What the Consumer Building Guide is
The Consumer Building Guide is a document that covers topics including variations, deposit and progress payments, extensions of time, Queensland Home Warranty Scheme (QHWS) coverage, and the strict timeframes for reporting defective work.
The legal requirement
Licensed builders and contractors in Queensland doing residential building work worth $20,000 or more are required to give the homeowner the Consumer Building Guide to read, sign, and return before the homeowner signs the building contract. This requirement exists under Queensland law and is not optional.
If this step is not completed, the QBCC can take regulatory action against the builder or contractor.
Key actions
- Check every residential building contract before it is signed: if the job is $20,000 or more, the Consumer Building Guide must be provided to the homeowner before the contract is signed.
- Get the homeowner to sign and return the Consumer Building Guide, and keep that signed copy on file as the record of compliance.
- Download the current Consumer Building Guide and free contract templates from the QBCC's Domestic Building Contracts webpage at qbcc.qld.gov.au.
Where this information comes from
This information was published by the QBCC. The source article is available at qbcc.qld.gov.au.
This is a plain-English summary for information only, not legal or compliance advice. Always check the official source or consult a qualified professional.