While we cover a wide range of services, there are some things that are handled by other organisations—and we’re happy to point you in the right direction.
Where we can help
Finding licensed contractors
Looking for a qualified builder or tradesperson? Our free find a local contractor tool helps you search for licensed contractors by location, trade type, and more. While we can’t recommend one over another, this tool is a great starting point to connect with professionals in your area. If you’ve found a contractor you would like to engage, you can use our free licensee register to check their history before you sign a contract.
Learning about your safety net
Through the Queensland Home Warranty Scheme, we help safeguard home owners from financial loss due to incomplete or defective work. Home warranty insurance is a premium your contractor pays us to insure residential construction work.
We also monitor building materials to ensure safety and compliance, and we enforce licensing requirements for all work over $3,300—giving you peace of mind.
Understanding timeframes to lodge a claim
To access support under the Queensland Home Warranty Scheme, it’s important to lodge claims within certain timeframes:
- Structural defects: Lodge within three months of noticing the issue.
- Non-structural defects You must report the defect within seven months after the work is finished, but the defect itself must have shown up within six months of when the main part of the work was completed.
- Defective/incomplete work: Request a Direction to Rectify (DTR) within 12 months of discovering the issue.
Navigating contract and payment disputes
Sometimes, home owners and contractors don’t see eye to eye about what's included in your contract or how much is owed. These are called contractual disputes and differ from issues about the quality of work. You can find examples on our website to help you tell the difference. If your concern is about workmanship, you can lodge a defective work complaint. For contractual disputes, we offer a free, early dispute resolution service while the contract is still active, aiming to help both parties reach an agreement.
If no agreement is reached, you may need to apply to QCAT (Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal). You’ll need a letter from QBCC outlining the outcome of our involvement through EDR[?] to do so.
Where to go for everything else
Certain matters fall outside our scope. Some of the most common things are:
- Building certification – while we license certifiers, the actual certification work is handled by those professionals, not the QBCC.
- Building laws, regulations and codes – these are managed by the Department of Housing and Public Works (DHPW).
- Electrical work complaints – the best place to go is the Electrical Safety Office. They handle electrical-specific complaints and licensing.
- Planning and zoning – contact your local council for things like development approvals, property boundaries, and fencing issues.
Need more help?
Whether you're building, renovating, or just exploring your options, we're here to help. Visit our Home Owner Hub for step-by-step guide or give us a call on 139 333.
