A Melbourne law firm has invited expressions of interest from residents and owners considering taking legal action against building companies that installed flammable cladding on their buildings.

Law firm Adley Burstyner's class action could seek compensation of as much as $4.2 billion, with 1,400 apartment buildings in Victoria identified as having dangerous combustible cladding, affecting 250,000 owners and residents.

The planned action follows a Victorian Supreme Court ruling that the Victorian Building Authority no longer has the authority to order builders to fix cladding defects, meaning it is up to individual apartment owners and owners' corporations to manage the fire risk of their buildings.

Earlier this month, the builder of the Lacrosse apartment building agreed to replace combustible cladding, after a fire ravaged the tower in 2014. Melbourne City Council has estimated the cost of the replacement will be approximately $16 million, or $40,000 per apartment.

To find out more about the class action visit the Adley Burstyner web site.

Read more combustible cladding:

Victoria bans combustible cladding on high rises

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