There are a number of important things to think about before choosing a builder or tradesperson to build or renovate your home. For a list of the key questions you should ask any builder, go to our Questions to ask - 12 important questions to ask a building contractor  page.

One of the things the builder or tradesperson should give you is their contractor licence number. You should then do a licence check to: 

• make sure that the contractor you wish to use holds a valid and current licence which is suitable for the type of work you want done
• obtain details of other licences held now or before, and
• obtain information on the contractor's history of complaints, insurance claims etc.

This facility allows you to do a licence check online. You should always do a licence check before entering into a contract with a builder or tradesperson and you should only deal with a licensed builder. Any person who carries out residential building work worth over $1,000 in labour and materials content without an appropriate licence is breaking the law and could be prosecuted. 

This Register, which is maintained by the Office of Fair Trading, records information relating to licences such as:

• date of issue and expiry of licence
• conditions endorsed on the licence
• names of partners of a partnership or directors of a corporation
• the licence class for which the licence holder is licensed to undertake
• the results of any relevant disciplinary determination
• the results of any prosecutions against the licence holder under the Home Building Act
• the number of insurance claims paid (after 1 September 1997) in respect of work done, or kit homes supplied, by the licence holder
• details of any penalty notices issued to the holder
• any cancellations or suspensions of the licence
• the number of Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal orders not complied with (since 1 January 2002).

Licence classes
Licence terminology - explanation of terms

Important: It should be noted that Fair Trading is reliant on third parties for some of the information that appears on the register. While every effort is made to ensure that this information is provided promptly, delays which are beyond Fair Trading’s control can sometimes occur. In this regard, information relating to claims made under the private home warranty insurance scheme is not complete for all licensees at this time. The requisite information has been sought from the private insurers and the register will be updated as soon as this data is available.

To check the licence details of a contractor you are thinking of using, use the 'start licence check' button below. You should do a 'name search' first, otherwise you may not locate other licences held now or previously held by the contractor. You should be aware, however, that the contractor may be or may have been associated with other licensed entities such as partnerships or companies and this search facility will not necessarily disclose those links. For further information and assistance, contact the Office of Fair Trading on 13 32 20.

Disclaimer

The Office’s privacy policy contains important information. It is very important that you read it. You will be taken to have accepted that policy (even if you do not follow that link) if you access any page in the Office’s website.

The information contained in this search is restricted to that information which the Office of Fair Trading is currently required to maintain in the public register under clause 80 of the Home Building Regulation 2004.

The Office of Fair Trading disclaims all responsibility and all liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) for all expenses, losses, damages and costs which you might incur as a result of information begin inaccurate or incomplete in any way, and for any reason.

I have read and agree to accept the above conditions.

Start licence check