What is an owner Builder?
An owner builder is an individual who takes on the job of managing their own residential building project and performs to coordinating and contracting roles usually undertaken by a licensed builder and holds an owner builder permit for that work.
What is owner builder work?
Owner builder work is generally any work (including supervision and co-ordination) involved in the construction of, or alternations, repairs or additions to, a dwelling (which includes a house, terrace, town-house, garage, swimming pool and certain other structures and improvements).
Owner builder responsibilities
The owner-builder has a number of responsibilities including:
• Being able to understand the plans for the proposed work
• Obtaining all necessary council and authority approvals for the work.
• Obtaining the required insurances, eg workers compensation, public liability, home owner warranty (where applicable)
• Ensuring any contractor engaged is appropriately licensed and insured to do the work contracted for.
• Arranging for required inspections during the building stages.
• Overseeing and supervising all tradespeople
• Ensuring that all relevant laws are complied with
• Providing a safe work environment
• Comply with any work cover requirements and Occupational Health and Safety
• Warrant that the work and materials will be fit for the purpose and that the work results in a dwelling fit for occupation.
• Owner builders must carry out domestic building work in compliance with the relevant building acts and regulations within their state or territory.
Financial risks
• Project cost increases as a result of poor estimating and sequencing of trades
• Additional work due to faulty workmanship and non-compliance
• Variations from the original plans.
• Loss by theft or fire on the site.
• Site protection costs (security, safety)
• Occupational health and safety claims
• Adjoining property owner claims
Quality Risks
• Adequacy of drawings and specifications
• Standard of workmanship by others
• Compliance with regulations (building OW&S)
• Technical ability to direct and assess workmanship
Time risks
• Identification and engagement of suitable tradespeople
• Coordination, continuity and completion of work
Future risks
• Cost of providing insurance to prospective purchases and claims by new purchaser within required statutory time period
Illegal use of License:
It is an offence for the holder of an owner builder permit to:
• Knowingly engage an unlicensed contractor (where a license class exits)
• Lend your permit to another person
• Refuse to disclose to an authorized officer If you don’t want the responsibility of being an owner builder, you should be wary of a builder who suggests you obtain an owner builder permit while they do all the building work for you.
This may be a tactic where the builder is evading responsibility, is unlicensed, or is unable to get necessary insurance.
Insurances that every builder owner should consider–
In many jurisdictions, each licensed contractor (builder, tradesperson or project manager) who contracts directly with an owner builder to undertake residential building work must provide home warranty insurance providers when the total contract sum exceeds a certain amount.
Workers compensation insurance
Owner builders should take out a worker’s compensation insurance policy and ensure that they are fully covered in respect of persons they engage to carry out work. Any contractors engaged by an owner builder may be deemed to be a worker of that owner builder.
Contract works insurance
This insurance should be obtained by builders and trade contractors. It is for the home-owners protection and covers loss or damage to materials and work. If the builder or trade contractor does not have this type of insurance, the homeowner may risks inconvenience, time delays and disputes if materials are damaged or stolen.
Public liability insurance
If you intend to be an owner builder or to contract out any type of building work (for which you remain responsible for co-ordinating), it is strongly recommended that you take out a public liability insurance policy. This covers you if a family member or member of the public is injured as a result of the building work. You could be liable because you own the property.
Helpful owner builder links:
Queensland Building & Construction Commission
Western Australia Department of Commerce
Tasmanian Government Workplace Standards
ACT Environment and Sustainable Development
Northern Territory Builders Practitioners Board
DISCLAIMER: The Swimming Pool & Spa Association (SPASA) has complied the material contained in the publication for the benefit of readers. The material is made available on the understanding that SPASA and its employees and agents shall have no liability to the readers of the material for any loss, damage, cost or expense whether direct, indirect consequential or special, incurred by, or arising due to, any person using or relying on the material and whether caused due to any error, omission or misrepresentation in the material or otherwise