Insurance and licensing
PI, PL, construction works, home warranty.
Insurance and licensing sit at the intersection of commercial risk and regulatory obligation. This pillar covers the policies a licensed builder needs, public liability, contract works, professional indemnity for those providing design advice, and the home building compensation (home warranty) schemes that are mandatory on contracts above the state threshold. Coverage includes how each state's scheme works: icare in NSW, VMIA-backed products in VIC, QBCC's own scheme in QLD, and the options in SA, WA, and ACT.
It is for builders who want to understand what they are buying when they take out a policy, what the exclusions actually mean, and when a certificate of currency needs to be provided to a client or certifier. Articles also cover the licensing obligations that underpin insurability: what a builder's licence requires in each state, what continuing professional development is mandatory, and what triggers a licence review or suspension by the regulator.
Chalkline's take: most builders renew their insurance on price alone, then find out at claim time that the scope was wrong. These articles are designed to close that gap with plain reading of the standard policy conditions and the state schemes, not generic financial advice.
Concept
- concept 10 May 2026ABN and GST registration for residential builders ABN and GST registration for Australian residential builders: thresholds, BAS lodgement, tax invoice requirements, and the 47% no-ABN withholding rule explained.
- concept 8 May 2026Builder's solicitor: when to engage a construction lawyer When Australian builders need a construction lawyer: SOP adjudications, NCAT/QCAT disputes, contract review, defects claims, statutory demands, denied claims.
- concept 7 May 2026Construction works insurance: what it covers and when you need it Construction works insurance for Australian builders: what it covers, single project vs annual policies, key exclusions, and indicative premium ranges.
- concept 10 May 2026PI insurance for builders (professional indemnity): full guide Professional indemnity (PI) insurance for Australian builders: who needs it, what it covers, state rules. Full guide at Chalkline.
- concept 8 May 2026Professional indemnity insurance for builders: when you need it and what it covers When Australian builders need PI insurance: D&C contracts, NSW DBP Act obligations from 1 July 2026, claims-made policies, run-off cover, and state-by-state rules.
- concept 10 May 2026Public liability insurance for builders: limits, coverage, and what it won't cover Public liability insurance for Australian builders: $5M–$20M limits, what's covered (third-party injury, property damage), key exclusions, state licensing minimums.
- concept 10 May 2026Workers compensation insurance for Australian residential builders State-by-state workers comp guide for Australian residential builders: icare NSW, WorkSafe VIC, WorkCover QLD, WA, SA, TAS. Deemed workers, premiums, obligations.
Process
- process 8 May 2026Builder registration renewal in Victoria: fees, DBI, and what happens if it lapses VIC builder registration renewal: 5-year term, current fees ($712 to $1,558), DBI Letter of Eligibility required, late fee $334, and what happens if registration lapses.
- process 10 May 2026Builder's licence renewal in Australia: state-by-state guide Builder's licence renewal varies by state. Compare NSW, VIC, and QLD renewal rules, fees, CPD requirements, and lapse windows.
- process 8 May 2026Builder's licence renewal in NSW: fees, CPD, and what happens if you let it lapse NSW builder's contractor licence renewal: current fees ($569 to $2,380), 12 CPD points per year, 3-month lapse window, and penalties for working unlicensed.
- process 8 May 2026Builder's licence renewal in QLD: fees, MFR, and what happens if you let it lapse QBCC builder licence renewal QLD: current fees ($324 to $1,861), 9 financial categories, 3-month lapse window, and penalties for working unlicensed in Queensland.
Regulation
- regulation 10 May 2026Builder CPD requirements in Australia CPD requirements for Australian builders vary by state. NSW and Tasmania mandate CPD for licence renewal. See the full state-by-state breakdown.
- regulation 8 May 2026Continuing professional development for builders: requirements by state CPD is mandatory for builders in NSW (12 points/year) and Tasmania (12 points/year, 36 over 3 years). All other states have no mandatory CPD for builders yet.
- regulation 10 May 2026Home Warranty (DBI) VIC: see the full builder's guide Victoria's home warranty is called DBI (Domestic Building Insurance). Full builder's guide with thresholds, cover, LOE, and 2026 changes.
- regulation 10 May 2026Home warranty insurance NSW (HBCF): see full guide NSW home warranty insurance (HBCF) is mandatory for residential work over $20,000. Full guide covers thresholds, trigger events, and premiums.
- regulation 10 May 2026QBCC Home Warranty Insurance QLD QBCC Home Warranty Insurance is mandatory for residential work over $3,300 in QLD. Full builder's guide at our dedicated article.