Building Quality Australia — Independent consumer protection for Australian homeowners since 2014
Licence searches

What a licence search tells you

Understanding what the free state register search does and does not reveal.

Licence searches

What the government register confirms

When you search a builder's licence through any Australian state register, you receive confirmation of the following:

  • Licence status — whether the licence is current, suspended, cancelled or expired
  • Licence category — the type of building work the licence covers (e.g. residential, commercial)
  • Licence conditions — any restrictions or conditions placed on the licence
  • Licence holder name — the individual or company the licence is issued to
  • Expiry date — when the licence is due for renewal

This is valuable information and a necessary first step. But it is only the beginning of a proper due diligence process.

Keep in mind

A licence confirms a builder met minimum requirements at the time of application. It says nothing about how they've operated since, their financial position, or their history of disputes with clients.

A current licence is necessary. It is not sufficient.

After the licence check

Once you've confirmed a builder is licensed, the next step is understanding their history. Our background reports draw on court records, credit agencies, judicial databases and industry sources to give you a complete picture.

What our background reports cover →