Australia is in the midst of a housing crisis. Walls are falling down, facades are crumbling, and consumer confidence is still shaken. These structural deficiencies are the result of poor work and too slow government action. In Cracking Up, ABC News’ Four Corners series explores the dilemma that puts countless apartment dwellers at risk.
Apartment living has become an increasingly popular option for Australian consumers who dislike quiet suburban living. Apartments promise a more carefree lifestyle in the heart of the action; modern living close to work and a glamorous nightlife. However, the ideal has become a nightmare for many people.
Design flaws have been present for some time. In an 11-year-old apartment building directly above a subway station, structural cracks led to a mass evacuation of all tenants. Some cash-strapped residents have nowhere to live. This may sound like an extreme, unique event, but it’s actually indicative of what’s happening in the country’s real estate market. In some cases, up to 97 percent of the buildings inspected had defects of varying degrees.
A panel of industry experts and whistleblowers has outlined a recipe for impending disaster. We were told that the flaws were present from the beginning of the process. Famous architects have been fired after their first concepts were drawn. Then start the cost-cutting measures. Leading developers are taking these concepts and employing trained builders and craftsmen. It’s a hastily and poorly regulated “design and build” model that puts the country’s housing infrastructure at risk.
These defects are common even in high-end apartment buildings, and they are by no means limited to the occasional leak and mold growth. Documentary cameras pan across various buildings, glimpses of a series of severe structural deformities. The filmmaker talks to homeowners who share their daily stresses. Will their house come down and take them? Will they be forced to pay for repairs themselves?
Cracking Up is an eye-opening revelation, depicting an industry shaped by substandard labor, cheap construction materials and lax regulation.
