Before you choose a builder
Direct answers homeowners ask before signing a build contract.
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How to check if a builder is licensed in NSW
Search the builder's name, ABN or licence number on the NSW Fair Trading public register (onegov.nsw.gov.au/publicregister). Confirm the licence is "Current", that its class covers your type of work, and that the licence holder's name matches the company you'll actually contract with. BuilderVet does this for you and adds ASIC and disciplinary history the register doesn't show.
Updated 1 June 2026
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What happens if your NSW builder becomes insolvent
Check your Home Building Compensation certificate and contact the insurer promptly. HBC can help with eligible incomplete or defective work if the builder becomes insolvent. Claim limits, time limits and exemptions apply. Confirm the next steps with the insurer and Building Commission NSW.
Updated 8 Oct 2026
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Check the contracting entity before you sign
No. BuilderVet does not detect phoenix activity or link directors across companies. Confirm the exact company and licence on your quote and contract. Public register findings can guide questions, but cannot establish intent, financial health, or wrongdoing.
Updated 5 Sept 2026
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The NSW Fair Trading Complaints Register, and what it hides
No. The NSW Fair Trading Complaints Register only lists a business once it receives 10 or more complaints in a single calendar month. A builder can have a long trail of individual complaints, disciplinary findings, or an insolvency history and never appear on it. Treat an empty result as "not high-volume this month", not "clean".
Updated 13 July 2026
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NSW builder insurance check: verify the HBC certificate
Use the free official HBC Check to look up a NSW property's Home Building Compensation insurance by certificate number, builder name, licence number or address. Match the result to your project. HBC cover is generally required for residential work over A$20,000 including GST, unless exempt. The builder must provide the certificate before taking payment or starting work.
Updated 13 Oct 2026
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Questions to ask a builder before you sign
Before signing, get five things in writing: the licence number (and confirm it is Current and covers your work), the exact legal entity you are contracting with, the Home Building Compensation certificate for jobs over $20,000, a fixed contract price with a deposit no greater than the legal cap, and progress payments tied to completed stages. If a builder resists putting any of these in writing, treat it as a warning.
Updated 8 Oct 2026
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Builder licence vs owner-builder permit in NSW, the difference that matters
A contractor licence lets a business carry out and contract for residential building work for other people. An owner-builder permit lets an individual manage building work on their own land, without a licensed builder, but they cannot contract that work out as a licensed builder, generally can't get Home Building Compensation cover, and take on the warranty risk themselves. If someone offers to build for you on "their owner-builder permit", that is a serious red flag.
Updated 13 July 2026
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