How to avoid dodgy construction work

On February 1, Mitsubishi Jisho Estate announced that they had discovered a construction fault with a luxury condominium complex they were developing in Minami Aoyama, Tokyo. A short while later they announced plans to demolish and rebuild the 86-unit building.

In March, it was reported that Sekisui House found some construction issues with a 30-storey high-end condominium under construction in Shirokane. Concrete pillars were found to have no rebar and are being replaced. No construction delays are expected.

In early April, Mitsui Fudosan Residential announced that Park Tower Shinkawasaki would be partially demolished and rebuilt after the lower floors were starting to crack under pressure from floors above. Construction of the 47-storey tower began in November 2013 and was scheduled for completion by March 2015.

With the two-stage increase in the consumption tax, shortage in labour, growing construction costs and high demand for new apartments, could we see more and more of these cases?Read more