This is the first book to offer a systematic and analytical overview of
the legal framework for residential construction. In doing so, the book
addresses two fundamental questions:
Prevention: What assurances can the law give buyers (and later owners
and occupiers) of homes that construction work - from building of a
complete home to adding an extension or replacing a shower unit - will
comply with minimum standards of design, safety and build quality?
Cure: What forms of redress - from whom, and by what route - can
residents expect, when, often long after completion of construction,
they discover defects?
The resulting problems pose some big and difficult questions of
principle and policy about standards, rights and remedies, which in turn
concern justice more generally.
This book addresses these key issues in a comparative context across the
United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. It is an accessible
guide to the existing law for residents and construction professionals
(and their legal advisers), but also charts a course to further,
meaningful reforms of the legal landscape for residential construction
around the world.
The book's two co-authors, Philip Britton and Matthew Bell, have taught
in the field in the UK, Australia and New Zealand; both have been active
in legal practice, as have the book's two specialist contributors,
Deirdre Ní Fhloinn and Kim Vernau.
