Essential protections (before work starts) — QLD
Construction-phase risks start on day one. Put protections in place before site work begins.
In 60 seconds
- Contract works — covers damage to works-in-progress + materials.
- Public liability — injury/property damage involving third parties.
- Existing structures (renos) — many people assume their home policy still covers construction risk (often it doesn’t).
Renovations: the common trap
- Your existing home policy may exclude construction-related loss/damage.
- It may require disclosure of changed risk during works.
- Cover may be reduced or invalid if the insurer wasn’t told.
Voluntary Workers cover
Voluntary Workers cover is designed for people doing unpaid or voluntary work on a project. It can respond to things like loss of income, non-Medicare medical expenses, and capital benefits for permanent injury or death — but exact benefits and limits depend on the policy wording, so always confirm with your insurer or broker.
- If you are only managing the project (coordinating trades and approvals) and not doing physical work yourself, you may have little or no need for this extra cover.
- If you will work on site, or friends and family may lend a hand with labour, Voluntary Workers cover is often very important.
Owner-builders sometimes assume Public Liability already “covers injury on site”. Public Liability insures you for property damage or injury claims made against you by third parties where you may be legally liable — it is not a substitute for cover for you, or for immediate family, simply because they were hurt while helping.
In theory a friend who is helping could bring a Public Liability claim against you as the owner-builder, but it is vital to understand how that cover actually works: the insurer is covering your clear legal liability. The injured person needs to show why the incident was your fault (for example a failure or mistake on your part as the person controlling the work). The insurer can choose to pay the claim (indemnify) or to defend the claim if it is not clear you were at fault.
Specialist providers & advice
Construction-phase insurance for owner-builders in Queensland is generally available through specialist providers; the material on this page outlines typical cover types and practical traps. Insurance for owner-builders involves very particular requirements and policy wordings — getting it right usually means specialist advice, not a generic home-insurance quote.
Specialists of that type include companies like InsuranceTek.com.au, led by industry guru Mark Adams (previously of Allrisk Insurance), who have been working with thousands of owner-builders across Australia for over 20 years.
Owner-builder insurance at InsuranceTek