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How to Verify a Builder in New South Wales

In NSW, “licensed” can mean an individual licence, a company contractor licence, and (often) a nominated supervisor - plus project-specific insurance. This page explains the structure and links to the official public registers.

Run a NSW Builder ReportView Official Registers

Before You Search: How NSW Licensing Works

NSW licensing is often misunderstood because the person you speak with and the entity you contract with may not be the same. Use this structure as your reference point.

If you're hiring a company

The company should hold a current NSW contractor licence and nominate a licensed supervisor.

  • Confirm the contracting entity (legal name + ABN/ACN).
  • Verify the company contractor licence is current.
  • Confirm the nominated supervisor is current.
  • Check for conditions restricting scope.

If you're hiring an individual

You still need to verify class/scope, status, and conditions in the register.

  • Verify the individual licence is current.
  • Confirm the licence class matches the work.
  • Review any restrictions/conditions.
  • Cross-check business/trading names on the quote.
Interstate licence claim? Automatic Mutual Recognition generally applies to individuals - not company contractor licences. If the contract is with a company, confirm the company holds the appropriate NSW authority to contract.

Official Public Registers

Builder oversight signals in NSW are distributed across independent authorities. Each register publishes specific information. If you want a single structured summary, use the Builder Report; otherwise, use the official sources below.

Licence Register

Regulator: NSW Fair Trading • Search by name, licence number, or ABN

Use the licence record to confirm holder, type, status, class, and any conditions.

  • Does the holder match the contracting entity on your quote/contract?
  • Is the licence “Current” (not expired/suspended/cancelled)?
  • Are there conditions that limit the type of work?
Visit NSW Fair Trading→

Opens official regulator website in a new tab.

Domestic Building Insurance (HBCF)

Authority: Home Building Compensation Fund (via Verify NSW)

HBCF is typically issued per project. If your project requires HBCF, verify that cover has been issued for the relevant work.

  • Confirm whether your residential project requires HBCF above the NSW threshold.
  • Verify cover exists for the specific project (not just the builder name).
Verify HBCF→

Tribunal Decisions

Authority: NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT)

Search published building-related decisions involving a builder or entity. Results are case-law style records and may require interpretation.

Search NCAT Decisions→

Company & Directors

Authority: Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) • ABN Lookup

Confirm company registration, directors, and ABN details. Use ABN Lookup for a free quick check; use ASIC Connect for full company extracts (fee may apply). Licensing does not, by itself, indicate financial health.

  • Does the ABN/ACN on the quote match the registered entity?
  • Who are the current directors?
  • Are there related entities worth investigating?
  • Are any directors banned or disqualified from managing corporations or other specific activities?
Search ASIC Connect→Search ABN Lookup→Banned & Disqualified→

Insolvency Checks

Authorities: ASIC Insolvency Notices • AFSA for personal insolvency

Search published external administration events for companies. For individuals, check AFSA personal insolvency records.

ASIC insolvency notices→AFSA insolvency→

Public Warnings & Enforcement

Authorities: ACCC • SafeWork NSW

Search published warnings and enforcement outcomes. These sources are not “builder registers” but can contain useful regulatory signals.

Visit ACCC→Visit SafeWork NSW→

Why Public Register Checks Are Fragmented

  • Licensing is state-based and structured differently across jurisdictions.
  • Company and individual licences are separate legal constructs.
  • Scope restrictions are expressed in regulator terminology.
  • Corporate risk and entity complexity are not visible in licence searches.
  • Registers are not consolidated across authorities, aside from NSW licensing and HBCF Insurance.

Consolidated Verification

The TrustSignal Builder Report consolidates licensing, corporate and regulatory signals into a structured summary - helping you confirm: (1) who is licensed, (2) what they’re licensed to do, and (3) whether the contracting entity is properly connected.

Run a NSW Builder Report

Last reviewed: March 2026• TrustSignal (trustsignal.com.au)