Home building licence check 

Welcome to the online public register of builders' licences in NSW

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 disciplinary action, insurance claims, and Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal orders not complied with, if any.

This facility allows you to do those checks 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 NSW Fair Trading, records information relating to licences and certificates, including:

• details about the licensee, such as the work he/she can do, his/her address and date of birth
• the date of issue and expiry of the licence or certificate
• conditions endorsed on the licence
• names of partners of a partnership or directors of a corporation
• the results of any relevant disciplinary determinations and prosecutions 
• 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
• any instances of Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal orders not complied with (since 1 January 2002).

Licence classes and qualifications
Licence terminology - explanation of terms

Important: It should be noted that Fair Trading is reliant on third parties, such as private home warranty insurers, 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 and information may not always be up to date.

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 NSW Fair Trading on 13 32 20.

Disclaimer

Fair Trading'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 online licence check.

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

Please note also that, while Fair Trading issues licences to qualified and, in some cases ‘experienced’, builders and tradespeople, it cannot and will not guarantee the work of licensees.

Consequently, NSW 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 using information in the register, or for it being inaccurate or incomplete in any way, and for any reason.

I have read and agree to accept the above conditions.

Start licence check

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