Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Tabled in Parliament today, the latest investigation report by Victorian Ombudsman Marlo Baragwanath – ‘We just want to finish our home’: Management of Domestic Building Insurance claims by VMIA – investigated how the Victorian Managed Insurance Authority (VMIA) managed domestic building insurance (DBI) claims, both before and after the collapse of Porter Davis Homes in March 2023.
“For most people, building or renovating a home is one of the biggest projects they will ever undertake. If their builder becomes insolvent during the process, it can have a profound and immediate impact on their lives, their finances and their wellbeing,” said Ms Baragwanath.
Referred to the Ombudsman by Parliament’s Legislative Council, the investigation looked into VMIA’s preparedness for builder insolvency, processes, timeliness, communication and dispute handling. The Ombudsman received 125 submissions and reviewed 260 complaints as well as 46 claims.
The investigation found that while VMIA’s management of the domestic building insurance scheme achieved a reasonable outcome for most homeowners, there were issues with its processes, communication and transparency – and that meant homeowners, especially some with complex claims, could not have confidence in the outcome of their claim.
The investigation made nine recommendations focused on improving processes for managing domestic building insurance, communication with homeowners and overall transparency of the system. The recommendations have been accepted in principle by the new Building and Plumbing Commission and by the Department of Transport and Planning.
Read the full report: https://www.ombudsman.vic.gov.au/our-impact/investigation-reports/
Tabled in Parliament today, the latest investigation report by Victorian Ombudsman Marlo Baragwanath – ‘We just want to finish our home’: Management of Domestic Building Insurance claims by VMIA – investigated how the Victorian Managed Insurance Authority (VMIA) managed domestic building insurance (DBI) claims, both before and after the collapse of Porter Davis Homes in March 2023.
“For most people, building or renovating a home is one of the biggest projects they will ever undertake. If their builder becomes insolvent during the process, it can have a profound and immediate impact on their lives, their finances and their wellbeing,” said Ms Baragwanath.
Referred to the Ombudsman by Parliament’s Legislative Council, the investigation looked into VMIA’s preparedness for builder insolvency, processes, timeliness, communication and dispute handling. The Ombudsman received 125 submissions and reviewed 260 complaints as well as 46 claims.
The investigation found that while VMIA’s management of the domestic building insurance scheme achieved a reasonable outcome for most homeowners, there were issues with its processes, communication and transparency – and that meant homeowners, especially some with complex claims, could not have confidence in the outcome of their claim.
The investigation made nine recommendations focused on improving processes for managing domestic building insurance, communication with homeowners and overall transparency of the system. The recommendations have been accepted in principle by the new Building and Plumbing Commission and by the Department of Transport and Planning.
Read the full report: https://www.ombudsman.vic.gov.au/our-impact/investigation-reports/
