Hunter Jacobs
Director, TradeForm
Hunter Jacobs is a Director of TradeForm. He leads product and content strategy for the TradeForm knowledge base and the wider TradeForm product family.
Entries by this reviewer
373 entries
Residential Building Contract Requirements in the Northern Territory
NT prescribed building work over $25,000 needs a written contract with eight mandatory terms under regulation 41H. Non-compliance is a 100 penalty unit offence.
Development Application Process for Residential Builds in WA
How the Planning and Development Act 2005 (WA), the R-Codes and local planning schemes drive the council DA process for single houses and grouped dwellings.
Underpayment Remediation in Construction
Intentional underpayment has been a criminal offence since 1 January 2025, carrying up to 10 years imprisonment. Honest mistakes are not caught. Here is how to self-audit and fix it.
Are Cost Plus Contracts Lawful for Residential Building Work in Tasmania?
Cost plus is lawful in Tasmania at any contract price, with no threshold and no ban. The Act names it, then binds it with a fair and reasonable estimate and the progress payment rule.
Parking Requirements for Residential Development in Australia
Typical council parking rates for single dwellings, dual occupancies and apartments across Australia, with the AS/NZS 2890.1 design dimensions that sit behind them.
Asbestos Removal Licensing in the ACT for Residential Builders
The ACT scrapped the 10 square metre exemption in 2015. Any asbestos removal needs a licensed removalist, and loose-fill Mr Fluffy insulation makes pre-1980 Canberra houses a category of their own.
Domestic Building Contract Requirements in Victoria
Victorian domestic building work over $10,000 needs a major domestic building contract. Section 31 sets the mandatory contents. Section 25 gives the owner a signed copy within 5 clear business days.
Practical Completion and Handover in ACT Building Contracts
The Building Act 2004 never defines practical completion. It defines completion day in s 85, and that is the date every ACT statutory clock runs from, including the 2 year defect notice.
Cost Plus Contracts: Lawfulness in Queensland
Cost plus is lawful for domestic building work in Queensland at any value. Schedule 1B of the QBCC Act 1991 regulates it by reasonable estimate at $3,300 and $20,000 rather than banning it.
Progress Payment Rules Under the HBCA in Western Australia
Section 10(1)(b) of the HBCA 1991 allows only genuine progress payments for work already performed or materials already supplied. Nothing before commencement except the 6.5 per cent deposit.
Practical Completion and Handover in QLD Residential Construction
In QLD a builder reaches practical completion when the work is done apart from minor defects or omissions. Where the owner claims defects, the builder hands over a defects document under Schedule 1B.
Progress Payment Rules Under the BWC Act in SA
SA bans any payment that is not a genuine progress payment for work already performed, with a $500,000 maximum penalty for a company. Advance money is limited to a short list of third party costs.
Cost Plus Contracts for ACT Residential Building Work
Cost plus is lawful in the ACT at any value because nothing in the Building Act 2004 restricts it. Victoria bars it under $1,000,000. The ACT never legislated the question at all.
Contract Termination Rights for Builders in Victoria
Section 49X of the Domestic Building Contracts Act 1995 (Vic) gives a Victorian builder a statutory right to end a domestic building contract once the owner breaches a dispute resolution order.
Owner-Builders in the ACT
ACT owner-builders need Access Canberra owner-builder approval. Section 88 warranties (6/2 years) can apply on sale. Owner-builder residential insurance available separately from Master Builders Fidelity Fund.
Coastal Erosion Zones and Residential Building in Australia
How NSW, VIC and QLD regulate residential building in coastal hazard zones, what the relevant Acts require, and what this means for builders working near the coast.
Cooling-Off in Tasmanian Residential Building Contracts
Tasmania gives owners 5 business days to withdraw, counted from the day they receive the signed contract and the consumer guide, not from signing. The builder keeps $100 plus expenses.
How to Claim on Home Building Compensation Fund Cover in New South Wales
icare HBCF is the NSW home warranty scheme. Cover cap $340,000. Last-resort triggers (death, disappearance, insolvency, licence cancellation). Claim window 6 months for non-completion, 2 or 6 years for defects.
Variations to Residential Building Contracts in Tasmania
Tasmania legislates variations in sections 17 to 21. They must be written and signed before added work starts, but the Act penalises the builder rather than barring recovery.
Payroll Tax Grouping Provisions for Builders
Grouping gives a builder with a building company, a labour entity and a plant hire trust one threshold across the lot, and makes every entity liable for the whole group debt.
Cost Plus Contracts In AU Residential Construction: Common Disputes
Cost plus residential contracts produce a predictable set of disputes: overhead rate, justification of costs, audit rights and what counts as the cost. Where the lines sit under AU law.
Prime Cost and Provisional Sum Items in ACT Building Contracts
The ACT does not legislate prime cost or provisional sums. Section 89C of the Building Act 2004 lets a regulation prescribe standard conditions, but none exists, so the contract is the only rule.
Deposit Limits for Residential Building Work in NSW
Section 8 of the Home Building Act 1989 caps a NSW deposit at 10 per cent of the contract price. One number, no value tiers, no threshold: the simplest deposit rule in the country.
MyLeave: Portable Long Service Leave in Western Australia
MyLeave charges WA construction employers 0.75 per cent of ordinary pay for the 2026 calendar year, paid on quarterly returns. There is no project levy in WA.
Deposit Limits for Residential Building Contracts in Queensland
Queensland caps deposits by contract level: 10 per cent for level 1 contracts under $20,000, 5 per cent for level 2 at or above it, 20 per cent where off-site work exceeds half the price.
Progress Payment Rules for Residential Building Work in Tasmania
Tasmania prescribes no stage payment table. Section 42 requires every payment other than the deposit to relate directly to work actually performed at the building site.
When a NSW Builder Can Lawfully Terminate a Home Building Contract
The Home Building Act 1989 grants no termination right, it only makes you state one. Section 10 then makes a non-compliant contract unenforceable by the builder alone, so the owner can still sue you.
Easements in Residential Construction: What Builders Need to Check
Sewer, drainage and right of carriageway easements sit on most residential titles. Building over an easement without consent is a setback risk. Here is what to check.
Building Information Certificate NSW: What It Does and When to Apply
A NSW Building Information Certificate stops council from issuing an order against a building for seven years. Here is what a BIC covers and how to apply.
Prime Cost Items and Provisional Sums in SA
SA does not define PC items or provisional sums in statute. They run on section 29(5) plus regulation 16, which caps the builder margin at 15 per cent, and an unfair estimate is an offence.
WHS Obligations for Residential Builders in South Australia
SA runs the model WHS Act 2012 under SafeWork SA. Principal contractor duties bite at $450,000, and from 1 July 2026 a fall risk over two metres is high risk construction work.
Instant Asset Write-Off for Residential Builders (Australia)
The $20,000 instant asset write-off lapsed on 30 June 2026. For the 2026-27 income year the legislated threshold is $1,000, with a permanent $20,000 proposed in a Bill that is not yet law.
Subcontractor Compliance Verification Risk for Builders
An uninsured subbie becomes the builder problem. In NSW section 175B puts the subcontractor unpaid premium on the principal contractor unless a written statement covers the contract period.
Builders warranty insurance exemptions in Victoria
When Victorian building warranty insurance is not required. The contract-value line moved from over $16,000 (DBI) to over $20,000 (Home Warranty) on 1 July 2026, plus the multi-storey carve-out.
Statutory Consumer Guarantees Under the Building Act 1993 (NT)
The Building Act 1993 (NT) implies statutory consumer guarantees into every prescribed residential building contract. Periods are 6 years for structural defects and 1 year for non-structural.
How Defect Rectification Works in ACT Residential Building
Access Canberra issues rectification orders under the Construction Occupations (Licensing) Act 2004 (ACT). ACAT handles section 88 warranty claims and Property Developers Act orders.
Stand Downs and Poor Weather on Construction Sites
Inclement weather is almost never a lawful section 524 stand down. MA000020 clause 24 makes you pay, up to 32 hours in any 4 week period, and move the crew to dry work first.
Leave Entitlements for Residential Builders
MA000020 pays the 17.5 per cent annual leave loading on leave cashed out at termination when the NES does not. Parental Leave Pay reached 130 days for children born from 1 July 2026.
Nominee Requirements for Victorian Building Company Registrations
A VIC company builder registration under the Building Act 1993 must have a director registered as a domestic builder (manager). BPC oversees the requirement from 1 July 2025.
Long Service Leave Versus Portable Schemes
A construction worker can sit under a state long service leave Act and a portable scheme at once. Victoria switches the state Act off. New South Wales, Queensland and WA do not.
Holdback and Retention on Australian Residential Builds
How the 5 and 2.5 per cent retention structure works across an Aussie home build, when each release happens, and where retention has to sit in a trust account.
Construction Loans and Progress Drawdowns in Australia
How Aussie construction loans pay out in stages, what lenders need at each drawdown, and how builders should sequence the claim to keep cash on site.
Licence Expiry and Scope Drift Risk for Australian Builders
An expired licence or work outside your licence class makes the contract unenforceable. In NSW section 10 stops the builder suing for unpaid claims. In QLD section 42 blocks payment altogether.
On-Site Award MA000020: Builder Quick Reference
The Building and Construction General On-Site Award MA000020 sets minimum pay for on-site building work. Award rates rose 4.75 per cent from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026.
Practical Completion and Handover in Western Australian Building Contracts
Western Australia leaves practical completion to the contract. Section 11 of the Home Building Contracts Act 1991 (WA) attaches a 4 month defect make-good to that undefined date.
When a South Australian Builder Can Lawfully Terminate a Building Contract
The Building Work Contractors Act 1995 (SA) gives a builder no statutory termination right. Grounds live in the contract, and section 36(5)(b) opens a wide route out for the owner.
When Cost Plus Contracts Are Lawful in South Australia
Section 29 of the Building Work Contractors Act 1995 (SA) permits cost plus contracts at any value, with the margin capped at 15 per cent. The same 15 per cent caps prime cost surcharges.
Security of Payment NT: a builders guide to the West Coast model
How the Construction Contracts (Security of Payments) Act 2004 (NT) works. Single-step adjudication, 90 day window and how the NT regime differs from the East Coast model.
Owner-Builder Certificate of Consent in Victoria
A VIC owner-builder needs a certificate of consent under s 25B Building Act 1993. Section 137B DBCA imposes a 6.5 year sale restriction with mandatory defects inspection report.
Statutory Warranties Under the Building Work Contractors Act 1995 (SA)
Section 32 of the Building Work Contractors Act 1995 (SA) implies six warranties into every domestic building work contract. Section 32(5) sets a strict 5 year limitation that cannot be extended.
Owner-Builder Permits in Queensland
A QLD owner-builder permit under s 42D QBCC Act lets an owner do prescribed building work above $11,000 (excluding own labour). Six year sale disclosure. Mandatory training for higher-value work.
Schedule 1B QBCC Act: Level 1 vs Level 2 Domestic Building Contracts (QLD)
Schedule 1B of the QBCC Act sets the rules for residential building contracts in Queensland. This entry explains Level 1 vs Level 2 contracts and the consequences of using a non-compliant one.
Casual vs Permanent Employment in Construction
Since 26 August 2024 section 15A of the Fair Work Act decides who is casual, not the contract label. Daily hire under MA000020 is permanent employment with one day of notice, not casual.
Retention and Security Release Risk for Australian Builders
Retention runs 5 per cent, halved at practical completion. Trust accounts bite at $20m in NSW and $10m in QLD. WA sets a $20,000 threshold but excludes small-scale residential work. Unclaimed retention is money gone.
What Counts as a Major or Structural Defect Under Victorian Law
Victoria has no statutory major defect definition. Section 134 Building Act 1993 sets a 10 year long-stop. BPC guidance splits structural from non-structural.
Structural Defects Under the QBCC Act 1991 (Qld)
Section 29 of Schedule 1B of the QBCC Act 1991 gives structural defects a 6 year warranty period and other defects 1 year. QBCC guidance defines structural by load-bearing test.
Owner-Builders in Tasmania
Tasmania issues owner-builder authorities under the Building Act 2016. Personal liability for defects under section 32 of the 2016 RBWC Act. No home warranty insurance backstop.
Deductions for a Residential Construction Business
What a residential building business can actually claim. The cents per kilometre rate is 91 cents for 2026-27, capped at 5,000 km, and a company cannot use that method at all.
How Structural and Non-Structural Defects Are Classified in South Australia
South Australia runs a flat 5 year statutory warranty period under section 32(5) BWCA with no statutory split. The 10 year PDI Act long-stop caps general defect claims.
How Structural, Minor and Major Defects Are Classified in Tasmania
The Tasmanian 2016 Act uses "minor defect" in section 4 as the practical completion trigger, not "major defect". A flat 6 year proceedings limit runs from practical completion under section 32(1).
QCAT Conduct of Proceedings for QLD Building Disputes
QCAT hears Queensland building disputes after QBCC early dispute resolution. Expect mediation, a defective work schedule, expert reports and a hearing in the Building and Construction List.
Structural and Non-Structural Defects Under the Building Act 2004 (ACT)
Section 88 of the Building Act 2004 (ACT) splits warranties by defect type: 6 years for structural elements and 2 years for non-structural, both from completion.
RDOs and the 36-Hour Week in Construction
MA000020 sets a 38-hour week averaged over a 20 day cycle, not a 36-hour week. Each 8-hour day pays 7.6 hours and accrues 0.4 of an hour towards a rostered day off.
When You Need a Builder Licence in New South Wales
A NSW contractor licence is required for residential building work with labour and materials above $5,000, plus any specialist work at any value. Owner-builder permit is the DIY route.
Termination of Employment in Construction
Notice under the NES runs 1 to 5 weeks, but MA000020 daily hire employees can be finished on one day's notice. Unfair dismissal compensation is capped at $95,050 from 1 July 2026.
Redundancy in a Small Construction Business
The small business exemption from redundancy pay does not reach on-site builders. MA000020 switches off the NES redundancy Subdivision, so a builder with 3 employees still pays.
How Defect Rectification Works in Queensland Residential Building
QBCC early dispute resolution then a direction to rectify is the Queensland pathway. QCAT sits above for domestic building disputes and QHWS provides an insurance layer.
Builders Bookkeeping and GST Mistakes
The errors that cost real money: invalid tax invoices, 47 per cent no-ABN withholding, retentions remitted early and credits claimed on input taxed residential work.
When You Need a Builder Registration in Victoria
A Victorian builder registration is required to enter a major domestic building contract over $10,000 under section 29 of the DBCA 1995 (Vic). BPC administers registration from 1 July 2025.
Security of Payment Act ACT: a builders guide
How the Building and Construction Industry (Security of Payment) Act 2009 (ACT) works. Payment claims, schedules, adjudication and the 2024 amendments explained.
When You Need a Builder Registration in Western Australia
WA builder registration under the Building Services (Registration) Act 2011 is required to carry out or contract for permit work valued at $20,000 or more. Building and Energy is the regulator.
Mediation of Residential Building Disputes (Australia)
How tribunal-ordered mediation works for residential building disputes across NCAT, VCAT and QCAT, and how a builder should prepare for it.
How Defect Rectification Works in Northern Territory Residential Building
The Commissioner for Residential Building Disputes handles NT complaints with orders to $100,000. NTCAT sits above. Fidelity Fund NT covers up to $200,000 on trigger events.
Practical Completion and Handover in South Australian Building Contracts
The Building Work Contractors Act 1995 (SA) does not define practical completion. Section 32 sets a strict 5 year warranty clock from completion, confirmed in Duncan v Bert Farina.
Tax Deductions for Residential Builders in Australia
Australian residential builders claim deductions for tools, vehicles, subcontractors and equipment. The instant asset write-off is $1,000 for 2026-27 after the $20,000 limit lapsed on 30 June 2026.
When Cost Plus Contracts Are Lawful in New South Wales
Section 8A(2)(b) of the Home Building Act 1989 (NSW) permits cost plus at any contract value, with a margin, subject to documentation. Victoria bans it below $1,000,000.
Implied Warranties in Western Australian Home Building Contracts
Western Australia has no statutory warranty list. Section 11 of the Home Building Contracts Act 1991 (WA) implies a 4 month make-good term and section 9 implies permit and water-approval conditions.
Builder marketing rules in Western Australia: ACL, HBCA and Consumer Protection
How the ACL, the Home Building Contracts Act 1991 (WA) and Consumer Protection WA govern residential builder advertising, quoting and registration display.
Statutory Warranties Under the Residential Building Work Contracts Act 2016 (Tas)
Sections 27 to 32 of the Residential Building Work Contracts and Dispute Resolution Act 2016 (Tas) imply six warranties into every residential building work contract with a 6 year proceedings limit.
Statutory Warranties Under the Building Act 2004 (ACT)
Section 88 of the Building Act 2004 (ACT) implies five warranties into every residential building work contract. Periods are 6 years for structural elements and 2 years for non-structural.
Product Substitution Non-Compliance Risk for Builders
Swapping a specified product for a cheaper or available one without evidence of suitability under NCC Part A5 makes the work non-compliant. NSW fines reach $1.1 million for a corporation using a banned product.
What Counts as a Major Defect Under the Home Building Act 1989 (NSW)
Section 18E(4) of the Home Building Act 1989 (NSW) defines a major defect by six criteria. Meeting one triggers the 6 year warranty period instead of the 2 year default.
Misleading quotes for residential builders: state by state comparison
How each Australian state and territory handles misleading estimates and quotes in residential builder advertising, from the ACL baseline through to each state consumer regulator overlay.
How Structural and Non-Structural Defects Are Classified in Western Australia
Western Australia has no statutory split. The HBCA runs a flat 4 month make-good and BSCRA runs a flat 6 year workmanship complaint window. Structural characterisation is regulatory, not statutory.
How Defect Rectification Works in Victorian Residential Building
BPC conciliation is the entry point for defect rectification in Victoria. A conciliator can issue a rectification order under the Building Act 1993 (Vic) and VCAT sits above for orders and damages.
Instant Asset Write-Off for Builders
The $20,000 write-off expired 30 June 2026. As at 14 July 2026 the legislated limit for FY2026-27 is $1,000, and the permanent replacement sits in a Bill that is not yet law.
Defect Notification Requirements in South Australian Residential Building
The BWCA 1995 (SA) has no statutory owner notification duty. The section 32(5) 5 year period runs strict from completion under Duncan v Bert Farina. BII notification is trigger-based.
Hiring an Apprentice: Employer Obligations
An apprentice counts as one only once the training contract is registered with the state training authority. Housing construction employers can claim up to $5,000 under the Key Apprenticeship Program.
Apprentice Wages and Progression Under MA000020
Apprentice minimums are a percentage of the CW3 standard rate, and each stage starts on competency or 12 months, whichever is earlier. Missing a step is the most common apprentice underpayment.
Site Allowances and Loadings in Construction
MA000020 carries a dozen allowances. The ones marked for all purposes feed overtime, penalties, leave loading and super. The residential industry allowance is $53.72 a week from 1 July 2026.
How Defect Rectification Works in Tasmanian Residential Building
CBOS mediation is the Tasmanian entry point. Section 44 requires the builder to correct listed defects within 6 months of the defects document. TASCAT sits above for orders and damages.
Accounting for Progress Payments
A progress claim is not a payment schedule and neither is a payment. GST attribution turns on your accounting basis, and claiming ahead of progress breaches the contract and distorts the books.
Defect Notification Requirements in New South Wales
Section 18BA of the Home Building Act 1989 (NSW) requires the owner to notify the builder of a breach in writing within 6 months of the breach becoming apparent, and to allow reasonable access to rectify.
Defect Notification Requirements in Victorian Residential Building
The DBCA 1995 (Vic) does not carry a statutory owner notification duty. The section 8 warranty period runs against the section 134 Building Act 10 year long-stop. Notification sits in the contract.
Defect Notification Requirements in Queensland Residential Building
QBCC direction-to-rectify applications must be lodged within 6 years 3 months for structural and 12 months for non-structural defects. Section 29 warranty periods are 6 years and 1 year.
Extension of Time Claims in Australian Residential Building Contracts
How extension of time claims work in AU residential building contracts: qualifying events, notice rules, the prevention principle and how time becomes at large.
Accounting for Retentions for Builders
Retention runs 5 per cent. GST on it is not attributable until the retention is invoiced or received, so a builder who runs it through the progress claim BAS pays the ATO years early.
Defect Notification Requirements in Western Australian Residential Building
Section 11 of the HBCA 1991 (WA) requires written notice to the builder within 4 months of practical completion. BSCRA complaint windows are 6 years workmanship and 3 years contract.
Defect Notification Requirements in ACT Residential Building
The Building Act 2004 (ACT) has no statutory owner notification duty. Section 88 warranty periods (6 years structural, 2 years non-structural) run from completion. Residential building insurance notification is 180 days.
Defect Notification Requirements in Northern Territory Residential Building
The NT Building Act 1993 has no statutory owner notification duty. Consumer guarantees run 6 years structural, 1 year non-structural. Fidelity fund claim window is 90 days from 30 March 2026.
Nominated Practitioner Requirements for Tasmanian Building Companies
A TAS company building practitioner registration requires a nominated licensed practitioner responsible for the work. Building Practitioners Board oversees notifications and disciplinary action.
How to Claim on Victorian Home Warranty Insurance
BPC-administered Home Warranty from 1 July 2026 is first resort with a $400,000 cap. Legacy DBI last-resort continues for pre-1-July-2026 policies with $300,000 cap and 180 day window.
How to Claim on the Queensland Home Warranty Scheme
QHWS is QBCC-administered. $200,000 per category (non-completion, defects, subsidence) with optional additional cover to $300,000. Cover triggers: builder death, disappearance, insolvency, licence cancellation.
Deposit Limits for Residential Building Contracts in Victoria
Section 11 of the Domestic Building Contracts Act 1995 (Vic) caps deposits at 5 per cent above $20,000 and 10 per cent below. It applies to every domestic building contract, not only major ones.
Builder marketing rules in the ACT: ACL, Construction Occupations Act and Access Canberra
How the ACL, the Construction Occupations (Licensing) Act 2004 (ACT) and Access Canberra govern residential builder advertising, licence display and change-of-detail duties.
How to Claim on Home Indemnity Insurance in Western Australia
WA HII covers defects and non-completion up to $200,000 and deposit loss to $40,000. Cover triggers include the WA-only registration cancellation ground. Claims run within 6 years of practical completion.
Builder marketing rules in the Northern Territory: ACL, Building Act and Consumer Affairs
How the ACL, the Building Act 1993 (NT) and NT Consumer Affairs govern residential builder advertising, registration display and fidelity-fund messaging.
Builder marketing rules in Queensland: ACL, QBCC Act and Office of Fair Trading
How the ACL, the QBCC Act 1991 and Queensland Office of Fair Trading govern residential builder advertising, licence display and quote conduct.
Builder marketing rules in South Australia: ACL, BWC Act and Consumer and Business Services
How the ACL, the Building Work Contractors Act 1995 (SA) and Consumer and Business Services SA govern residential builder advertising, licence display and quote content.
How to Claim on Building Indemnity Insurance in South Australia
SA BII covers domestic building work over $20,000 needing development approval. Minimum cover $250,000 from 10 November 2025. 5 year policy period from completion. SAFA is the government provider.
Builder marketing rules in Tasmania: ACL, Residential Building Work Act and CBOS
How the ACL, the Residential Building Work Contracts and Dispute Resolution Act 2016 (Tas) and Consumer Building and Occupational Services govern residential builder advertising and quote conduct.
How Defect Rectification Works in Western Australian Residential Building
Building and Energy administers the BSCRA complaint pathway in WA. The Building Commissioner can make orders up to $100,000 and SAT sits above with a $500,000 cap.
GST in Construction for Residential Builders
Register at $75,000 turnover. New residential premises are taxable, existing are input taxed, and purchasers withhold 1/11th at settlement or 7 per cent under the margin scheme.
Business Finance Options for Builders
How a residential builder funds the business: overdrafts, invoice finance, chattel mortgage versus lease, director guarantees and why an ATO payment plan is a warning light, not finance.
Home Warranty Insurance in Tasmania: Why There Is No Scheme
Tasmania has no compulsory home warranty insurance. The 2023 Amendments Act passed but has not been proclaimed. Owners rely on CBOS mediation, TASCAT and section 62 orders against a builder that may have no assets.
How to Claim on Residential Building Insurance in the ACT
ACT residential building insurance covers work of $12,000+ on buildings up to 3 storeys. Minimum cover $200,000 and claim window 180 days from 1 January 2025. Two routes: QBE policy or MBA Fidelity Fund certificate.
How Building Licences Are Cancelled and Suspended in New South Wales
Building Commission NSW can suspend or cancel a contractor licence under s 22 HBA. NCAT reviews decisions. Grounds include serious defects, financial failure and consumer complaints.
Defect Notification Deadlines Across Australian Residential Building
NSW section 18BA and WA section 11 are the only statutory owner notification duties in Australia. Other jurisdictions rely on contract-based frameworks. Insurance notification cutoffs range from 90 to 180 days.
How to Claim on the Fidelity Fund NT Residential Building Cover
Fidelity Fund NT covers up to $200,000 or 20 per cent of the contract price. Trigger raised to $25,000 from 30 March 2026 with a 90 day awareness-based claim window.
How Building Registrations Are Cancelled and Suspended in Victoria
BPC issues show cause notices under the Building Act 1993 (Vic) and can suspend or cancel builder registration. VCAT reviews decisions. Property Developers layer applies to class 2.
Payday Super Compliance Risk for Residential Builders
Payday Super started 1 July 2026. Super must reach the fund within 7 business days of every pay run. A builder paying weekly now has 52 deadlines a year, not 4, and the fund receipt date is the test.
Statutory Warranty Periods for Residential Building Across Australia
Statutory warranty periods range from 4 months (WA make-good) to 10 years (VIC long-stop). Most states run a two-tier structure at 6 years for structural work and 1 or 2 years for other defects.
How Building Licences Are Cancelled and Suspended in Queensland
QBCC can suspend or cancel a contractor licence under Part 6 QBCC Act. Grounds include MFR failure, defective work and demerit points. QCAT reviews decisions.
Nominated Practitioner Requirements for Northern Territory Building Companies
A NT company builder registration under the Building Act 1993 needs a registered building practitioner as responsible person. Building Practitioners Board oversees the framework.
How Major and Structural Defects Are Defined Across Australian Jurisdictions
NSW is the only state with a statutory major defect definition (s 18E(4) HBA). QLD, ACT and NT use structural language without statutory definition. VIC, WA, SA and TAS use different mechanisms entirely.
Nominee Requirements for ACT Building Company Licences
ACT company builder licences need a nominee holding an individual licence in the same class. Regulation 22(3) COL Regulation requires notification of any change within 1 business day.
Nominated Supervisor Requirements for South Australian Building Contractors
SA building work contractor licences require at least one nominated supervisor holding an individual supervisor licence. CBS notification of change within 28 days.
Nominated Supervisor Requirements for Western Australian Building Contractors
A WA registered builder (contractor) needs a Nominated Supervisor holding individual registration in the same class. Building and Energy oversees the framework.
Home Warranty Insurance Triggers and Cover Caps Across Australia
Cover caps range from $200,000 to $400,000. VIC Home Warranty from 1 July 2026 is the only first-resort scheme. WA HII has the broadest trigger set. Tasmania has no compulsory scheme.
Qualified Supervisor Requirements for NSW Building Contractors
A NSW company or partnership contractor licence must have at least one qualified supervisor. Losing the supervisor without a replacement suspends operational capacity.
Owner-Builders in the Northern Territory
NT owner-builders can obtain Fidelity Fund NT cover, unusually for Australia. Consumer guarantees 6/1 years apply on subsequent sale. Cost plus contracting prohibited.
How Building Licences Are Cancelled and Suspended in South Australia
CBS can suspend or cancel a building work contractor licence under the BWCA 1995. Magistrates Court reviews decisions. Grounds include serious defective work and dishonesty.
Owner-Builders in South Australia
SA does not require an owner-builder permit but restricts sale of owner-built homes within 5 years without disclosure. No Building Indemnity Insurance for owner-builder work.
Owner-Builder Approvals in Western Australia
A WA owner-builder needs an owner-builder approval from Building and Energy before permit work. Section 25F HBCA imposes a 7 year sale restriction without cover. No HII backstop.
Owner-Builder Permits in New South Wales
A NSW owner-builder permit under s 29 HBA lets an owner do residential work above $10,000 without a licence. Section 95B imposes a 7.5 year sale disclosure. No HBCF insurance.
Window and door defects in Australian residential construction
Window and door defects include wind rating mismatch, missing safety glass, head flashing failure and inadequate sealing to wall wrap. AS 2047 and AS 1288 govern. Water entry through window
How Building Practitioner Licences Are Cancelled and Suspended in Tasmania
The Building Practitioners Board can suspend or cancel a licence under the Occupational Licensing Act 2005 (Tas). Magistrates Court reviews decisions. Enforcement uses reprimand, conditions, suspension, cancellation.
When You Need a Builder Registration in the Northern Territory
The NT requires Building Practitioners Board registration to carry out prescribed residential building work. Fidelity trigger raised to $25,000 from 30 March 2026.
How Construction Occupations Licences Are Cancelled and Suspended in the ACT
The Construction Occupations Registrar can suspend or cancel a licence under Part 5 of the COL Act 2004. ACAT reviews decisions. Property Developers Act 2024 adds a developer layer.
When You Need a Builder Licence in the ACT
The ACT requires a Construction Occupations Registrar licence to do building work under the Construction Occupations (Licensing) Act 2004. Statutory warranties and insurance attach at $12,000.
Progress Payment Rules Under the DBCA in Victoria
Section 40 of the Domestic Building Contracts Act 1995 (Vic) caps a build-all-stages contract at base 10, frame 15, lock-up 35 and fixing 25 per cent. These are ceilings, not entitlements.
BAS Lodgement for Residential Builders
Quarterly BAS is due 28 October, 28 February, 28 April and 28 July, with about four extra weeks through an agent. The TPAR is due 28 August and the ATO data-matches it.
When You Need a Builder Licence in Tasmania
Tasmania requires a Building Practitioners Board licence to carry out or contract for prescribed building work under the Occupational Licensing Act 2005. CBOS is the administrative body.
When You Need a Builder Licence in South Australia
A SA building work contractor licence under the Building Work Contractors Act 1995 is required to contract for domestic building work as a business. CBS is the regulator. Owner-builder work exempted.
Progress Payment Rules Under the QBCC Act in Queensland
Queensland legislates no stage table. Schedule 1B section 34 lets a builder claim only what is directly related to progress on site and proportionate to the work done, on penalty of 50 penalty units.
When You Need a Builder Licence in Queensland
A QBCC licence is required for building work above $3,300. Level 1 regulated contracts run $3,301-$19,999; Level 2 at $20,000+. Owner-builder permit is the DIY route.
Variations to Residential Building Contracts in the NT
The NT has no statutory variations regime. No writing rule, no notice rule, no bar on recovery. Variations are pure contract, but regulation 41HE still caps what the builder can invoice.
Progress Payment Disputes on Residential Builds in Australia
How residential progress payment disputes arise, how the Security of Payment Acts apply to builders and subbies, and which tribunal handles which fight in each state.
Workers Compensation for Residential Builders in the ACT
ACT builders must insure with an approved private insurer under the Workers Compensation Act 1951. Injury notice in 48 hours, claim form in 7 days, up to double the premium avoided if uninsured.
Pool Safety Inspector Licensing and Form 23 Certificates (QLD)
A QLD pool cannot be sold or leased without a current pool safety certificate. This entry covers the QBCC Pool Safety Inspector licence and Form 23 process for residential builders.
Preference Payments to Construction Creditors in Australia
How voidable transaction rules under Corporations Act sections 588FA to 588FH let a liquidator claw back payments made to construction creditors before collapse.
Nominated vs Non-Nominated Subcontractors in AU Construction
Nominated subbies are picked by the principal but contracted by the builder. The split matters because the builder carries the risk for trades they did not choose.
Variations to ACT Residential Building Contracts
The Building Act 2004 does not legislate variations at all. No writing rule, no notice rule, no bar on recovery. In the ACT a variation is worth exactly what the contract says it is worth.
How Builder Registrations Are Cancelled and Suspended in Western Australia
Building and Energy can suspend or cancel a builder registration under the Building Services (Registration) Act 2011 (WA). SAT reviews decisions. The Building Services Board handles disciplinary matters.
Security of Payment Act Tasmania: a practical builders guide
How the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2009 (TAS) works. Payment claims, payment schedules, adjudication and enforcement for Tasmanian builders.
When Cost Plus Contracts Are Lawful in Victoria
Section 13 of the Domestic Building Contracts Act 1995 (Vic) plus regulation 10 make cost plus lawful only at $1,000,000 or more, or for renovation work that genuinely cannot be costed first.
Workers Compensation for Residential Builders in Tasmania
Tasmanian builders must hold a policy with a licensed insurer or self-insure. Going uninsured risks 500 penalty units plus seven years of avoided premiums, and the claim clock runs in days.
Nominated Supervisor Requirements for Queensland Contractors
A QLD company contractor licence requires a Nominated Supervisor under Schedule 1A QBCC Act. One supervisor per licence class held. Notification to QBCC within 14 days of change.
Progress Claim Templates Compliant Under Australian SoP
What a compliant Security of Payment progress claim looks like, what each state requires in a supporting statement and where statutory declarations apply.
Building Dispute Resolution in the Northern Territory
The NT splits building disputes by whether a fidelity fund certificate exists. With one, you go to the Commissioner. Without one, NTCAT to $25,000, Local Court to $250,000, Supreme Court above.
Contract Works Insurance Gaps for Australian Builders
The gaps that reduce contract works claims: a sum insured set at contract price, the average clause, the existing structures exclusion on A&A work and a policy that dies at PC.
Cooling-Off on Residential Building Contracts in the NT
The NT has no statutory cooling-off period for residential building contracts. Neither the Building Act 1993 nor the Building Regulations 1993 creates one. Signature binds.
Prime Cost Items and Provisional Sums in the Northern Territory
The NT legislates no prime cost or provisional sum regime at all. Regulation 41H demands only a total contracted price, and moving it by more than 5 per cent forces a fidelity cover reassessment.
Builder Insolvency Early Warning Signals in Australia
Section 588G makes a director personally liable for debts incurred while insolvent. Safe harbour dies the moment super or lodgements slip, and a lockdown DPN cannot be remitted at all.
Cooling-Off Rights on ACT Residential Building Contracts
There is no cooling-off period for building work contracts in the ACT. The 5 working day right people remember belongs to residential property sales, and using it forfeits 0.25 per cent.
Building Indemnity Insurance in South Australia: When Residential Builders Must Hold Cover
South Australia does not call it home warranty insurance. The $20,000 threshold from 10 November 2025, the $250,000 policy limit, 5-year defect cover and a $500,000 penalty for going without.
Deposit Limits on ACT Residential Building Contracts
The ACT sets no statutory deposit cap on residential building work. The only hard number is insurance: just $10,000 of a lost deposit is recoverable under the Building Act 2004.
Home Building Contract Requirements in Western Australia
What the HBCA 1991 requires of a WA home building contract between $7,500 and $500,000: writing, the prescribed Notice before signing, a copy before work starts, and no cooling-off period.
Prime Cost Items and Provisional Sums in WA Home Building Contracts
Section 12 of the Home Building Contracts Act 1991 (WA) makes understating a prime cost item or provisional sum an offence carrying a $10,000 penalty. WA caps no margin.
Notifiable Incident Under-Reporting Risk in Australia
Every PCBU with management or control must notify, so "the subbie reported it" is no defence. Failing to notify costs up to $50,000 in NSW and records must be kept 5 years.
Home Indemnity Insurance Claims in WA
WA home indemnity insurance pays up to $200,000, and only where a relevant circumstance exists. A solvent builder refusing to fix defects is not one, which is the scheme's biggest gap.
Builder marketing rules in NSW: ACL, Home Building Act and Fair Trading
How the Australian Consumer Law, the Home Building Act 1989 (NSW) and Fair Trading NSW govern builder advertising, quoting and website disclosures on residential jobs.
Builder marketing rules in Victoria: ACL, DBCA and Consumer Affairs
How the ACL, the Domestic Building Contracts Act 1995 (Vic), Consumer Affairs Victoria and the Building and Plumbing Commission govern residential builder advertising and estimated-price disclosures.
Reviews and testimonials for builders: ACL rules and state enforcement
How the Australian Consumer Law regulates fake reviews, incentivised testimonials and comparative claims, plus how each state consumer regulator handles enforcement for residential builders.
Structural and Non-Structural Defects Under the NT Building Act
The Building Act 1993 (NT) splits consumer guarantee enforcement: 6 years for structural defects and 1 year for non-structural. Fidelity Fund NT tracks the same split.
How Defect Rectification Works in South Australian Residential Building
CBS conciliation is the entry point for defect complaints in SA. Magistrates Court under its building work jurisdiction handles money claims. SAFA administers Building Indemnity Insurance.
Defect Notification Requirements in Tasmanian Residential Building
Section 4 of the TAS 2016 Act uses the defects document as the practical notification mechanism at completion. Section 47(1A) sets a 6 year notice-of-dispute window.
Payroll Tax Contractor Deeming Risk for Builders
Subbie payments are deemed wages under the relevant contract rules unless an exemption applies. A builder under the threshold on payroll alone can be years into an unregistered liability, with a 5-year lookback.
Occupation Certificate vs Final Inspection: State by State
Occupation Certificate, Occupancy Permit and Final Inspection Certificate sit at the same point in the build but issue under different Acts. Here is what each one means in each state.
Provisional Sums and Prime Cost Items in Residential Contracts
How provisional sums and prime cost items work in AU residential building contracts, including builder margin treatment and the variation interaction.
Deposit Limits for Residential Building Contracts in Western Australia
Western Australia caps deposits at 6.5 per cent of the contract price under section 10(1)(a) of the HBCA 1991, the only cap in the country that is not a round number, with a 20 per cent cabinetry exception.
Trust Structures for Residential Builders (Discretionary vs Unit)
How discretionary trusts and unit trusts work for AU residential builders. Distributions, tax treatment, asset protection and the 2028 minimum trust tax.
Plumbing defects in Australian residential construction
Plumbing defects include hot water temperature non-compliance, no backflow protection, hot water relief drains run to unsafe locations and wet area waterproofing failure. AS 3500 and AS 3740
Concreting licence in Australia: per-state rules for residential work
Concreting is a licensed trade in some Australian states and an unlicensed trade in others. The threshold rules, scope of work and penalties for unlicensed concreting differ across NSW, QLD, VIC, WA and SA.
Payroll Tax for Residential Builders in Tasmania
Tasmania runs two payroll tax rates in 2026-27: 4 per cent from 1.25 million dollars and 6.1 per cent above 2 million. Contractor deeming applies.
Prime Cost Items and Provisional Sums in Queensland
Queensland turns the allowance itself into a statutory warranty: Schedule 1B section 26 makes the builder warrant it was calculated with reasonable care and skill, and section 28 voids any disclaimer.
Concrete defects in Australian residential construction
Concrete defects include inadequate cover to reinforcement, hot weather pouring without curing controls, honeycombing and shrinkage cracking. AS 3600 and AS 1379 govern. Tribunal cases routinely
Project Management Fees in AU Residential Building
How residential builders charge a project management fee in AU work, the difference between percentage and fixed structures and when to apply each.
Practical Completion and Handover in Queensland
In Queensland practical completion is a defined day, not a milestone the builder declares. Schedule 1B builds the defects document into the definition: no defects document, no practical completion.
Illegal Phoenix Activity in Australian Construction: What It Is and How Regulators Track It
Illegal phoenix activity in residential construction: definition, creditor-defeating disposition rules, ATO and ASIC enforcement and penalties.
CoINVEST: Portable Long Service Leave in Victoria
Victorian builders pay CoINVEST 2.7 per cent of ordinary pay every quarter. There is no project levy. Workers can claim after 7 years and get 13 weeks at 10.
Cooling-Off on Residential Building Contracts in SA
In SA cooling-off is a section 36 right to terminate: five clear business days from making the contract, with no fixed sum the builder keeps. A Division 1 or 3 breach extends it to completion.
Owner Builder Contracts in Australian Residential Building
When a homeowner holds an owner-builder permit they hire subcontractors directly. Statutory home warranty insurance does not cover the build, and the consumer protection regime flips.
When an NT Builder Can Lawfully Terminate a Residential Building Contract
The Building Act 1993 (NT) gives builders no statutory termination right. Skip the notice to remedy and your termination becomes repudiation. Section 160 bars a building action after 10 years.
Underinsurance Risk for Australian Residential Builders
The average clause cuts every claim in proportion to the shortfall in your sum insured. Section 44 of the Insurance Contracts Act 1984 does not protect a builder contract works policy.
Notifiable Incidents on Residential Construction Sites in the ACT
The ACT rewrote its incident notification rules on 19 November 2025. Bone fractures, crush injuries and serious falls are now notifiable, and industrial manslaughter carries 20 years.
Practical Completion and Handover in WA Residential Construction
In WA a residential build reaches practical completion when the works are substantially carried out under the contract and the builder serves a notice of practical completion under the Home
Building Dispute Resolution in Tasmania
Tasmania has no compulsory home warranty insurance, so the dispute pathway is the protection. Written contracts above $20,000, six year warranties and free mediation through the Director of Building Control.
Cash Flow For Residential Builders In Australia
How deposits, progress payments and retention shape cash flow on a typical AU residential build, and the patterns that push builders into insolvency.
Notifiable Incidents on Residential Construction Sites in the NT
The section 38 duty to notify NT WorkSafe immediately of a death, serious injury or dangerous incident. Strict liability, trench and structure collapse, $10,000 and $50,000 fines.
Are Cost Plus Contracts Lawful in the Northern Territory?
The NT never names cost plus. Regulation 41H(d) demands a total contracted price and regulation 41HD makes a non-compliant contract a 100 penalty unit offence, but not an unenforceable one.
Notifiable Incidents on Residential Construction Sites in Tasmania
The section 38 duty to notify WorkSafe Tasmania immediately of a death, serious injury or dangerous incident. Trench and structure collapse, site preservation, $10,000 and $50,000 fines.
Roofing licence in Australia: roof plumbing vs roof tiling per state
Roofing in Australia splits into roof plumbing for metal cladding and gutters, and roof tiling for clay or concrete tiles. Each is licensed as a separate trade with different rules per state.
Variations to Residential Building Contracts in SA
The BWC Act has no variations section. SA does not require a variation in writing, so recovery turns on your own clause plus section 29, which demands a fixed price and price-change labelling.
Boundary Disputes on Residential Sites: Surveyor Reports and Tribunal Jurisdiction in Australia
How residential boundary disputes are resolved in Australia using registered surveyor evidence, common law boundary principles plus state tribunal pathways including NCAT, VCAT plus QCAT.
Design and Construct Contracts in Australian Residential Building
Design and construct is a delivery model where one builder takes responsibility for both design and construction. In residential work it concentrates risk on the builder and the novated consultants.
Landscaping licence in Australia: structural vs decorative work per state
Landscape work splits into structural and decorative buckets in Australia. Structural landscaping is licensed in NSW, QLD and VIC above set thresholds. Decorative gardening generally is not.
Bushfire Prone Area Mapping in Victoria: BPA, BMO, BAL and AS 3959
Victoria has two bushfire layers. The Bushfire Prone Area map drives BAL and AS 3959. The Bushfire Management Overlay adds a planning permit on top.
Final inspection and handover checklist for Australian residential builds
A clean handover starts weeks before keys change hands. Covers the practical completion inspection, the documents in the owner pack and the way the snag list is logged and tracked.
Tree Removal on Residential Sites in Australia: Council Preservation Orders plus Neighbour Tree Disputes
How tree removal works on Australian residential sites: council tree preservation orders, the Trees (Disputes Between Neighbours) Act 2006 (NSW) plus VCAT and QCAT pathways for tree disputes.
Retention Money in Australian Residential Construction
Retention money is a slice of each progress payment a head contractor withholds from a subcontractor to cover defects. In Australian residential construction it usually sits at 5 to 10 per cent
Contract Termination Rights for Builders in WA
When a WA builder may lawfully walk away. The HBCA gives builders almost no statutory exit, and Home Indemnity Insurance does not respond when a solvent builder abandons a job.
Bookkeeping Systems for Residential Builders in Australia
Bookkeeping for AU residential builders means cloud accounting connected to quoting and CRM tools, GST and BAS on schedule, and clean records for the ATO. This entry maps Xero and MYOB to the builder workflow.
Are Cost Plus Contracts Lawful in WA?
Cost plus is lawful in WA and almost entirely unregulated. Section 3 of the HBCA excludes it from the Act, so the 6.5 per cent deposit cap and progress payment rules do not apply.
Deposit Limits for Residential Building Contracts in SA
South Australia caps the deposit at $1,000 where the price is under $20,000 and 5 per cent where it is $20,000 or more. The cap moved into section 30(4) of the Act on 15 January 2026.
Rights to Light and Views in Residential Property (Australia)
There is no general common law right to light or to a view in Australia. Protection comes from registered easements, restrictive covenants and the planning system.
Cracking defects in residential construction: causes and risk profile
Cracking is the single most common defect class in Australian residential tribunal cases. It spans hairline shrinkage in render through to structural movement in footings. Classification under
Residential Building Insurance in the ACT
Residential building work over $12,000 in the ACT needs insurance or a fidelity fund certificate. Minimum cover is $200,000 since 1 January 2025 and a claim must be lodged within 180 days.
When a Tasmanian Builder Can Lawfully Terminate a Building Contract
Tasmania's 2016 Act gives a builder no statutory right to terminate. The grounds live in the contract and the common law, and skipping the show-cause step turns termination into repudiation.
Deposit Limits on Residential Building Contracts in the NT
The NT caps the deposit at 5 per cent of the total contracted price. The cap sits in the Building Regulations 1993, not the Act, and carries a 50 penalty unit fine plus a possible refund order.
Prime Cost Items and Provisional Sums in Tasmanian Building Contracts
Tasmania defines prime cost items and provisional sums in statute and warrants both be calculated with reasonable care and skill, but leaves the adjustment mechanism and the margin to the contract.
Plans and Drawings in Australian Residential Building Contracts
Which plans, drawings and revisions form part of an Australian residential building contract, how order of precedence resolves conflicts, and where latent design risk sits when drawings change
Building Practitioner Registration in the Northern Territory
The NT Building Practitioners Board registers builders, certifiers and engineers under the Building Act 1993. Four builder categories, a $25,000 trigger and commercial registration since 15 April 2025.
Progress Payment Rules for ACT Residential Building Work
The Building Act 2004 prescribes no progress payment stages for ACT residential work, and Security of Payment shuts out resident owners. The contract is the only schedule you get.
Progress Payment Rules for NT Residential Building Work
The NT legislates a stage table: 10 per cent base, 20 frame, 25 enclosed, 30 fixing, 7 practical completion, the remainder at final. Regulation 41HA, one of only two such tables in Australia.
Expert Witnesses in Australian Residential Building Disputes
Expert witnesses in NCAT, VCAT and QCAT residential building disputes are bound by codes of conduct. The duty is to the Tribunal. Concurrent evidence is the norm and report quality decides cases.
Payroll Tax for Residential Builders in the ACT
ACT payroll tax from 1 July 2026: a $1.75 million threshold, a 6.75 per cent rate, contractor deeming rules, grouping and a 28 July annual reconciliation.
GST on New Residential Premises in Australia
How 10% GST applies to new residential premises in AU, including the 5-year rule, the margin scheme and the 1/11 or 7% purchaser withholding obligation.
Carpentry licence in Australia: per-state rules for residential work
Carpentry licensing is set by each state and territory, not federally. Whether a carpenter needs a licence depends on work value, contractor vs employee status, and which jurisdiction the site sits in.
QBCC Minimum Financial Requirements and Annual Reporting (QLD)
QBCC licensees in Queensland must meet Minimum Financial Requirements at all times. This guide covers the nine financial categories, annual lodgement and how MFR breaches trigger demerit points.
ACT Residential Building Contract Requirements
Residential building work of $12,000 or more in the ACT carries statutory warranties and compulsory insurance. What the Building Act 2004 makes the contract say, and what it leaves alone.
Responding to a QBCC Audit as a Queensland Builder
How Queensland builders should respond when the QBCC opens a Minimum Financial Requirements audit or licence compliance audit. Triggers, documents and first-week actions.
Practical Completion and Handover in Tasmanian Building Contracts
Tasmania defines the date of practical completion in section 4 of the 2016 Act. The builder has 10 business days to give notice, 6 months to fix listed defects and faces a 6 year limitation.
Arbitration in Residential Construction (Australia)
Why arbitration is mostly off the table for Australian residential building disputes, what the Commercial Arbitration Acts say, and the narrow cases where it still applies.
Payroll Tax for Residential Builders in Queensland
Queensland payroll tax: a 1.3 million dollar threshold, rates that step from 4.75 to 4.95 per cent, a mental health levy, contractor deeming and grouping for residential builders.
Deposit Limits for Residential Building Work in Tasmania
Tasmania caps deposits at 10 per cent for contracts from $20,000 to $50,000 and 5 per cent above $50,000, with 20 per cent where most of the work is off-site.
WHS Obligations for Residential Builders in Tasmania
Tasmania runs the model WHS scheme: the $250,000 principal contractor threshold, a written WHS management plan, SWMS for high risk construction work and industrial manslaughter at 18 million dollars.
Heritage Overlay for Residential Builds in Victoria: Clause 43.01 Permit Triggers
Heritage Overlay sits in clause 43.01 of every Victorian planning scheme. It controls demolition and external change on listed places, and bites hard at lodgement.
Private Open Space Requirements for Residential Development in Victoria
Victorian ResCode rules for Private Open Space and Secluded Private Open Space under Clause 55 and Clause 54, including the 40 sqm POS and 25 sqm SPOS standards.
Practical Completion and Handover in the Northern Territory
The NT defines practical completion in regulation 41HA(2), not the Act. It carries no more than 7 per cent, and the final claim waits until the occupancy permit is granted and copied to the owner.
Residential Building Contract Requirements in Tasmania
Tasmanian residential building contracts of $20,000 or more must be written, signed and handed over within 5 business days, and carry statutory warranties that cannot be waived.
Dividing Fence Rules in NSW: Costs, Notices and Court Orders
How the Dividing Fences Act 1991 (NSW) splits cost between neighbours, what a fencing notice must contain and how the Local Court or NCAT decides disputes.
Residential Building Cover in the Northern Territory
The NT runs no home warranty insurance scheme. Cover comes from a fidelity fund certificate under the Building Act 1993, triggered at $25,000 of work since 30 March 2026.
Asbestos Removal Licensing in Western Australia for Residential Builders
Class A and Class B asbestos licences in WA, the 10 square metre rule, the 5 day notification to WorkSafe WA, clearance certificates and the engineered stone ban.
Prime Cost Items and Provisional Sums in Victoria
Sections 20 to 23 of the Domestic Building Contracts Act 1995 (Vic) govern prime cost and provisional sum items. Victoria does not cap the margin on an over-run. It forces you to disclose the method.
Builder Low Rise vs Medium Rise vs Open Licence in QLD
A side-by-side guide to the three main QBCC builder licence classes. Covers Class 1 to 10 work limits, gross floor area caps and the experience pathways for low rise, medium rise and open licences in Queensland.
Long Service Corporation: The NSW Portable Long Service Leave Scheme
NSW funds portable long service leave with a 0.25 per cent levy on projects of $250,000 or more, not employer wage contributions. Workers get 8.67 weeks after 10 years.
Tiling vs waterproofing licences in Australia: per-state rules
Tiling and waterproofing are treated as separate licensed trades in NSW and QLD, bundled inside one VIC registration class, and regulated through different building practitioner regimes in WA and SA.
Expert Determination in Residential Construction Disputes (Australia)
How expert determination clauses work in Australian residential building contracts, when they bind the parties, and how courts treat the outcome.
Bookkeeping Basics for a Residential Builder in Australia
A workable chart of accounts, the right software and a tight BAS rhythm keep a builder out of trouble with the ATO. Job costing turns those books into a profit tool, not a chore.
Payroll Tax for Residential Builders in WA
WA payroll tax runs on a 5.5 per cent rate and a threshold that tapers away between 1 million and 7.5 million dollars. There are no contractor deeming rules, only the common law test.
Timber frame defects in Australian residential construction
Timber framing defects span undersized members, missing tie-downs, wrong treatment level for termite zones and out-of-plumb walls. AS 1684 is the governing standard and most failed frames miss
VBA show cause notice: how the VIC disciplinary process works
How the VBA show cause process works in VIC. Statutory grounds under section 179, the section 182 notice, the 14 day response window and the disciplinary outcomes the BPC can impose.
Workers Compensation Policy Lapse Risk for Builders
A lapsed or understated workers compensation policy makes the builder personally liable for the full cost of any claim. Queensland recovers the payout plus 50 per cent. Victoria fines up to $218,088.
Scott Schedule for Residential Building Disputes (Australia)
How a Scott Schedule itemises defect claims for tribunal hearings, the format NCAT and VCAT expect, and what each column has to contain to be useful.
Responding to a VBA Proactive Inspection in Victoria
How Victorian builders should respond when the VBA Proactive Inspections Program turns up on a residential site. Powers, what gets checked, insurance audits and financial penalties.
Variations to Residential Building Contracts in Western Australia
Section 7 of the HBCA 1991 requires variations in writing, signed, costed and given to the owner before the varied work starts. Section 27 means an unwritten variation is still not automatically void.
Payroll Tax for Residential Builders in Victoria
Victorian payroll tax for 2026-27: a 1 million dollar threshold that phases out at 5 million, 4.85 per cent metro and 1.2125 per cent regional, plus the contractor deeming trap.
Choosing a Business Structure for Residential Builders in Australia
Residential builders in Australia choose between sole trader, partnership, Pty Ltd company or trust. Each carries different tax rates, asset protection and ASIC duties.
Building Approval Lapse Risk for Residential Builders
A lapsed permit makes the work unlawful. The certifier cannot sign off, the warranty insurer can decline, the owner cannot settle and the final claim never gets paid. Victorian permits lapse at 12 and 24 months.
Equitable Charges in Construction: How They Work in Australia
Equitable charges over land or funds let a builder secure money owed without a legal mortgage. How they form, how to enforce them and how PPSA changes the picture.
Dispute Resolution Clauses in Australian Residential Building Contracts
How mediation, expert determination, tribunals and litigation are structured in Australian residential building contracts, including the mandatory pre-tribunal processes in NSW, VIC and QLD.
NSW Residential Tenancy vs Occupation Certificate: When You Can Rent
A new NSW dwelling cannot be lawfully occupied or rented until the principal certifier issues an occupation certificate. Tenancies started before the OC create real risk for builders.
Residential Zoning Across Australian States
How residential land use is zoned in NSW (R1 R2 R3 R4), Victoria (GRZ NRZ RGZ) and Queensland (LDR MDR), and what each zone permits for builders and homeowners.
Division 7A for Residential Builders (Loans From Your Company)
Division 7A treats unpaid loans from a private company to shareholders as deemed unfranked dividends. AU builders running through a company structure should read this.
NSW Greenfield Development Controls: Biodiversity Offsets and Site Preparation
NSW greenfield residential development triggers the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme where clearing exceeds the area threshold or the site is on the BV Map.
The Quantity Surveyor Role In AU Residential Construction
What a quantity surveyor does across an AU residential build: bills of quantities, valuation of work, variation pricing, tax depreciation and expert witness work in disputes.
Specification and Scope of Works in Australian Residential Building Contracts
A Scope of Works defines exactly what the builder must build, to what quality, using which products. Ambiguity in the SoW is the single biggest source of variation disputes on Australian
Principal-Supplied Subcontractor Arrangements in AU Residential Building
How principal-supplied subcontractor arrangements differ from direct engagement in Australian residential building, and where contract risk and insurance sit.
Scott Schedules in Australian Building Disputes
A Scott schedule is the row by row table at the centre of an Australian building dispute. Each row is one defect with description, cause, scope, the homeowner cost and the builder cost.
VCAT Conduct of Proceedings for VIC Domestic Building Disputes
VCAT runs Victorian domestic building disputes in the Building and Property List. Expect a first directions hearing, points of claim, expert reports under PNVCAT2 and a compulsory conference.
Plant and Machinery Insurance for Australian Residential Builders
How plant and machinery cover responds for AU residential builders, the split between fixed plant and mobile plant, and the theft and damage gaps to watch.
Workers Compensation for Interstate Workers: the State of Connection Test
Send a crew over the border and one question decides which scheme covers them: the state of connection. The cascading test, the six month temporary work rule and what a builder must actually hold.
Portable Long Service Leave in SA, TAS, ACT and NT Compared
SA charges 2 per cent of wages, TAS 2.5 per cent (1.8 if you pay on time), the ACT 2.75 per cent. NT is the odd one out: a 0.1 per cent levy on projects over 1 million dollars.
NSW Strata Defect Reporting for Residential Buildings
NSW residential strata buildings four storeys or more sit under the Strata Building Bond and Inspections Scheme. This entry covers the SBBIS process, certifier role and stage timeline.
Subcontractor Collapse Protection in Australia
Subcontractor collapse protection in Australia means the legal and operational tools that stop a subbie going under when a head contractor or principal stops paying. Project trust accounts in
Management Liability Insurance for Australian Residential Builders
How management liability cover bundles directors and officers, employment practices and crime cover into one policy for AU residential builders.
How Construction Loans and Progress Draws Work in Australia
A construction loan releases funds in stages as the build progresses, unlike a standard mortgage that settles in one go. Knowing how the bank assesses each draw protects your cashflow on the job.
Director Personal Liability in Residential Construction: When the Corporate Veil Lifts
When directors of an Australian residential building company become personally liable: insolvent trading under s 588G, ATO director penalty notices and WHS personal duties.
Brickwork defects in Australian residential construction
Brickwork defects sit near the top of tribunal claim lists. Efflorescence, mortar non-compliance, missing weep holes and absent articulation joints are the recurring failures. AS 3700 sets the
Setback Rules for Residential Builds in Australia: Front, Side and Rear
Setback rules for a dwelling sit in the LEP, DCP or planning scheme. They control distance from each boundary and decide what fits on the block.
The Tender Process For Residential Construction In Australia
How residential builders tender in AU: invitation, lump sum versus schedule of rates, qualifications, and the rules on withdrawing a price before contract.
Trust Claims vs Contract Claims in Construction Insolvency
Why trust money beats general contract debt when a head contractor collapses, with how project trusts and retention trusts protect subbies in AU.
Site Conditions and Latent Conditions Clauses in Australian Residential Contracts
Site condition warranties, latent condition clauses and how they allocate risk for unforeseen ground conditions, contamination and underground services on Australian residential building jobs.
Force Majeure in Australian Residential Building Contracts
Force majeure is a creature of contract in Australia. What that means for AU residential builders, how COVID exposed the gaps and how to draft a clause that actually works.
Workers Compensation for Residential Builders in the NT
NT builders insure under the Return to Work Act 1986. The worker test is the ATO PAYG test, claims go to the insurer in 3 working days, and trading uninsured risks a stop-work order plus $179,000.
Building in Flood-Prone Areas in Australia
How councils map flood-prone land in Australia, what the 1-in-100 year flood means, and how freeboard and overlays shape what residential builders can construct.
Secondary Dwellings in Queensland: Planning Regulation 2017 and Council Scheme Rules
How secondary dwellings work in Queensland under the Planning Regulation 2017 after the 2022 amendments removed occupancy restrictions plus opened up the rental market for granny flats.
NSW Private Certifier Conflicts of Interest: What Builders Should Know
Registered certifiers in NSW cannot do certification work where they have a conflict of interest. Disclosure does not cure the conflict. Builders who do not screen their certifier face contract risk and OC delays.
Cyber Insurance for Australian Residential Builders
Why AU residential builders need cyber cover, the ransomware exposure through subcontractor portals and how NDB scheme obligations interact with the policy.
NSW Class 2 Developer Bond Scheme: What Builders Need to Know
The NSW Strata Building Bond and Inspections Scheme requires Class 2 developers to lodge a 2 per cent bond before the occupation certificate. The bond funds two mandatory defect inspections.
Site Establishment Costs in AU Residential Building
Site establishment covers sheds, toilets, fencing, power and signage. Allowances run 5-15 percent of build cost depending on site and program length.
Floor tile defects in Australian residential builds
Hollow tiles, lippage, grout failure and cracks make up a big share of the warranty queue. Covers AS 3958.1, wet area bond breakers, movement joints and falls to floor wastes.
Contract Termination Rights for Builders in Queensland
Queensland gives a builder no statutory right to terminate. Schedule 1B arms the owner, so the exit is contractual: substantial breach, a 10 business day notice to remedy, then a second notice.
NSW Annual Fire Safety Statements for Residential Buildings
Owners of Class 1b and Class 2 to 9 buildings in NSW must lodge an Annual Fire Safety Statement confirming each essential fire safety measure has been inspected by an accredited practitioner.
Cyber Insurance and Data Risk for Australian Residential Builders
Builders hold client IDs, card numbers and supplier bank details, all under Privacy Act and PCI obligations. Cyber cover and basic controls cap the cost when something goes wrong.
ATO Taxable Payments Reporting System (TPRS) for Builders
The Taxable Payments Reporting System requires AU residential builders to report contractor payments to the ATO each year via a TPAR by 28 August.
Construction debt recovery in Australia: the full toolkit
Step by step debt recovery for residential builders across Australia. SoP adjudication, statutory demand, court judgment, garnishee orders, sheriff seizure, bankruptcy and winding-up.
Statutory demand: a residential builders practical guide
How residential builders use a section 459E statutory demand to recover debt from a company client or subcontractor. Thresholds, 21 day window and set-aside risk explained.
Construction Loan Bank Requirements for Residential Builders in Australia
Construction loans in Australia release funds in progress draws against a fixed price building contract. Banks check invoices, valuations and insurance at each stage.
WHS Obligations for Residential Builders in the ACT
ACT WHS duties for builders: the $250,000 principal contractor threshold, the WHS management plan, SWMS, the Construction Occupations licence and industrial manslaughter at $16,500,000.
Document Retention Periods for Residential Builders in Australia
Tax, employment, contract and defect records each have different retention rules under the ATO, ASIC, Fair Work and state building Acts. Plan to the longest applicable period.
Fringe Benefits Tax for Residential Builders (Vehicles + Accommodation)
FBT applies when AU residential builders provide cars, dual cab utes or accommodation to employees. The rate is 47% for the FBT year ending 31 March 2026.
Subcontract Agreements in Australian Residential Building
A subcontract sits between a head contractor builder and a trade. Back-to-back terms and flow-down clauses transfer head contract obligations down, but security of payment law limits how far
Workers Compensation for Residential Builders in South Australia
SA builders must register with ReturnToWorkSA. Premium is the industry rate times remuneration, most sole-trader building subbies are deemed workers, and employing uninsured risks $10,000 per worker.
When an ACT Builder Can Lawfully Terminate a Building Contract
The Building Act 2004 gives an ACT builder no statutory right to terminate. The contract and the common law are all there is, and a solvent builder who walks leaves the owner with no insurance cover.
Preliminary Services Agreements in Australian Residential Building
A preliminary services agreement covers the pre-construction work a builder does before the fixed-price contract is signed, including soil tests, design fees and council application costs.
Builder Registration Requirements in Tasmania
Tasmania licenses builders under the Occupational Licensing Act 2005. The Determination sets the licence classes, qualifications, $5 million public liability cover, CPD and renewal.
Victorian Planning Permit Process for Residential Builders
How the Planning and Environment Act 1987, the Victoria Planning Provisions and VicSmart shape the planning permit pathway, and where building permits fit.
Notice of defects before handover on Australian residential builds
A homeowner can refuse handover where the work has material defects. Covers the notice of defects, the defects liability period and the warranty regimes in NSW, Vic and Qld.
Granny Flat Rules in NSW Secondary Dwellings
How granny flats are regulated in NSW under the State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) 2021, the 60 sqm size cap, lot size triggers, and the CDC fast track pathway.
Drainage and stormwater defects in Australian residential builds
Stormwater defects appear early and cost a lot to fix. Covers AS/NZS 3500.3, the legal point of discharge, pipe sizing, falls and the issues raised at handover.
Cost Plus vs Fixed Price Building Contracts in Australia
How fixed price and cost plus residential building contracts allocate risk in AU, and the statutory limits on cost plus under state home building law.
NSW Strata Renovation Bylaws: Cosmetic, Minor and Major Work
NSW strata law splits renovations into cosmetic, minor and major under sections 109, 110 and 111 of the Strata Schemes Management Act. This entry covers each category and the NCAT review path.
NCAT Conduct of Proceedings for NSW Home Building Disputes
NCAT runs NSW home building disputes under Procedural Direction 3. Expect directions hearings, Scott schedules, expert reports under the Code of Conduct and concurrent evidence at hearing.
QHWIS Non-Completion Cover: The 3-Month Termination Window (QLD)
The Queensland Home Warranty Insurance Scheme covers homeowners when a builder cannot finish a job. This entry sets out the 2-year cover envelope and 3-month termination window.
Responding to a Building Commission NSW Proactive Inspection
How NSW residential builders should respond when Building Commission NSW turns up for a proactive site inspection. Powers, what inspectors look for and how rectification orders work.
Roofing defects in Australian residential construction
Roofing defects include pitch incompatible with cladding, missing or wrong flashings, sarking omitted in cyclonic zones and inadequate fixing for wind classification. AS 1562.1 and AS 2050
Self-Assessable and Accepted Development in Queensland
How the Planning Act 2016 (QLD) sorts residential work into accepted, code assessable or impact assessable categories, plus common examples for builders.
Tool and Equipment Insurance for Australian Residential Builders
How tools-of-trade and portable equipment cover responds for AU residential builders, where the common gaps sit and whether subbie tools are insured.
Subcontractor Claims When a Builder Defaults
When a residential head contractor stops paying or goes under, subbies have a layered set of remedies in Australian law. Security of Payment adjudication is usually the fastest. Subcontractors
Delay Claims for Builders in Australia
How EOT claims, delay damages, concurrent delay and notice provisions work in AU residential building contracts and the standard QBCC notice windows.
Heritage Listed Residential Property in NSW: State Register and Local LEP
NSW has two heritage paths. State Heritage Register listings sit under the Heritage Act 1977. Local listings sit in Schedule 5 of the council LEP.
Termination Rights in Australian Residential Building Contracts
Termination for breach, common law repudiation and state-specific exit rights in AU residential building contracts: how each ground works and what triggers it.
VBA audits of residential builders in Victoria
How the VBA audits Victorian residential builders, the triggers behind Show Cause notices under section 178 of the Building Act 1993 and the penalties that can suspend or cancel a registration.
Expert Witness Duties in Residential Construction Disputes (Australia)
The duties of an expert witness in Australian residential building disputes, the Ikarian Reefer principles and the codes that bind experts in federal and state courts and tribunals.
Abandonment of Residential Building Contracts in Australia
When a builder stops work and never returns, what counts as abandonment in AU residential contracts. Abandonment vs repudiation vs frustration and the owner remedies.
Professional Indemnity Insurance for Design and Construct Residential Builders (AU)
How professional indemnity cover responds when an AU residential builder takes on design responsibility under a D and C contract, and where the cover stops.
Defects Liability Notification Lapse Risk in Australia
The 12-month defects liability period is contractual. The NSW statutory warranty runs 6 years for major defects and 2 years otherwise. It does not end when the DLP does.
Domestic Building Insurance Exclusions in Victoria
What Victorian DBI does not pay for. The $300,000 aggregate cap, non-completion limited to 20 per cent of the contract price, 60 days of accommodation and 180 days to notify.
Asbestos Removal Licensing in the Northern Territory for Residential Builders
NT WorkSafe issues Class A and Class B asbestos removal licences under the WHS (NUL) Regulations. Class B starts above 10 square metres of bonded sheet and NT WorkSafe needs 5 days written notice.
Fixed Price Versus Lump Sum Contracts In AU Residential Construction
Builders often use fixed price and lump sum as synonyms. They are not the same thing under AU residential construction law and the difference shifts risk between builder and owner.
QBCC Minimum Financial Requirements Breach Risk in Queensland
The QBCC MFR set an NTA figure and a revenue cap for each of nine categories, plus a 1:1 current ratio held at all times. Breach it and the licence is suspended, then cancelled.
Milestone Payments in Australian Residential Building Contracts
How milestone payment schedules work in AU residential building. State by state stage requirements, claims-based alternatives and how Security of Payment Acts overlay.
Form 15 and Form 16 in QLD residential building
Form 15 is the design compliance certificate a competent person gives the certifier. Form 16 is the inspection sign off for a stage or aspect. Both sit under the Building Regulation 2021.
Payroll Tax for Residential Builders in South Australia
South Australia has a 1.5 million dollar threshold and a variable rate that climbs from zero to 4.95 per cent between 1.5 and 1.7 million dollars. Contractor deeming and grouping still bite.
Asbestos Removal Licensing in Tasmania for Residential Builders
Tasmania runs the WHS Regulations 2022. Class A covers any friable asbestos, Class B covers more than 10 square metres of bonded sheet, and WorkSafe Tasmania needs 5 days written notice.
Asbestos Removal Licensing in South Australia for Residential Builders
Class A and Class B asbestos licences in SA, the 10 square metre rule, the 5 day SafeWork SA notification, and air monitoring that is mandatory for both classes here.
Residential Building Insurance in Tasmania: There Is No Home Warranty Scheme
Tasmania abolished compulsory home warranty insurance in 2008 and has not brought it back. What protects a Tasmanian homeowner instead: statutory warranties, CBOS mediation, TASCAT and the ACL.
Prime Cost and Provisional Sum Items in NSW Building Contracts
The Home Building Act 1989 never defines a prime cost item or a provisional sum. What it does force is the s 7 (5) warning next to the price on page one, and it caps no margin.
Liquidated Damages in Australian Residential Building Contracts
How liquidated damages work in AU residential contracts: pre-estimate of loss, daily rate calculation, the penalties doctrine and state contract caps.
Floor Space Ratio for Residential Builds in Australia: FSR and Plot Ratio
FSR caps how much gross floor area you can build on a residential lot. Get the maths right at concept or the design dies at lodgement.
Restrictive Covenants on Residential Title: What Builders Need to Know
Restrictive covenants control build height, materials and use on most new subdivision titles. Here is how they bind a builder and how they can be removed or varied.
Estimating Software for AU Residential Builders
A practical look at estimating software categories used by Australian residential builders, including Buildxact, Databuild, CostX and Cubit, and how to pick one that fits your build volume and
Final Payment and Retention Release on Residential Builds (AU)
How the final claim works at Practical Completion, what triggers retention release at the end of the DLP, and what a defects notice does to your money.
Choosing a Business Structure for a Residential Builder in Australia
Builders in Australia trade as sole traders, partnerships, Pty Ltd companies or through a trust. The choice shapes tax, asset protection and how state regulators assess licence eligibility.
Payroll Tax for Residential Builders in the NT
NT payroll tax: a $2.5 million tax-free entitlement that tapers by $1 for every $2 above it, a 5.5 per cent rate and contractor rules that pull subbies into the wage base.
Set-Off Rights for Builders in Australia: Contractual vs Equitable Set-Off
How set-off lets a builder reduce what it owes a counterparty by netting cross-claims, and how Security of Payment laws restrict it on progress payments.
QLeave: Portable Long Service Leave in Queensland
QLeave is a levy scheme. Work of $150,000 or more excluding GST attracts 0.575 per cent in combined levies, of which 0.35 per cent funds portable long service leave.
Responding to a SafeWork Site Visit on a Residential Build
How a residential builder should respond when a WHS regulator inspector attends a site, including PIN response, improvement and prohibition notices and what inspectors check.
Subcontractor Payment Schedules Under Security of Payment Acts
When a subbie issues a payment claim under a state Security of Payment Act the head contractor has a hard statutory window to respond with a payment schedule. In NSW and VIC that window is 10
NSW Design and Building Practitioners Registration Classes Explained
NSW builders on Class 2, 3 or 9c buildings must register under the Design and Building Practitioners Act. This entry covers each class, the declaration workflow and the 1 July 2026 expansion.
Taxable Payments Annual Report (TPAR) for Residential Builders
AU residential builders must lodge a TPAR by 28 August each year reporting payments to subcontractors for building and construction services.
Unfair Preferences in Construction: How to Defend a Clawback
What makes a payment an unfair preference under section 588FA and how the running account defence and good faith defence work for construction creditors in AU.
Encroachments onto Neighbouring Land: Court Orders, Compensation plus Builder Liability in Australia
How encroachments by buildings onto neighbouring land are resolved in Australia using the Encroachment of Buildings Act 1922 (NSW), common law trespass remedies plus the injunction versus
Risk Allocation in Australian Residential Building Contracts
The typical risk matrix for an Australian residential build: who carries the weather, latent ground, design, supply chain and regulatory approval risks, and how the contract should record those
Paint and finish defects in Australian residential builds
Paint defects are the most-raised category on Australian handover inspections. Walks through AS 2311 prep, moisture and primer rules, plus blistering, mould and uneven sheen.
Builders Liens in Australia: Why the Mechanics Lien Does Not Exist Here and What Replaces It
Why Australia has no general mechanics or contractors lien on land like the US, and what tools actually protect Australian builders: PPSA, retention of title and SOP rights.
HBCF Eligibility Suspension Risk for NSW Builders
icare HBCF eligibility can be suspended or cut at any time. No eligibility means no certificate of insurance, no lawful start and no lawful payment on any NSW job over $20,000.
Small Second Dwellings in Victoria: Planning Rules for a Second Home on a Residential Lot
How small second dwellings work in Victoria under the Planning and Environment Act 1987 after the 2024 statewide reforms that removed the planning permit trigger for most lots.
Dual Occupancy Rules for Residential Building in NSW
How attached and detached dual occupancy work under NSW LEPs, what minimum lot size and FSR apply, and how the 2024-25 low and mid-rise housing reforms changed the rules.
Adjudication Process Across Australia: How Construction Payment Disputes Get Decided
A practical walk-through of the adjudication process under Security of Payment laws in NSW, VIC, QLD, WA and SA. Payment claim, payment schedule, application, determination, enforcement.
Proof of Debt After a Residential Builder Collapses: How Homeowners and Subbies Lodge a Claim
How a homeowner or subcontractor files a proof of debt with a liquidator or trustee after a residential builder fails, what it ranks and what payment is likely.
WHS Obligations for Residential Builders in Western Australia
WA has been a WHS jurisdiction since 31 March 2022. The principal contractor trigger is not a dollar figure: it is five or more people working at the same time on a construction project.
Sub-Trade Margins in AU Residential Building
How AU residential builders price sub-trade work, the difference between markup and margin, and what a defensible cost-to-sell ratio looks like on trade items.
Retention Trust Funds in NSW Construction
NSW requires head contractors on head contracts worth $20 million or more to hold subcontractor retention money in an approved trust account. The scheme is set up under the Building and
Building Work Contract Requirements in SA
SA domestic building work contracts must be written at $20,000 or more, carry the section 28 particulars plus a Form 1 notice and sit behind $250,000 indemnity cover in place before work starts.
The Construction Occupations (Licensing) Act 2004 in the ACT
The ACT licenses builders, surveyors and trades under the Construction Occupations (Licensing) Act 2004 (A2004-12). Five builder classes, an 80 per cent exam pass mark and a Registrar who can chase you for 10 years.
WHS Obligations for Residential Builders in the Northern Territory
The NT principal contractor trigger rose to $1 million on 28 May 2026, against the $250,000 used everywhere else. Plus PCBU and officer duties, WHS management plans, SWMS and industrial manslaughter under section 34B.
Notifiable Incidents in Residential Construction in Western Australia
Section 38 of the WHS Act 2020 (WA) makes you notify WorkSafe immediately. WA also catches any injury keeping a worker off normal duties for 10 days, which no eastern state does.
Building Dispute Resolution in Western Australia
WA runs two separate complaints: a building service complaint about workmanship within 6 years, and a home building work contract complaint on contracts of $7,500 to $500,000 within 3 years.
Notifiable Incidents in Residential Construction in South Australia
Section 38 of the WHS Act 2012 (SA) means you call SafeWork SA immediately, keep the record 5 years and do not touch the site. Failing to notify costs a body corporate up to $50,000.
Pre-Purchase Building Inspections in Australia: AS 4349.1
What a pre-purchase building inspection covers and excludes under AS 4349.1-2007, plus how buyers and builders use it before settlement.