Before you sign your building contract, be sure you’ve received your Consumer Building Guide.
When you complete a building project with a contract price greater than $20,000, your builder is required to provide you with a copy of the Consumer Building Guide. This document must be given to you either prior to entering your building contract, or together with your contract documents.
It is necessary that you read and understand the document before signing your building contract. Make sure you take the time to discuss any queries you may have relating the contractual process and your building works in general.
What is the Consumer Building Guide?
The Queensland Building and Construction Commission created the Consumer Building Guide to aid home owners when embarking on residential building and renovation work.
The document outlines important information entailed within the contractual process of domestic building projects. The aim is to ensure home owners are well informed on key requirements and procedures relating to the scope of their contract, including:
- The cooling-off period
- QBCC licence
- QLD Home Warranty insurance
- Cost plus & construction management contracts
- Commencement notice
- Contract price
- Deposits & progress payments
- Building approvals & inspections
- Variations
- Dispute prevention & resolution
- Extensions of time
- Practical completion and handover
- Implied warranties
What if I don’t receive the Consumer Building Guide?
Should your builder delay, or fail to provide you with the appropriate Consumer Building Guide, your cooling-off period will be extended. This is the time period after you’ve entered into a building contract, whereby you have a right to withdraw from your signed contract.
