The Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) Technical Standards & Services Trade Unit undertake proactive inspections throughout Queensland. Recent audits on active building sites have identified non-compliant issues with the installation of external cladding, these include:

• fasteners used to affix external cladding to buildings
• fastener type and required spacing of the fixing must comply with the approved wind classification of the building (refer to approved plan) and cladding type being installed (refer to manufacturers installation specifications)
• external cladding systems shall comply with manufacturers installation specifications (e.g. vapour barrier membrane classification, insulation requirements, corner flashings, foam backing and joint tapes, etc.).

Below is an example of non-compliant external cladding found in a recent inspection, compared to a compliant example on the right.

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A) Incorrect Fixing/Corrosion resistance

• Nails/Screws: Ensure corrosion resistance is suitable for the application (e.g. ocean / saltwater) especially on waterfront properties.
• Use Class 3 Galvanized Fibre Cement Nails or specified corresponding product. Brad Nails may well need to be Stainless Steel in all areas.
• Always refer to manufacturer guidelines for fixing specification, proximity to ocean parameters, etc.

B) Fixing Spacings

• Incorrect Spacing of 300mm – manufacturer specifies 200mm for this product with this type of nail.
• Note that Brad Nails Spacing ranges from 125mm to 150mm, depending on the product and are not suitable for all products and wind loads.
• Know your wind load of your project (N1-N6 or C1-C4).
• Always refer to manufacturer guidelines for specific fixing spacing for your wind load.

Please Note: following the manufacturer's installation requirements for external cladding is a minimum of what the QBCC requires of all licensees.

Disclaimer: The information in this building alert is for educational purposes only. Although the QBCC endeavours to provide accurate and current information, it does not guarantee that the information communicated in this building alert will continue to be accurate and current in the future. The QBCC is not liable for any claims arising from incorrect or out-of-date information or any decisions or actions made based on the information contained in this building alert. The information conveyed in this building alert does not constitute legal or other specialist advice and should not be relied upon as such.
 

The statement follows public warnings by the Office of Fair Trading about unscrupulous operators ripping off home owners.
QBCC Commissioner Anissa Levy implores people to educate themselves and do their due diligence before engaging a builder or a tradesperson.

“It is so important that home owners who are looking to undertake building or renovation work use licensed contractors, ensure they have a contract in place, regardless of the size of the job and never pay excessive deposit amounts,” Commissioner Levy says.

“Asking friends and relatives for recommendations is a great place to start and a simple google search goes a long way.”

The QBCC website provides great advice and to help home and property owners make informed decisions when it comes to choosing a qualified, licensed local contractor, including their full licence history,” she says.

“Your home is one of the biggest investments you will ever make, so it’s vital that the contractor you choose is appropriately licensed for the work they have been engaged to do.

“Unlawful building work puts home owners at a higher risk of defects and could impact their eligibility under the Queensland Home Warranty Insurance Scheme.”

Commissioner Levy says the QBCC takes a proactive approach to safeguarding the building and construction industry and home owners from unscrupulous operators.

“We conduct ongoing audits of active building sites around the state to check that builders are appropriately licensed to perform their work,” Commissioner Levy says.

“We know from our ongoing audits of active building sites that most people do the right thing, but we also must hold to account those who are found to be operating unlawfully.

“Our regulatory actions range from issuing penalty infringement notices and warning notices to licence suspensions and cancellations and court prosecutions.”

To date this year, the QBCC has had outcomes in 22 prosecutions against individuals and companies who have engaged in illegal building related activities. This has resulted in more than $330,000 in fines, costs and compensation.

Commissioner Levy encourages anyone who has questions about a contractor they are intending to engage to contact the QBCC on 139 333.

Recent Warnings

On Monday 16 December 2024 the Office of Fair Trading issued a public warning for people not to do business with two tradies who have been ripping off home owners around south-east Queensland.

Public warnings were issued for James Bruce Michael Darren Brown and his stair supply and installation and renovation businesses, and Matthew Geoffrey Rixon AKA Joseph J Sara and his fencing and renovation businesses.

Meanwhile, a recent story in the Beaudesert Times warned about ‘fake tradies scamming locals’. The article stated, local police had received complaints about a ‘criminal gang rolling around town taking advantage of elderly people’.

Background - Maximum deposit amounts

Under the Queensland Building and Construction Commission Act 1991 (the Act), the Act sets out maximum deposit amounts that can be requested.

The QBCC Act sets out maximum deposit amounts that can be requested by a contractor.

• For jobs priced at $3,300 or less, home owners should pay no more than a 20 per cent deposit.
• If the contract price is between $3,300 and $19,999, the maximum deposit is 10 per cent.
• For work of $20,000-plus, the maximum deposit allowed is 5 per cent of the contract price. (An exception applies where more than 50 per cent of the value of the work is performed offsite, in which case a deposit of up to 20 per cent is allowable.)

Background – unlawfully carrying out building work

Unlawfully carrying out building work is an offence under section 42 of the QBCC Act and attracts an escalating series of penalties for each offence.

For a third or later offence, an offender may be prosecuted upon indictment before the District Court, as they are alleged to have committed a crime.

More than 700 building sites across Queensland were audited by officers from the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) as the regulator continues to take action to protect property owners from the risks of unlicensed building work.

QBCC Commissioner, Anissa Levy, says 41 QBCC officers conducted 2,338 licence checks on active building sites, from the Gold Coast to Cairns across the month of October.

Ms Levy says the regular audits of active building sites across the State help maintain a level playing field by protecting industry members who are doing the right thing by being licensed.

“QBCC licensees are aware of their obligations regarding the safety net provided by Australia’s most accessible home warranty scheme, the Queensland Home Warranty Scheme, which ensures residential building work is insured,” Ms Levy says.

“They are also subject to the nation’s only mandatory financial reporting requirements. All these factors provide strong protection for property owners undertaking building projects in Queensland.” 

She says the audits help the QBCC to check that people are performing building work to the correct standards and with the appropriate licences and show that the majority of people working on sites are doing the right thing.

The audits uncovered 40 individuals suspected of performing unlicensed building work and a further 18 individual licensees who are suspected of engaging unlicensed individuals to perform work.

"Performing unlicensed work is a serious offence, and there are significant penalties for anyone caught not abiding by the law," Ms Levy says.

“One of our main priorities is to protect property owners from defective building work and by conducting regular site audits and checking licences, we reduce the potential harm that can occur by anyone performing work illegally.

“By only using QBCC-licensed contractors, property owners can rest assured that the contractors have the experience, training and qualifications to perform building work to appropriate standards.

“In addition to using a licensed contractor, property owners should also ensure they get more than one quote and have a contract in place that is signed and dated by all parties, before undertaking building work.” 

Ms Levy says the 58 individuals detected during these audits are now subject to further investigations, which could result in fines or prosecution.

"If repeat offending is uncovered during the investigation process, the QBCC will take a tougher stance on those individuals to encourage future compliance across the sector,” Ms Levy says.

“While compliance is a primary focus, we also want to educate contractors about their obligations and responsibilities and help build understanding with property owners around their rights and protections.

"When people are doing the right thing, the QBCC is able to take the opportunity to engage with licensees and property owners to raise awareness of topical issues and provide them with advice and information about the role of the QBCC.

"We uphold standards by taking a firm but fair approach by enabling and guiding those who do the right thing and holding to account those who don’t.”

Background

The QBCC regulates more than 119,000 licensees, ranging from builders and painters to plumbers and pool inspectors, from Cape York to Coolangatta. the 2,338 persons audited in the past month:

• 950 (40.63%) were working under their licence class
• 183 (7.82%) were working under a sub-contractor arrangement
• 1163 (49.74%) were working under an employee arrangement
• 1 (0.042%) was working under a partnership arrangement
• 40 (1.71%) were suspected of being unlicensed.

In addition to the Gold Coast and Cairns, QBCC officers also visited active building sites in and around Rockhampton, Maryborough, Toowoomba, Mackay, Townsville, Sunshine Coast, Brisbane and Logan.

In the 2023-2024 financial year, the QBCC conducted 1,334 building site audits around the State which resulted in 4,681 licence checks. Of these, 29 were identified as unlicensed contractors.

QBCC Commissioner and CEO, Anissa Levy, says the QBCC regulates building work from Cape York to Coolangatta and regulates more than 118,000 licensees, ranging from builders to plumbers and pool inspectors.  

 “Conducting regular site audits and checking individual licences across the state is just one of the ways the QBCC is safeguarding the building and construction sector, its workers and consumers.  

“These audits also ensure there is an equitable environment for our licensees by identifying and penalising unlawful operators.” Commissioner Levy says.

While most contractors are doing the right thing at building sites, it’s important to catch those who think they can flout the law to appropriately protect property owners and workers from financial risks or defective building work.

The audits also provide an opportunity for officers to engage with licensees and property owners to raise awareness of topical issues, provide them with advice on their rights and responsibilities, and information about the role of the QBCC.

Recent audits on the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast uncovered a number of individuals suspected of unlicensed contracting and several offences relating to non-compliant signage.

The QBCC audited 28 building sites across the Gold Coast and checked more than 120 licences, uncovering six individuals suspected of working without a licence.

Meanwhile on the Sunshine Coast, the QBCC’s officers nabbed four individuals suspected of unlicensed contracting after inspecting more than 50 building sites and performing licence checks of almost 105 workers. Another individual was suspected of hiring an unlicensed worker and officers detected a further 17 offences relating to non-compliant signage.

These individuals are now subject to further investigations which could result in prosecution. Regulatory action can range from warnings for non-compliant site signage, for example, to monetary fines or even prosecution, and where repeat offending is uncovered during theninvestigation process, the QBCC will take a tougher stance to encourage future compliance across the sector.

In the 2023-2024 financial year, QBCC officers conducted 1,134 building site audits around the State which resulted in 4,681 licence audits. Of these, 29 were identified as unlicensed contractors.

An individual or company caught working without a licence can be issued with fines of up to $3,226 or prosecuted in court. Repeat offending can lead to imprisonment for up to a year. 

As part of an ongoing campaign to stamp out unlicensed, illegal and defective building work across the State, officers from the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) audited 28 building sites across the Gold Coast and checked the licences of more than 120 individuals.

QBCC Commissioner, Anissa Levy, says the QBCC regulates building work from Cape York to Coolangatta and regulates more than 118,000 licensees, ranging from builders to plumbers and pool inspectors.

“Conducting regular site audits and checking individual licences across the State is just one of the ways the QBCC is safeguarding the building and construction sector, its workers and consumers,” Commissioner Levy says.

“One of our main priorities is to protect property owners from defective building work and by conducting regular site audits and checking individual licences, we can put a stop to those performing work illegally.”

Commissioner Levy says the six people suspected of performing unlicensed work are now subject to further investigations which could result in prosecution.

“Regulatory action can range from warnings for non-compliant site signage, for example, to monetary fines or even prosecution, and where repeat offending is uncovered during the investigation process, the QBCC will take a tougher stance to encourage future compliance across the sector,” Commissioner Levy says.

While Commissioner Levy says it is important to catch those who think they can flout the law, the QBCC’s ongoing campaign reveals most contractors are doing the right thing at building sites.

"When people are doing the right thing, our QBCC officers are then able to take the opportunity to engage with licensees and property owners to raise awareness of topical issues, provide them with advice on their rights and responsibilities, and information about the role of the QBCC.

“These positive interactions with industry and our consumers help us build strong relationships, which in turn helps foster a culture of compliance and safer construction practices.”

Background

In the 2023-2024 financial year, QBCC officers conducted 1,134 building site audits around the State which resulted in 4,681 licence audits. Of these, 29 were identified as unlicensed contractors.

An individual or company caught working without a licence can be issued with fines of up to $3,226 or prosecuted in court. Repeat offending can lead to imprisonment for up to a year.

This warning is issued by the Commissioner of the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) to the public under section 20J(1)(i) of the Queensland Building and Construction Commission Act 1991 (QLD). 

This is a public warning about the installation and maintenance of the non-conforming building product DECKO ECW Decking Boards (Product Number; HF06, HF07, HF09, and HF10) (Product) made of composite wood plastic material due to the public health and safety impact of the Product failing. The QBCC is urging consumers, contractors, and suppliers to be cautious in relation to the Product. 

Factsheet - Wood plastic composite decking boards and nonconforming building products

Should you have any concerns about the Product, please contact the QBCC on 139 333.

Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) officers checked the licences of 105 individuals as part of an ongoing campaign around the State to stamp out unlicensed, illegal and defective work.

QBCC Commissioner, Anissa Levy, says another individual was suspected of hiring an unlicensed worker and officers detected a further 17 offences relating to non-compliant signage.

“The four people suspected of performing unlicensed work and the builder suspected of engaging an unlicensed worker are now subject to further investigations which could result in prosecution,” Commissioner Levy says.
“Those with non-compliant signage will receive warnings, however, if our investigations reveal any repeat offenders, our regulatory action will be more rigorous.”

While the QBCC’s ongoing audit campaign reveals most contractors are doing the right thing at building sites, Commissioner Levy says, it is important to catch those who think they can flout the law.

“Ultimately, it is about making sure building work is done appropriately to help protect property owners and workers from financial risks or defective building work,” Commissioner Levy says.

“These audits also ensure there is an equitable environment for our licensees by identifying and penalising unlawful operators.”

Commissioner Levy says the audits also provide an opportunity for officers to engage with licensees and property owners to raise awareness of topical issues, provide them with advice on their rights and responsibilities, and information about the role of the QBCC.

“These positive interactions with industry and our consumers help us build strong relationships, which in turn helps foster a culture of compliance and safer construction practices.”

In the 2023-2024 financial year, QBCC officers conducted 1,134 building site audits around the State which resulted in 4,681 licence audits. Of these, 29 were identified as unlicensed contractors.

Background

An individual or company caught working without a licence can be issued with fines of up to $3,226 or prosecuted in court. Repeat offending can lead to imprisonment for up to a year.

Public licence register

The QBCC website provides free information to help home and property owners find a qualified, licensed local contractor.

Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) officers targeted 54 active building sites over 3 days in May checking the licences of almost 200 individuals.

QBCC Commissioner, Anissa Levy, says the QBCC’s ongoing campaign to stamp out unlicensed, illegal and defective work across the State also detected two other individuals suspected of hiring an unlicensed contractor.

“These individuals will now be subject to further investigations by the QBCC which could lead to fines or prosecution,” Commissioner Levy says.

“These activities are illegal and the QBCC has zero tolerance for such activities, which is why the QBCC is proactively running this campaign.

“By identifying and preventing unlawful activity we can help protect owners from financial risks or defective building work.

“Our compliance audits ensure there is a level playing field for our licensees who are doing the right thing by obtaining qualifications and experience and providing the QBCC with evidence of their financial stability each year.”

Commissioner Levy says the QBCC’s audits are not just about detecting offences, as the majority of individuals working on building sites are licensed and doing the right thing.

“When individuals working on building sites are licensed, our officers can then shift their focus to engaging with licensees and home owners to raise awareness of topical issues, provide them with advice on their rights and responsibilities, and information about the role of the QBCC,” she says.

“Building strong relationships with industry members and home owners allows us to foster a culture of professionalism and compliance and helps ensure safer construction practices."

The QBCC urges all members of the public to only use licensed contractors for their building project, regardless of the size of the project.

The QBCC website provides free information to help home and property owners find a qualified, licensed local contractor.

Background

In the 2023-24 financial year to date, the QBCC Compliance and Enforcement team has conducted 1,325 visits to active building sites and checked that 4,453 individuals were appropriately licensed.

During these site audits QBCC officers detected 82 people suspected of performing unlicensed work and a further 15 individuals suspected of hiring an unlicensed worker.

In 2022-2023, the QBCC issued 313 individuals with fines for unlicensed contracting or unlicensed contracting-related offences, while 65 received warnings.

An individual or company caught working without a licence can be issued with a penalty infringement notice or prosecuted

Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) officers checked the licences of almost 90 individuals as part of an ongoing campaign around the State to stamp out unlicensed, illegal and defective work.

QBCC Commissioner, Anissa Levy, says the three-day audit of Cairns residential building sites also detected another three individuals suspected of hiring an unlicensed worker.

“The three people suspected of performing unlicensed work and the builders suspected of engaging them are now subject to further investigations which could lead to fines or prosecution,” Commissioner Levy says.

“The QBCC has zero tolerance for these illegal activities and by proactively identifying and preventing unlawful activity we can help protect owners from financial risks or defective building work.

“Our compliance audits also ensure there is a level playing field for our licensees who are doing the right thing by obtaining qualifications and experience and providing the QBCC with evidence of their financial stability each year.”

Commissioner Levy says the QBCC’s audits are not just about detecting offences, as previous campaigns have revealed the majority of individuals working on building sites are licensed.

“When we find people doing the right thing, our officers can then shift their focus to engaging with licensees and home owners to raise awareness of topical issues, provide them with advice on their rights and responsibilities, and information about the role of the QBCC,” she says.

“Building strong relationships with industry members and home owners allows us to foster a culture of professionalism and compliance and helps ensure safer construction practices."

The QBCC urges all members of the public to only use licensed contractors for their building project, regardless of the size of the project.

The QBCC website provides free information to help home and property owners find a qualified, licensed local contractor.

Background

For the 2024 year to date, QBCC officers around the State have audited more than 170 sites and interviewed more than 300 contractors. These audits have detected 13 people suspected of performing unlicensed work and a further four individuals hiring an unlicensed worker.

In 2022-2023, the QBCC issued 313 individuals with fines for unlicensed contracting or unlicensed contracting-related offences, while 65 received warnings.

An individual or company caught working without a licence can be issued with a penalty infringement notice of up to $3,096 or prosecuted in court. Repeat offending can lead to imprisonment for up to a year.