David (the reader mentioned below) also asked me this other question recently: Also what work do you have to be licensed for? What are the implications if I do wiring for example and I don’t have a compliance certificate?
Well, the first answer to this question is that you shouldn’t be doing the wiring yourself - unless you’re a licensed electrician. You can usually find out what you can and can’t do without being registered or licensed from the state-based departments of fair trading. (They’re all listed by the way on my free
community site.)
I happen to know though that David lives in Victoria (he joined here after an Archicentre seminar I spoke at recently). So in Victoria, the body you need to check in with is the Building Commission. (Because David’s question sounds a little like being an owner-builder, I’ve put in the link here for that part of the Building Commission. But this is a great site - one of the best for information, so trawl around the rest.)
In Victoria, their Home Building Act - and remember these are state-based pieces of legislation too - says that the trade contractors who’ll need to be registered (for work over $5,000) and insurance (for work over $12,000) include:
- Carpenters
- Bricklayers
- Concreters
- Roof tilers
- Swimming pool installers
- Cabinet makers and kitchen contractors
- Restumpers
- Bathroom renovators
- House relocators
And, that in addition, plumbers, gas fitters and electricians need to be licensed with their respective licensing bodies. The owner-builder must provide the registration details of contractors engaged in the building work at the end of the project as part of their application for a Certificate of Final Inspection or Occupancy Permit.
So what can happen to you if you don’t do this? Well you will need to check this out in each state, however at the minimum, you could have your occupancy permit refused. That COULD be pretty serious. For more detail on penalties that could apply, call the Building Commission, or Consumer Affairs Victoria on 1300 55 81 81 (or your relevant state body if you’re in another state).
Does this help? Let me know if it doesn’t.
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