安全证明。如果不遵守昆州泳池安全法,对于个人来说,最高有$22,019.25的罚金,对于公司而言,最高有110,096.30的罚金。 

在REIQ合同中规定,一些别的证明也可以代替泳池安全证明。比如一些新建泳池的建筑证明,一些特殊类型豁免证明。如果房产里带泳池,但是以上这些证明都没有,卖家不但要在合同签订前给买家提供FORM36,还要向昆士兰建设委员会提供声明。如果卖家没有做到这些,他同样可能面临最高$2,356.00的罚款。 


REIQ合同中泳池安全证明条约

如果房产中带泳泳池,房主在签订合同前不能提供安全或豁免证明,除了向买家提供FORM36,REIQ合同中也要加入泳池安全证明条约。条约中规定在泳池安全检查日到期前,(1) 买家要做 FORM 23(泳池安全证明)。(2) 或者是FORM 26 (持牌泳池安全检查员签发的泳池不合格通知,要说明在签发泳池安全证书之前所需的工作)。如果合同里没有写明泳池安全检查日期,日期会默认为交割前两个工作日。一般来说,在检查日当天,买家会自费请检察员在经过卖家的授权情况下去家里检查。如果FORM 23(泳池安全证明)没有在检查日到期前批准下来,买家可以通知卖家解除合同。或是自动放弃改该条款。 如果买家没有在检查日当天五点之前通知卖家是否要解除合同,那么卖家有权通知买家解除合同。买家的定金都会全部退还给买家。 买家必须尽力去获得安全证明。如果买家想以泳池安全证明条约解除合同,买家要在卖家的要求下立刻提供FORM 26,来证明买家有努力去获得泳池安全证明。


REIQ合同外的泳池安全问题。

在房屋买卖中,如果出售的房产是公寓或有物业的小区,一般是小区物业来提供泳池安全证明。

在昆士兰州,不但泳池需要安全证明,一些深度超过0.3米、容积超过2000升的水疗中心和便携式游泳池也需要泳池安全证明(浴缸不算,因为水会在用完后放掉)。我们在代表客户买房时,曾遇到卖家并不知道家里的水疗池需要做泳池安全证明,直到我们客户的贷款银行去房子那里进行估价才发现这个问题。 


昆州的房产交易时而简单时而复杂,如果您需要律师,请添加文章下的二维码或拨打 1300 245 299 找杨律师(Jason)。

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However, most disputes end at adjudication – the cost and delay of further litigation means parties often accept the determination as final. The Timeline: Speed Is Everything Adjudication moves fast. Once an application is made: Queensland : You typically have 10 business days to file your adjudication response. The adjudicator then has 15 business days to make a determination (extendable to 20 days with consent). New South Wales: You have 5 business days to file your response (extendable to 10 days with claimant consent). The adjudicator has 10 business days to decide (extendable to 15 days). These timeframes are strictly enforced. Late submissions may be rejected entirely, leaving you unable to present your case. What goes into an Adjudication Response? Your adjudication response is your opportunity to defend your position. It must be comprehensive because you’re limited to the reasons you included in your payment schedule – no new arguments are permitted. A strong response typically includes: Detailed submissions: Explaining why the scheduled amount is correct, addressing each element of the claim Supporting evidence: Contracts, correspondence, site records, photographs, expert reports, invoices Legal analysis: Interpretation of contract terms, legislative requirements, and relevant case law Technical challenges: Jurisdictional objections, validity issues with the claim or adjudication application This is not a simple letter. Adjudication responses regularly run 30–50 pages with extensive annexures. The adjudicator will be reviewing both parties’ submissions simultaneously, so clarity and organisation matter. The Adjudicator’s Decision The adjudicator will issue a written determination setting out their decision and reasons. They can: Uphold the claimed amount in full Accept your scheduled amount Determine a different amount between the two In both Queensland and NSW, you must pay the adjudicated amount within 5 business days (or as specified in the determination). Failure to pay can result in the claimant suspending work or, more seriously, obtaining a judgment for the debt and pursuing enforcement action against your company. Can You Challenge the Decision? Yes, but the grounds are narrow. You can apply to court to set aside an adjudication determination for: Jurisdictional error: The adjudicator made a decision they had no power to make Denial of natural justice: You weren’t given a fair opportunity to present your case Generally, you cannot challenge the adjudicator’s decision simply because you disagree with their assessment of the facts or law. The threshold for setting aside a determination is high. Importantly, you must still pay the adjudicated amount even while challenging the determination. The principle is “pay now, argue later.” The Importance of Early Preparation The adjudication timeframes are tight. Once you serve a payment schedule disputing a claim, you should assume adjudication is coming and start preparing immediately: Waiting until the adjudication application arrives leaves you scrambling. In NSW, with only 5 business days to respond, delay can be fatal to your case. Get Legal Guidance Adjudication is a high-pressure, time-critical process that requires immediate action and strategic thinking. Whether you’re facing an adjudication application or considering applying for one yourself, experienced legal advice makes the difference between success and failure. CJM Lawyers’ litigation and dispute resolution team regularly represents clients in security of payment adjudications across Queensland and NSW. We understand what adjudicators look for, how to present your case effectively, and how to protect your interests under tight deadlines. Don’t navigate adjudication alone – contact CJM Lawyers today. Disclaimer: This article provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Every adjudication is unique and requires specific legal advice tailored to your circumstances. Contact CJM Lawyers promptly if you are involved in a security of payment dispute.
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A payment claim arrives from your contractor demanding payment. Your instinct might be to set it aside while you check the details. That delay could be the most expensive mistake you make. Under Queensland’s Building Industry Fairness (Security of Payment) Act 2017 and NSW’s Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999, you could become legally obligated to pay the full amount – even if you dispute the work – simply by failing to respond on time. What Is a Payment Claim? A payment claim is a formal written demand for payment under a construction contract. It doesn’t need to be labelled “payment claim” – an invoice or progress claim identifying the work and amount will often suffice. These claims are designed to keep cash flowing through construction projects, giving claimants a fast-track recovery process. The Danger of Doing Nothing If you don’t respond by serving a payment schedule within the prescribed timeframe, you are deemed to have admitted the claim. This means you become liable to pay the full amount – even if the work was defective or never performed. The claimant can take immediate debt recovery action, and you lose your right to dispute through adjudication. The Timeframes Are Tight Unless your contract provides otherwise, the timeframes are tight and are usually: Queensland: 15 business days from receiving the payment claim to serve a payment schedule. New South Wales: 10 business days from receiving the payment claim to serve a payment schedule. These are strict deadlines with limited discretion for extensions. The consequences of missing them are severe. What Is a Payment Schedule? A payment schedule is your formal response to the claim. It must identify the claim, state the amount you propose to pay (which can be zero), and provide reasons if you’re paying less than claimed. What Happens Next? After serving a payment schedule, the claimant can either accept your scheduled amount or apply for adjudication – a rapid process (typically 10–15 business days) where an independent adjudicator reviews the dispute. The adjudicator’s decision is binding, meaning you must pay the adjudicated amount even if you plan to challenge it later in court. Why You Need Legal Advice Now Time is not on your side. Getting legal advice immediately is essential to: Assess validity: Not every claim is valid under the legislation. A lawyer can identify defences quickly. Prepare a payment schedule: An invalid payment schedule leaves you exposed as if you hadn’t responded at all. Don’t Let the Clock Run Out Security of payment legislation protects cash flow in the construction industry, but it places significant responsibility on you to respond quickly and correctly. The penalty for getting it wrong is severe. Our experienced litigation team regularly assists clients with security of payment disputes across Queensland and NSW. We can review your claim, prepare a compliant payment schedule, gather evidence, and represent you in adjudication if required. Don’t face this alone – contact CJM Lawyers today. Disclaimer: This article provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Security of payment legislation is complex and fact-specific. It is essential to seek specific professional legal advice tailored to your individual circumstances as soon as you receive a payment claim.
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