QBCC Licensing: What to Check Before Hiring

Why QBCC Licensing Matters for Your Bathroom Renovation

Queensland has one of the strictest building licensing systems in Australia, and for good reason. The Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) exists to protect homeowners from defective work, financial loss, and unqualified contractors. Every year, the QBCC receives thousands of complaints about residential building work, and bathroom renovations consistently rank among the most common project types involved in disputes. Understanding how the QBCC licensing system works, what to verify before you hire, and what protections you have if something goes wrong gives you a significant advantage as a homeowner. This guide walks through the practical steps for checking a contractor’s credentials and using the QBCC system to your benefit.

The $3,300 Threshold: When a Licence Is Legally Required

In Queensland, any residential building work valued at $3,300 or more (including both labour and materials) must be carried out by a contractor holding the appropriate QBCC licence. This threshold applies to the total value of the project, not to individual trade components.

Here is why this matters for bathroom renovations: even a relatively modest scope of work crosses this line quickly. Replacing a vanity ($500), installing a new toilet ($400), re-tiling the shower ($2,000 in labour and materials), and fitting a new shower screen ($800) already totals $3,700. Add plumbing and electrical labour, and most bathroom renovations sit well above $3,300.

Some contractors attempt to split work into multiple smaller invoices to stay under the threshold. This practice is illegal under the QBCC Act. The Commission assesses the total value of all related work on a project, regardless of how invoices are structured. If you encounter a contractor who suggests splitting the job to “keep it under the limit,” treat it as a serious warning sign about how they operate.

For work genuinely under $3,300 (perhaps replacing a tapware set or installing a single accessory), a QBCC licence is not legally required. However, plumbing and electrical work always requires the respective trade licence regardless of value, as these are regulated separately under Queensland plumbing and electrical safety legislation.

QBCC Licence Categories Relevant to Bathroom Renovations

The QBCC issues licences across multiple categories. For bathroom renovations, these are the licence classes you are most likely to encounter:

Builder (Medium Rise or Open): Authorised to carry out and coordinate all aspects of a residential building project, including engaging and supervising subcontractor trades. A builder with this licence can manage your entire complete bathroom renovation, from demolition through to handover, and is responsible for the work of all trades on the project.

Trade Contractor licences: These cover specific trade disciplines. Relevant categories include:

• Waterproofing (trade contractor): Licensed to apply waterproofing membranes in wet areas. Essential for AS 3740 compliance. Every bathroom renovation that involves stripping existing waterproofing requires a licensed waterproofer.
• Wall and floor tiling (trade contractor): Licensed to install tiles on walls and floors. A separate licence from general building.
• Carpentry (trade contractor): Licensed for timber framing, wall sheeting, and structural carpentry work within the bathroom.

Plumbing and drainage: Licensed separately through the Plumbing and Drainage Act 2018 and the Office of Industrial Relations (not QBCC). Plumbers must hold a Queensland plumbing licence and provide compliance certificates for regulated work. All bathroom plumbing must be performed by a licensed plumber.

Electrical: Licensed through Electrical Safety Queensland (also not QBCC). Electricians must hold a current electrical work licence. All bathroom electrical work, including lighting, exhaust fans, heated towel rails, and power points, must be completed by a licensed electrician with a compliance certificate issued for the completed work.

When hiring a single bathroom renovation company, check whether they hold a Builder licence (meaning they can manage the entire project) or a Trade Contractor licence (meaning they can only perform their specific trade). If they hold a trade licence only, ask who manages the other trades and whether those subcontractors are also licensed.

How to Check a QBCC Licence: Step by Step

Verifying a licence takes less than five minutes and can save you thousands of dollars in potential problems.

Step 1: Get the licence number. Ask the contractor for their QBCC licence number. Any legitimate licensed contractor will provide this immediately and without hesitation. It should also appear on their quotes, contracts, and business cards.

Step 2: Visit the QBCC licence search. Go to the QBCC website and navigate to their online licence search tool. You can search by licence number, individual name, or business name.

Step 3: Confirm the licence is current. The search result will show the licence status. Look for “Current” status. An “Expired,” “Suspended,” or “Cancelled” licence means the contractor cannot legally perform building work over $3,300. Do not accept excuses like “it’s being renewed” or “the system hasn’t updated yet.” If the licence does not show as current, do not proceed.

Step 4: Check the licence class. Confirm the licence class covers the type of work you need. A contractor with a tiling trade licence cannot legally manage an entire bathroom renovation. A builder licence (medium rise or open) covers the broadest scope of residential building work.

Step 5: Review the compliance history. The QBCC register shows any demerit points, directions to rectify defective work, monetary penalties, or licence conditions imposed on the contractor. A clean record is a strong positive indicator. A contractor with multiple compliance actions has a documented history of problems. Weigh this information seriously.

Step 6: Verify insurance. Ask for a copy of the contractor’s current certificate of currency for public liability insurance (minimum $5 million coverage is standard). For domestic building work over $3,300, the contractor must also hold home warranty insurance through the QBCC scheme, which protects you if the contractor becomes insolvent or dies before rectifying defective work.

What Happens If You Hire an Unlicensed Contractor

Hiring an unlicensed contractor for work over $3,300 creates multiple problems for you as the homeowner:

No QBCC dispute resolution. If the work is defective, incomplete, or the contractor abandons the project, you cannot lodge a complaint with the QBCC. The Commission only has jurisdiction over licensed contractors. Your only recourse is through the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) or the courts, which is slower, more expensive, and offers no guarantee of resolution.

No home warranty insurance. The QBCC home warranty insurance scheme only applies to work performed by licensed contractors. If an unlicensed contractor’s work causes damage (such as a waterproofing failure that rots your floor framing), you bear the full cost of remediation.

Potential home insurance complications. If damage occurs as a result of unlicensed building work (for example, a house fire caused by non-compliant electrical wiring or water damage from failed waterproofing), your home insurer may deny the claim on the grounds that the work was not performed by a licensed professional.

You may also be liable. While the primary penalty for unlicensed work falls on the contractor, homeowners who knowingly engage unlicensed contractors for licensable work can face difficulties in future property transactions. A building and pest inspection before sale may identify non-compliant work, requiring expensive rectification before settlement.

Understanding QBCC Contracts

For any domestic building work over $3,300, the QBCC requires a written contract between the homeowner and the contractor. This is not optional, and a verbal agreement does not satisfy the legal requirement.

A QBCC-compliant contract must include:

• Names and addresses of both parties
• The contractor’s QBCC licence number
• A description of the work to be carried out
• The contract price (or how the price will be calculated for cost-plus contracts)
• The deposit amount (capped at 10% of the contract price)
• A payment schedule tied to stages of work
• The expected start date and completion date
• Warranty information
• Provisions for variations (changes to scope or price)
• Dispute resolution procedures

Read the contract in full before signing. Pay particular attention to the variation clause, which governs how changes during the renovation are priced and approved. A common source of disputes is verbal agreements to change the scope (“while you’re at it, can you also move the toilet?”) that are never documented in writing, leading to disagreements about cost when the final invoice arrives.

For a detailed checklist of what to look for in a renovation contract, see our guide on how to choose a bathroom renovator.

Deposit and Progress Payment Rules

Queensland building legislation sets clear rules about how much and when a contractor can request payment:

Deposit: Maximum 10% of the total contract price. For a $20,000 bathroom renovation, the maximum deposit is $2,000. A contractor requesting more than this is breaching the law.

Progress payments: Must be tied to completed stages of work, not calendar dates. A typical payment schedule for a bathroom renovation might be structured as:

• 10% deposit on signing
• 25% on completion of demolition and plumbing rough-in
• 25% on completion of waterproofing and tiling
• 25% on completion of fixture installation
• 15% on final completion and handover

Never pay for work that has not been completed. If a contractor requests full payment before the job is finished, or demands large progress payments before the corresponding work stage is done, this is a significant red flag. Contractors who are financially stable and properly managing their cash flow do not need your money in advance to fund other projects.

How to Lodge a QBCC Complaint

If problems arise during or after your renovation, the QBCC provides a structured complaint and resolution process:

Step 1: Attempt direct resolution. Contact your contractor in writing (email is sufficient) describing the defect or issue and requesting rectification. Keep copies of all correspondence. Most reputable contractors will address legitimate concerns promptly.

Step 2: Lodge a complaint with the QBCC. If the contractor does not respond or refuses to rectify the issue, lodge a formal complaint through the QBCC website or by phone. You will need your contract, payment records, photos of defective work, and copies of correspondence with the contractor.

Step 3: QBCC investigation. The QBCC may inspect the work and assess whether it meets the relevant Australian Standards and the Building Code. If the work is found to be defective or non-compliant, the QBCC can issue a Direction to Rectify, legally requiring the contractor to fix the problem within a specified timeframe.

Step 4: Escalation. If the contractor fails to comply with a QBCC direction, the Commission can apply demerit points, suspend or cancel the licence, and in some cases arrange for another contractor to complete the rectification work under the home warranty insurance scheme.

Time limits apply. For structural defects (including waterproofing), you can lodge a complaint within 6 years and 6 months of the work being completed. For non-structural defects (cosmetic issues, minor fitting problems), the window is 12 months. Document everything at handover and inspect thoroughly during the defects liability period.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can a handyman do bathroom renovation work in Queensland?

A handyman can perform minor, non-structural tasks valued under $3,300 in total, such as replacing a tap, installing a towel rail, or painting. However, a handyman cannot legally perform licensed trade work regardless of value. Plumbing, electrical, waterproofing, and structural carpentry each require their own trade licences. A bathroom renovation that involves any of these trades (which is virtually all of them) needs licensed professionals. Engaging a handyman for licensable work puts you at risk of non-compliant, uninsured work with no QBCC recourse if problems arise.

Q: What is the difference between a Builder licence and a Trade Contractor licence?

A Builder licence (medium rise or open) authorises the holder to coordinate and supervise an entire building project, engaging subcontractor trades as needed. The builder is responsible for the quality of all work on the project, including subcontracted trades. A Trade Contractor licence authorises the holder to perform only their specific trade (tiling, waterproofing, carpentry, etc.). If you hire a Trade Contractor directly for your renovation, you are effectively acting as your own project manager and are responsible for coordinating between trades.

Q: How do I verify that a plumber or electrician is licensed in Queensland?

Plumbing and electrical licences are issued separately from QBCC building licences. To verify a plumber’s licence, search the Queensland Government’s online licence verification system through the Office of Industrial Relations. For electricians, check through Electrical Safety Queensland’s licence verification tool. Both trades must provide compliance certificates for completed work. Keep these certificates with your renovation documentation. Your bathroom renovator should be able to provide licence numbers for all subcontracted trades on your project.

Q: Does a QBCC licence guarantee quality work?

A QBCC licence confirms that the contractor has met minimum requirements for financial capacity, technical qualifications, and insurance coverage. It does not guarantee the quality of every individual project. However, it provides you with a structured complaint and rectification pathway if problems occur, home warranty insurance protection, and the knowledge that the contractor has passed background checks and holds appropriate qualifications. Combined with checking their compliance history, reading recent client reviews, and comparing detailed quotes, a QBCC licence is a necessary foundation for hiring with confidence.

Protect Yourself Before You Sign

Checking a QBCC licence takes five minutes. Fixing unlicensed, non-compliant renovation work takes months and costs thousands. Before you engage any contractor for bathroom renovation work in Queensland, verify the licence, check the compliance history, confirm insurance, and insist on a written contract that meets QBCC requirements. Browse our directory to find QBCC-licensed bathroom renovation specialists across Queensland, from the Brisbane region to Cairns and everywhere in between.