Bathla Group’s collapse into voluntary administration has left thousands of Australian homeowners with unfinished properties, prompting an independent property inspector to urge affected customers to preserve evidence immediately. The advice matters because photographs, contracts, insurance documents and an independent assessment of completed work and defects could be crucial if homeowners need to make an insurance claim or pursue remedies after the builder’s insolvency.

Bathla entered administration on Tuesday, with up to 25,000 homes reportedly unfinished, at least 500 jobs at risk and estimated debts of $3.6 billion. Inspector Zeher Khalil advised homeowners to verify a builder’s licence, obtain the required insurance certificate before paying a deposit, and commission independent inspections at key construction stages; he said financial strain can contribute to unpaid trades, incomplete work and rushed handovers, though he had not personally inspected Bathla homes.