Check a QBCC licence

Is your tradie actually licensed?

It is free, it takes a couple of minutes, and it is the easiest way to avoid the worst kind of job. Have the QBCC search open as you go.

Check a licence (3 minutes, free, no sign-up). Get a job done. Read the full guide.

The questions

Did they give you their licence number when you asked? Anyone licensed will have it handy. Plenty print it on their paperwork and website. If not: Ask for the licence number. A trade that will not give one, or gets cagey, is a red flag.
Did the licence come up on the QBCC search? Search the QBCC licensee register by licence number, or by person or company name. It is free. If not: Do not go ahead. Double-check the number, then contact the QBCC before you agree to anything.
Does the name on the licence match the business on the contract and the one you are paying? There can be a sensible reason if not, but you want a straight answer. If not: Ask why the names are different, and get a straight answer before you sign anything.
Is it current? Check the status. Not suspended, cancelled or expired. If not: You want a current licence. Not suspended, cancelled or expired. Sort it out before anything starts.
Does the licence class cover this work? Classes include roof tiling, plumbing and drainage, or builder. A licence for one type of work does not cover everything. If not: A class that does not match the work is a red flag. If you are not sure which class fits the job, the QBCC can tell you.
Is the licence history clear of conditions and disciplinary action? Depending on the licence, the register can show more than the basics. One old issue is not necessarily a deal-breaker. If not: A pattern is worth a conversation before you sign.
If they said no licence is needed, could they point you to where it says so? Answer yes if nobody said that. If not: Check with the QBCC. Plumbing and drainage need a licence for almost every job, however small.
If an electrician is doing part of the job, did you check their licence with the Electrical Safety Office? Electrical licences are not on the QBCC register. Answer yes if no electrician is involved. If not: Ask for their electrical contractor licence number and check it on the Electrical Safety Office's online licence search.
Are they fine without a big cash deposit before anything starts? Queensland law limits deposits on domestic building contracts. If not: Check the current deposit limits on the QBCC website before you pay anything.
Is there a written contract, or a quote with more than just a price? If not: Get the scope in writing, and compare quotes properly.
Did they give you time to decide, rather than knocking after a storm and wanting a signature today? If not: Do not sign on the spot. Check the licence and compare quotes first.
Did you keep a screenshot of the licence search with the paperwork? If not: Take a screenshot of the search result and keep it with the paperwork for the job.

General information only, not legal advice. A current licence is the minimum: it tells you someone is allowed to do the work, not whether they turn up on time, answer the phone or leave the site tidy.

More free checks

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Gutters and downpipes: the boring job that saves the house: Ten quick questions to tell if your gutters and downpipes need attention, how often to clean them in SEQ and when to leave the ladder in the shed.
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Could a flexi hose flood your house? Check it: Simple plumbing checks: flexi hoses, a leaking toilet, water pressure, the hot water relief valve and slow drains. What to look for and who to call.
Is your tradie licensed? Check it in two minutes: A free QBCC licence check, step by step. Is it current, does the class cover the job, and the red flags that mean walk away.
Is the cheapest quote missing half the job?: Twelve quick questions to check a quote: scope, exclusions, materials, payment terms, warranty and licence. Compare the quote, not just the number.
Why your quotes go cold: a two-minute self-check: A lot of quotes are not lost on price. Seven yes or no questions for trade businesses to find where quotes leak between the enquiry and the yes.
What are cold quotes costing your business?: Four sliders, two minutes, no sign-up. See what slips away a year when quotes go unanswered. Example only: revenue, not profit.
Property manager storm checklist: are you ready?: A storm hits every property on your list at once. Twelve quick questions for property managers and landlords: what is done, and what to sort first.

Linc Point

Linc Point (sometimes spelt Link Point), ABN 48 535 502 159. Call 0458 381 559 or email linc@lincpoint.com.au. Brisbane and South East Queensland, Bribie Island to Helensvale. Website: lincpoint.com.au. Tools for trade businesses: lincpoint.online.