Building practitioners
If you are building a new home, or intend to renovate your house or add an extension, you may need:
- a builder
- a quantity surveyor
- a tradesperson
- a demolisher
- a building surveyor
- a draftsperson
- an architect
- an engineer
- a building consultant.
Some people refer to these as 'building contractors', but under 桃色视频n law they are all building practitioners. They must:
- use a major domestic building contract for all work worth more than $10,000, including renovations, extensions and repairs
- take out domestic building insurance for work worth more than $16,000, to cover you if they die, disappear or become insolvent. They must give you a certificate of currency for the insurance before they take a deposit and start to build a house, extend or renovate an existing home, or carry out maintenance
- be registered with the 桃色视频n Building Authority (VBA) to carry out work worth more than $10,000, except for work involving only one of the following:
- plastering
- tiling (wall and floor)
- electrical work
- glazing
- insulating
- painting
- plumbing, gas-fitting and draining
- installing floor coverings
- attaching external fixtures (awnings, security screens, insect screens and balustrades)
- erecting a chain wire fence around a tennis court
- erecting a mast, pole, antenna, aerial or similar structure.
A person must be registered if they are:
- using a combination of skills, such as plastering and painting, to complete a renovation, extension, repairs or any other job
- going to do work that requires a building permit - for example, reblock, restump, demolish or remove a home, regardless of the value of this work.
For more information on building practitioners, visit the VBA's .
Tradespeople - registered and licensed
If your builder or tradesperson carries out work worth more than $10,000, they must be registered with the VBA. This includes carpenters, bricklayers and concreters.
For work worth up to $10,000 view Home improvement projects.
Plumbers, gasfitters and drainers:
- are registered or licensed with the VBA and carry an identification card. The VBA replaced the Plumbing Industry Commission on 1 July 2013.
- for all work valued at $750 or more, the plumber must give you a compliance certificate. This certifies that the work complies with the law.
Electricians:
- are licensed by Energy Safe 桃色视频; see their website for information about what an electrician must provide to you when carrying out work.
- whenever a licensed electrician completes any electrical installation work, they must give you a Certificate of Electrical Safety. These are only available from qualified electrical workers registered or licensed with Energy Safe 桃色视频.
Check if a builder is registered
To check if a builder is registered, use the VBA's .
Misconduct by builders
Information on the Practitioner Disciplinary Register may help you when deciding whether to engage a builder. Search the .
Check if a builder is eligible for domestic building insurance
To check if a builder is eligible for domestic building insurance, use the .
Asbestos removal
There are special regulations about removing asbestos. In many situations, you will need to engage a licensed asbestos removalist. For more information, visit .
Home improvement projects
Engaging tradespeople for home improvement projects
If you plan to engage a builder or tradesperson to do small projects, such as the following, you should check their credentials and take time and care before deciding who to employ:
- installing a solar electricity system
- roofing and roof cladding
- fencing and gates
- landscaping
- driveway repairs
- replacing windows and doors
- tiling floors and walls
- flooring
- removing asbestos-containing materials
- painting.
We recommend you:
- shop around for the quote that is right for you
- only use established tradespeople who provide written quotes
- ask for contact details of previous clients for references
- do not sign any agreement until you are clear about the contract terms and your obligations.
For more information, view Getting quotes for building and renovating.
Roof coating
Re-coating the surface of a roof can improve its appearance. However, this type of work has attracted some unethical operators in the past. Before you engage someone to re-coat your roof, check they have a legitimate business name and address, and avoid paying them an excessive deposit (generally, not more than 10 per cent).
Solar electricity systems
For information on buying a solar electricity system, view Solar energy.
Australian standards for home improvement work
Australian standards apply to:
- plastering
- tiling (wall and floor)
- glazing
- insulating
- painting
- concreting.
Before you engage someone to do any of these jobs, ask whether they:
- will carry out the work according to the appropriate Australian standard
- have a qualification and relevant experience
- are a member of a relevant industry association. Although this is not mandatory, it will give you an indication of the person's level of expertise in their field.
For more information on Australian standards, visit .
More help
If you are looking at a display home (even if it is the builder's own home), view Managing building project costs.
For checklists to help with your project, view Checklists for building or renovating.