Box Hill Building
Inspections

The balustrade that was not there at handover

A missing balustrade is a safety item, not a finishing item.

Box Hill 2765 · 25 March 2026

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  • NSW Fair Trading NSW Fair Trading
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  • Building Dispute Practitioners Society Building Dispute Practitioners Society

In short: Balconies with no balustrade installed, and outlets too small for the area they drain.

What we recorded

A balcony at practical completion with no balustrade installed, and separately balcony drainage undersized for its area with no overflow.

Why it is a safety item

Anywhere there is a fall, the barrier is what stops it. It gets reported separately from cosmetic items because it needs attention on a different timescale.

The drainage half

A balcony is a small roof with a door onto it. If the outlet cannot take a storm and there is no overflow, water goes through the door.

Timing

Handover, and if it is still outstanding, it stays on the record as outstanding with a date.

What good looks like

Balustrade fixed and at height, an outlet sized for the area, and an overflow that works when the outlet blocks.

Written by our local inspection team from work carried out in Box Hill. Licensed building practitioners.

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FAQ

Questions Box Hill owners ask about this

Can I settle with this outstanding?

That is a contract question for your solicitor. What we do is make sure it is documented, dated and photographed.

Is a balcony really a roof?

For drainage purposes, effectively yes, and the same logic about sumps and overflows applies to it.

How is balustrade height assessed?

Against the National Construction Code requirement for the drop involved, and the report states the measurement.

What if the builder says it is coming?

Then a reinspection before settlement confirms whether it came. That is what the second visit is for.

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