Queensland's licensing system exists because building work is technical, regulated and often difficult for a homeowner to assess while it is happening. A bathroom renovation hides most of its critical work behind tiles: waterproofing, screeding, plumbing rough-in, framing repairs and electrical connections. By the time a defect is visible, the cost of fixing it can be many times the cost of the original work.
Checking a licence will not tell you whether a builder is good. It will tell you whether they are allowed to contract for the work at all, and whether the person asking for your deposit is the person the regulator has authorised.
Why checking matters
Unlicensed contracting creates practical problems that go beyond the risk of poor work. It can affect insurance, home warranty eligibility, finance and resale. If a dispute arises, the remedies available to you may be narrower. A licensed contractor also has obligations that an unlicensed operator does not, including contract requirements and regulatory accountability.
Most homeowners check the licence number on the quote. Fewer check the name of the contracting entity, the scope of the licence or whether the licence is current on the day they sign. Those details are where problems often appear.
Need a straight answer now? Call (07) 8590 6941 seven days a week, 7am–10pm. We can talk through scope, timing and budget before you book a site measure.
How to use the QBCC licence search
The QBCC provides a free online licence search. You can search by licence number, business name or individual name. The exact fields and result layout can change, but the steps are consistent.
- Ask the builder for their QBCC licence number and the legal name of the contracting business.
- Open the QBCC licence search and enter the number. Then repeat the search using the business name.
- Confirm that the result matches the name on the quote, the contract and the bank account details.
- Check the licence status, class, scope and expiry date.
- Look for any conditions or restrictions attached to the licence.
- Save a screenshot or PDF of the result with the date you checked it.
If the search returns a different entity, ask why. A common legitimate explanation is that the licensed builder contracts through a company or trust. The relationship should still be clear, documented and consistent across the contract and insurance documents. If it is not, do not pay a deposit until it is.
How to read the result
The licence record typically shows the licensee's name, the licence number, the licence class, the status and the expiry date. It may also show the scope of work, conditions and the nominated supervisor or licensee for the business.
Check four things carefully:
- Identity: does the name match the entity you are contracting with?
- Status: is the licence current, suspended or expired?
- Class and scope: does it cover the work you are commissioning?
- Conditions: is there any restriction that affects your project?
A licence that is current but does not cover the work is no better than no licence for your purposes. A licence that belongs to a different entity is a serious warning sign. A licence with conditions may still be appropriate, but you should understand what those conditions mean before signing.
Licence scope and the work you need
Queensland uses different licence classes for different types of work. A builder licence may be unrestricted or restricted to particular categories, such as kitchen, bathroom and laundry work. Trade contractor licences cover specific trades such as plumbing, electrical work, tiling and waterproofing.
For a bathroom renovation, the principal contractor should be able to explain:
- which licence they hold and what it authorises;
- who will supervise the work;
- which trades will be engaged and how their licences are verified;
- who will issue the waterproofing, plumbing and electrical certificates;
- what insurance applies to the project.
If the answer to any of those questions is vague, ask for it in writing. A professional builder should be able to answer without hesitation. Our own licence details, including the number and scope, are published on our About page so you can verify them directly on the QBCC register.
Subcontractors and trade licences
Many bathroom renovations involve a principal contractor and several specialist trades. The principal contractor is responsible for coordinating the work and for the overall outcome, but the individual trades still need the licences that apply to their scope.
Plumbing and drainage work, electrical work, and certain waterproofing and tiling work are regulated. Ask how the builder verifies each trade's licence and insurance. Ask who signs the certificate at completion. If a trade is unlicensed, the certificate may not be issued, and the problem may not surface until you sell the property or make an insurance claim.
It is reasonable to ask for the names of the trades who will work on your bathroom and to check their licences yourself. A builder who resists that request is telling you something important.
Need a straight answer now? Call (07) 8590 6941 seven days a week, 7am–10pm. We can talk through scope, timing and budget before you book a site measure.
What a licence does not tell you
A licence is a minimum regulatory threshold. It does not measure design judgement, communication, cleanliness, programme management or attention to detail. It does not guarantee that the builder will use the best membrane system, allow proper curing time or protect your floors while the work is underway.
That is why a licence check should sit alongside other checks: references from comparable projects, a written scope, a contract that complies with Queensland requirements, insurance documents, a clear variation process and a realistic programme. Read our choosing a contractor guide for the full comparison process.
Be equally wary of a builder who boasts about a licence but cannot explain the scope, and of one who dismisses licensing as bureaucracy. Both are signals that the commercial relationship may not be well managed.
Questions to ask before hiring
- What is your QBCC licence number and the legal name of your business?
- Does your licence cover the full scope of my bathroom renovation?
- Who will supervise the work, and will they be on site?
- Which trades will you engage, and how do you verify their licences?
- What insurance applies to my project, and can I see the certificate?
- Who issues the waterproofing certificate, and when?
- What is your process for variations and defects?
- Can I speak to a recent client with a similar bathroom?
Ask the same questions of every builder you shortlist. The quality of the answers, and the willingness to put them in writing, is often more revealing than the price.
What to keep on file
Create a project folder, digital or physical, and keep the following together:
- the QBCC licence search result, dated;
- the written quote and contract, including all attachments;
- plans, selections and specifications;
- insurance certificates and home warranty documents;
- variation approvals and payment receipts;
- waterproofing, plumbing and electrical certificates;
- product warranties and care instructions;
- photographs of the work at each stage.
If you sell the property, these documents answer questions before they are asked. If you make a claim, they establish the scope and the standard you were promised. If a dispute arises, they are the record of what was agreed.
Checking a licence takes minutes. Recovering from an unlicensed or mismatched contractor can take years. For a Brisbane bathroom renovation, start with the register, then verify the contract, insurance and certification. If you would like to discuss a project, call (07) 8590 6941.