QBCC licence and other fees are set by regulation and increase according to the Government Indexation Rate. For 2024-2025, the Government Indexation Rate is zero percent. Therefore there was no fee increase on 1 July 2024.
The Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) has acted against 71 building industry licensees who now must not take on any new work after failing to submit their financial reports to the regulator.
The annual reporting requirements, administered by QBCC, are an important measure to help protect consumers from financially unhealthy construction companies.
Licensees must have sufficient assets and the financial means to complete the work for the homeowners or builders they’re contracted to licensees who do not submit their reports to the QBCC face potential regulatory action, such as no-new-work conditions, licence suspensions, and licence cancellations.
QBCC Commissioner Anissa Levy says the licensees were in category SC1, with an annual allowable turnover of up to $200,000.
“The licensees were reminded several times to lodge their reports but failed to submit the required information which was due on 31 March 2022,” Ms Levy says.
“If they still fail to lodge their financial reports, their licences are scheduled to be cancelled on or around 19 September 2022.
Ms Levy says the majority of licensees had lodged their reports.
Background
Annual financial reporting is required under the Minimum Financial Requirements (MFR) Regulation 2018.
Queensland’s building industry watchdog has successfully prosecuted four building owners for failing to provide required documentation to the QBCC for potentially combustible cladding on six buildings they own.
The four owners of the buildings pleaded guilty in Brisbane Magistrates Court in May, June, and August in separate cases brought by the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC).
One owner was charged with three counts of failing to provide the QBCC a completed combustible cladding checklist, a Building Fire Safety Risk Assessment and a Fire Engineer Statement, in contravention of the Building Regulation 2006 (Qld).
The charges related to three separate private buildings, and resulted in a total of $15,000 in fines and an order to pay $750 in legal costs.
The other three owners pleaded guilty to the same charges, in relation to their individual properties, and were fined $8,000, $7,000 and $5,000 respectively and ordered to pay legal costs.
QBCC Commissioner, Anissa Levy, said the Safer Buildings Program had helped create more certainty and safety in regard to construction materials used on Queensland buildings.
“These laws help protect us all in the buildings where we live, work and gather, and were introduced following the tragic death of 72 people in London’s Grenfell Tower,” Ms Levy says.
The QBCC is currently prosecuting a number of other private building owners in Queensland who have allegedly failed to submit the required documentation.
BACKGROUND
The Queensland Government introduced changes to the Building Regulation 2006, which commenced on 1 October, 2018.
The changes required owners of particular buildings to undertake an assessment of the material used on the external walls of their building using the combustible cladding checklist.
The checklist process is designed to identify which buildings are affected by combustible cladding and whether cladding rectification work is likely to be required to achieve an acceptable level of safety.
The deadline for building owners to submit the checklist without penalty was 3 May, 2021.
Failure to submit the checklist is an offence and may result in regulatory action, including monetary penalties and prosecution in the Magistrates Court.
Officers from Queensland’s building industry watchdog have visited dozens of building sites on Russell and Macleay Islands in Moreton Bay, uncovering suspected illegal building-related offences.
Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) officers visited 37 building sites on the islands, conducting contractor licence checks and interviews.
As a result, a number of potential offences were detected, including unlicensed building work, non-compliant site signage and contracting with unlicensed persons.
The QBCC is currently undertaking further investigations into these matters, and anticipates that a number of fines and warnings will be issued as a result.
QBCC Commissioner, Anissa Levy, says compliance audits help ensure building work is performed by licensed, qualified contractors, which protects home owners from potentially defective, dangerous work.
“Unlicensed building work is illegal building work and potentially exposes current and future owners and residents to unacceptable risks,” Ms Levy says.
She says the coordinated, targeted audits on the islands demonstrates that the QBCC will take action against unlicensed individuals wherever and whenever necessary, to maintain a level playing field for licensees and to protect property owners.
“Our licensees are qualified, experienced individuals who must prove their financial status with the QBCC. These requirements help to ensure that their work will be completed and done to the appropriate standards and codes.”
During the compliance audit, QBCC officers also provided building information and advice to builders and property owners.
BACKGROUND
Unlicensed building offences can result in fines for an individual ranging between $2,757 for a first offence and up to $34,462.50 if prosecuted through a magistrates court.
Other offences can attract warnings, fines and/or education requirements, depending on the type and severity of the offence.
On 26 May 2022, Pivotal Homes Pty Ltd (Pivotal), QBCC licence number 1110016, entered liquidation.
Worrells Solvency & Forensic Accountants Brisbane has been appointed as liquidator of Pivotal. The QBCC understands that the liquidator may have contacted parties who had executed contracts with Pivotal.
On 30 May 2022, the QBCC cancelled Pivotal’s licence and they are now prohibited from carrying out any building work, including completing work already in progress.
We have provided general information below, which may help you understand how their liquidation affects any building contracts you may have with them.
For information specific to your situation, we encourage you to contact us by:
If you are a home owner and have contracted with Pivotal, you may be able to make a claim under the Queensland Home Warranty Scheme (QHWS).
Where Pivotal had paid the insurance premium to the QBCC for your contract, you may be entitled to assistance if Pivotal has not completed the contracted works or if you have paid a deposit and building work has not started.
The steps below may help you work out your options in this situation.
For information specific to your situation, we encourage you to contact us by:
Your legal costs are not covered under the Queensland Home Warranty Scheme.
Your level of assistance will be determined by whether work has commenced.
As Pivotal’s QBCC licence is cancelled and they are in liquidation, all contracts currently on foot will be considered ‘at an end’ from 30 May 2022 under the QHWS Terms of Cover. You do not have to terminate the contract with Pivotal to make a non-completion or refund of deposit claim.
If building work is finished and there are defects, you need to know the time limits for making defective work claims.
The QBCC website contains information to help you understand more about how and when to make a claim.
You can email the completed Non-completion claim form (PDF) for residential construction work and supporting documents directly to ResolutionServicesPivotal@qbcc.qld.gov.au to lodge your claim.
Avoid unnecessary delays by including all supporting documents with your claim.
As Pivotal has entered into liquidation, the QBCC is unable to help you reclaim debts under the monies owed complaint process.
We recommend that you contact the Liquidator, Worrells Solvency & Forensic Accountants Brisbane, to discuss your debt or lodge a proof of debt.
Worrells Solvency & Forensic Accountants Brisbane
Level 13, 300 Ann Street
Brisbane Qld 4000
Telephone: 3225 4300
E: pivotalcreditors@worrells.net.au
You may also wish to consider if it’s appropriate to obtain independent legal advice about your debt.
Unlicensed contracting is a serious offence, and there are significant penalties for anyone caught contracting without an appropriate licence.
Recently, the QBCC investigated a complaint from a consumer about failure by an individual to erect a retaining wall and fence, despite quoting for the job and receiving money from the consumer.
The QBCC issued an infringement notice however the individual instead elected to contest the matter in court. In the Brisbane Magistrates Court, the individual was found guilty of undertaking to carry out building work without holding a contractor’s licence. The court imposed significant penalties including a recorded conviction and a fine of $5,000. Compensation of $9,937 was also awarded to the consumer, and the defendant was ordered to pay legal costs of $1,355.35.
If you have questions about licensing requirements, please contact the QBCC on 139 333.
If you’re a homeowner looking to engage a building contractor or tradesperson, the QBCC website has a free licence search function which you can use to check to see if the person holds the appropriate QBCC licence.
The building and construction industry is one of Queensland’s most important sectors.
The Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) supports Queenslanders by:
Queensland’s building industry watchdog has issued a public warning about unlicensed concreter Paul Coplick, following allegations of unlawful conduct, including taking excessive deposits for building work.
The Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) has urged consumers, contractors and suppliers to be cautious in their dealings with Mr Coplick and his associated business, Coppo’s Concreting.
QBCC Acting Commissioner, Kate Raymond, said Mr Coplick is believed to have been operating in the Brisbane, Ipswich and Gold Coast areas.
“Mr Coplick does not hold a QBCC licence and is therefore not able to carry out, advertise for, or enter into contracts to carry out, building work in Queensland valued over $3,300,” Ms Raymond said.
“He is also alleged to have taken deposits in excess of the maximum allowed under the QBCC Act.”
Ms Raymond said the QBCC was aware of several complaints of unlawful conduct by Mr Coplick, and that complaints had also been made to the Office of Fair Trading.
The QBCC warns anyone dealing with Mr Coplick and his business to exercise extreme caution and seek legal advice before making any payments, to protect their interests.
The QBCC strongly encourages consumers to always use the free licence check on the QBCC website to confirm that the person they are dealing with is licensed appropriately.
The QBCC website also offers a free “Find a Local Contractor” search, to find licensed and skilled tradespersons in your area.
BACKGROUND
The warning has been 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.