Corporate registrations are on the horizon.

From 1 July 2018:

  • A company must be registered as a building practitioner to:
    • Enter into a major domestic building contract in the company’s name
    • Be named as the builder on a building permit for major domestic building work, or any other building work costing over (in most cases) $10,000
  • There must be an appropriate insurance certificate in the company’s name for the company to perform the work.

These changes do not affect sole traders, who can continue to carry out work as usual.

An individual can continue to enter into major domestic building contracts and building permits in their individual name if they are a registered building practitioner. However, the name of the builder in the contract and the name on the insurance certificate must be identical.

Most existing companies will automatically be registered on 1 July 2018, unless they OPT-OUT before 1 June 2018 – using the “Opt-out of Company Registration” form. The VBA will be sending letters to advise practitioners to access the forms on the website. VBA email correspondence will also contain links to the forms.

A company will be automatically registered if:

  • At least one director is a registered domestic builder (Domestic Builder (Unlimited), Domestic Builder (Limited) or Domestic Builder (Manager))
  • The company was involved in major domestic building work between 1 July 2017 and 30 June 2018
  • There is an appropriate certificate of insurance in the company’s name
  • All directors meet the fit and proper person requirements

If a company in ineligible for automatic registration, its directors can OPT-IN to registration if:

  • At least one director is registered in any category or class other than Domestic Builder (for example, a Commercial Builder- CBU or CBL
  • The VBA is satisfied that each director meets the fit and proper person requirements

The last day for opting-in or opting-out is 1 June 2018. All other companies will need to apply for registration on or after 1 July 2018.

NOTE: You can apply for corporate registration here.

It is also possible in certain circumstances for a company to hold registration in some or all classes of registration, provided its directors hold individually appropriate registration.

If you are unsure what this means for you, make sure you seek independent legal and/or financial advice, or call the VBA on 1 300 815 127 for further information on the opt-out and opt-in process.

Click here for the VBA’s Quick Guide or practitioner FAQs page.