BPC PROSECUTES JARED MILIC OVER ILLEGAL DEMOLITION AND RELOCATION WORK IN BRUNSWICK AND NORTH GEELONG

The Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC) has successfully prosecuted Jared Milic, a 44-year-old unregistered builder who evaded authorities for nearly a decade, after a routine traffic stop by Victoria Police near Portland in June 2025 led to the execution of an eight-year-old arrest warrant. Milic was convicted and fined $75,000 as part of an aggregate order, with an additional $2,500 in costs, after being found guilty of six charges relating to illegal building work carried out for a Geelong homeowner at two separate sites.

The Illegal Contract

The court heard that Milic had entered into a contract with the homeowner to partially demolish and remove a house in Brunswick and relocate it to a site in North Geelong. This type of work always requires a permit and must meet specific regulatory requirements. However, once the homeowner realised that Milic was unregistered, uninsured, and had failed to obtain a building permit for either site, he terminated the contract.

Years of Evading Authorities

The homeowner took the matter to VCAT, which ordered Milic to pay more than $26,000 in damages back in 2017. To date, the homeowner has not received any of that money. Milic had been actively avoiding authorities ever since the VCAT order was made, and it was only when Victoria Police pulled him over for speeding near Portland in June 2025 that the outstanding arrest warrant was finally executed.

Sentencing and the Court’s View

Milic breached his bail conditions multiple times by failing to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court for the hearing, which ultimately proceeded without him. All six charges were proven. During sentencing, the court described Milic’s offending as involving premeditated planning and a significant abuse of trust and characterised the offences as grave in nature and at the highest end of the spectrum. The court also noted that the homeowner had suffered substantial financial loss as a result of Milic’s actions.

A Warning to Unregistered Builders

The BPC stated that demolitions always require a permit and have specific requirements to ensure community safety. The Commission encouraged homeowners to always hire a registered builder and to verify registration status through the BPC’s online register before entering into any building contract. The prosecution of Milic sends a clear message that unregistered builders cannot escape accountability indefinitely, regardless of how long they attempt to evade the system.