WA Building & Energy Contractor Licensing
Statutory requirements under the Home Building Contracts Act 1991 (WA). Check the $20,000 registration threshold, Home Indemnity Insurance (HII), and Australia's lowest statutory deposit limit (6.5%).
$20,000 Statutory Registration Trigger
Building Services (Registration) Act 2011
Any residential building work, structural landscaping, retaining wall construction, or home additions valued over $20,000 (incl. labor, materials, and GST) must be performed by a registered building practitioner or building contractor.
Mandatory Home Indemnity Insurance (HII)
Contracts Over $20,000
Prior to demanding any payment or commencing work on residential projects over $20,000, builders must provide a certificate of Home Indemnity Insurance (HII) covering non-completion and structural defects up to 6 years.
WA Statutory Deposit Cap: Strict 6.5%
Western Australia enforces the strictest deposit limitations in the nation under Section 10 of the Home Building Contracts Act 1991:
Maximum Upfront Deposit
A builder cannot demand more than 6.5% of the total contract price before work begins on site.
Example: On a $40,000 deck and retaining project, the maximum deposit is $2,600.00.
Pre-Contractual Fee Limits
Before a full contract is signed, builders can charge a maximum of $500 for preparation of plans, engineering specs, or local council approvals.
Demanding 10%–30% upfront is an immediate statutory violation.