After completion or handover

After completion or handover, issues can sometimes arise or work may remain unfinished. Learn how to recognise issues, prevent common problems and understand your options for resolving issues with your builder.

Issues appear after moving in

What to do when you find issues such as roof leaks, mould, uneven floors or windows that don’t close after you move in.

Is it defective or non-compliant work?

For information on the difference between defects and non-compliance read about concerns about the work, as your options for resolving issues may be different.

How to prevent this

Before making any final payments, make sure major defects are fixed and that the work carried out has been completed in line with the plans and specifications set out in the building contract. Hire an independent professional such as an architect or building consultant to inspect for defects and unfinished work before the occupancy permit or certificate of final inspection is issued.

Do not pay your builder in advance and make progress payments only according to the payment schedule in your contract.

You may need to obtain expert technical reports, such as from a structural engineer, for major faults. These may support you if you need to raise an issue, apply for dispute resolution or make an insurance claim. They may also provide evidence if the problem gets worse over time.

Give a copy of the inspection report to the Relevant Building Surveyor (RBS) so that they can consider whether action is required before issuing the occupancy permit or certificate of final inspection.

Find out more about roles and responsibilities to understand the types of professionals that may be involved in your project.

What you can do

Always talk to your builder and give them an opportunity to fix the issue before raising it with the Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC).

If the issue is a defect, then this could be a breach of the building contract, and you may be eligible for dispute resolution services.

If an occupancy permit or certificate of final inspection has been issued by the RBS and you disagree with their decision, you may appeal to the Building Appeals Board (BAB) within 30 days of the decision being made.

If the problem is about non-compliance, raise it with the RBS first. While they can take enforcement action after the occupancy permit or certificate of final inspection has been issued, it is better to have any problems fixed before they are issued. If the issue doesn’t get resolved, you can raise it with the BPC. The BPC will assess the information you provide and determine the most appropriate response.

A report from a technical expert such as an architect, building consultant or engineer may be useful for supporting your issue, dispute ot insurance claim.

If the issue cannot be resolved with the builder, raise it with the BPC.

The project isn't finished

What to do if a building project is unfinished and how to prevent this by doing the right research, checking the required insurance and inspecting the work at each stage.

How to prevent this

When choosing a builder or trade, check reviews to see if they have completed projects recently and if previous clients were satisfied with their work. Read more about finding a practitioner and getting quotes to understand what to look for.

Once you’ve chosen someone to do the work, it’s worth checking that the details they’ve given such as their company name, ABN, ACN, and address are current, legitimate and consistent with information on public registers.

• Australian Financial Security Authority (AFSA) if they are a sole trader or partnership
• Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) if they are a company
• Australian Business Register to look up their ABN or ACN

For eligible domestic building contracts entered into from 1 July 2026 and valued at more than $20,000, the builder must purchase Home Warranty on your behalf and provide you with evidence of cover.

For contracts entered into before 1 July 2026, existing Domestic Building Insurance requirements and policies continue to apply. Domestic Building Insurance may cover unfinished work if the builder dies, disappears or becomes insolvent, subject to the terms and limits of the policy.

An independent professional such as an architect or building consultant can conduct stage inspections and report that work has been completed, or not, in line with the contract requirements.

Otherwise, inspect work at the end of each stage before making payments. At the end of your build, make sure that the work has passed any required inspections listed on the building permit and ensure the work has been completed as specified in the plans and contract.

You should not withhold progress payments because of defects (provided that the stage has been completed). Always get legal advice before withholding a progress payment.

What you can do

Always talk to your builder and give them an opportunity to fix the issue before raising it with the Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC).

You can insist that the builder comply with the terms of the contract. The builder is obliged to complete the work that is set out in the contract terms before they are entitled to receive the final payment. If the builder insists on the final payment before they finish the work, this is a breach of the contract.

There are some expectations that don’t need to be specified in the contract that should be considered part of a service, such as filling gaps when preparing surfaces for painting, or acid washing brickwork.

If the builder has breached the contract, you may be eligible for dispute resolution services.

A report from a technical expert such as an architect, building consultant or engineer may be useful for supporting your issue, dispute or insurance claim..

If the issue cannot be resolved with the builder, raise it with the BPC.

Your builder can’t complete the work

The insurance that applies will depend on when your building contract was entered into.

For eligible contracts entered into from 1 July 2026, Home Warranty may cover incomplete or defective work when the builder is unable or unwilling to complete or fix it, subject to the terms, limits and exclusions of the cover.

For contracts entered into before 1 July 2026, an existing Domestic Building Insurance policy may provide cover if the builder dies, disappears or becomes insolvent. You will need to provide evidence of the builder’s circumstances and meet the policy requirements.

The amount you can claim and the circumstances covered depend on the insurance policy that applies to your building work. Contact the BPC or your insurer before arranging further work, unless urgent work is required to make the property safe.

Read more about home owners insurance for your build.