FORMER deputy mayor and head of property consultancy firm Power Strategic, David Power, believes every new home built in Queensland in the next five years will require a 6 Star green rating by law.
“The auditors of the future will become like the work place health and safety officers of the 1980s,” predicts Power.
His comments follow State Government’s decision to enforce sustainability declarations as of March when a house, townhouse or unit is marketed or offered for sale.
Power says agents may face fines of up to $10,000 and vendors up to $4000 for false or misleading declarations. Vendors and real estate agents will have to work harder following the introduction of the declarations.
“This is a new initiative from the Queensland Government and has major implications for vendors and their agents,” says Power.
“The vendor must at all times be the signatory on the declaration and the agent must not be the signatory. This places enormous responsibility on the vendor to ensure the provisions of the regulations are met or they risk a fine.”
It is now mandatory for all property advertisements to refer to the sustainability declaration and a copy of the declaration is to be made available whenever the home that is for sale is open to the public or inspection.
“The seller must ensure a copy of the sustainability declaration is conspicuously displayed at the site or in the dwelling,” says Power.
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