QLD Guide

Owner-builder warranty & insurance (QLD)

Queensland is often misunderstood here. Owner-builder work is not covered by QBCC statutory insurance — and selling within 6 years relies on disclosure, not warranty cover.

No statutory insurance Selling implications What insurance you can get

Note: This is general information, not legal advice. Confirm your position with QBCC, your insurer, and your conveyancer.

There is no QBCC statutory insurance for owner-builder work

In Queensland, QBCC statutory insurance (often called “home warranty insurance”) applies to work done by licensed builders — not to work done under an owner-builder permit.

Plain-English takeaway
  • Buyers do not get QBCC statutory insurance cover for owner-builder work.
  • There is no equivalent “owner-builder warranty insurance” product in QLD.
  • The system relies on disclosure, not insurance.
Common misconception
“I’ll just buy warranty insurance when I sell.” In QLD, that option does not exist for owner-builder work.

Selling within 6 years — disclosure replaces warranty

If you sell within 6 years of completing owner-builder work, you must give the buyer a written owner-builder notice before they sign the contract.

What this means in practice
  • The buyer is formally warned the work is not covered by statutory insurance.
  • Disclosure is mandatory — it cannot be waived.
  • Failure to disclose can give the buyer rights to terminate or seek remedies.
See more: After completion & selling (QLD)

Insurance you can (and should) have as an owner-builder

Even though there’s no statutory warranty cover, insurance still matters — especially during construction.

Contract works insurance
Covers damage to the works in progress and materials on site (fire, storm, theft, vandalism).
Public liability insurance
Covers injury or property damage to third parties (often $5–10M).
Existing structure cover (renovations)
Important if you’re altering an existing home — many policies exclude it by default.
Post-completion home insurance
Standard building insurance once the home is completed and occupied.
Reality check
Insurance manages construction risk — it does not replace statutory warranty schemes.

After 6 years — what changes?

After 6 years from the completion date:

  • The mandatory owner-builder sale notice no longer applies.
  • You can apply to remove the owner-builder administrative advice from the title.
  • The property is treated like any other dwelling for future sales.
Back to QLD steps Next: QLD terminology

Official references (Queensland)

QBCC — Owner-builder work & selling
QBCC — Statutory insurance scheme
On this page
No statutory insurance Selling implications Construction insurance After 6 years Official references
Up next
Last page in the QLD set: plain-English terminology so people stop mixing up permits, certifiers and insurance.
Next: QLD terminology