Resources forhomeowners and contractors

Building and payment rules are set by each state and territory. Use the links below to check a licence, understand your contract and payment rules, or get help with a dispute. This page is general information only, not legal advice. For advice on your situation, speak to a lawyer or your state regulator.

State regulators and official guides

What is security of payment?

Every state and territory has a security of payment law. These laws give people who do building work, or supply goods and services for it, a legal right to claim progress payments and a fast process (adjudication) to resolve payment disputes. They mainly cover payments between businesses in the building chain. Whether they apply to a contract with a homeowner depends on the state. Check your state’s regulator below.

State	Building regulator (licence checks, complaints)	Security of payment law
NSW	Building Commission NSW	Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 (NSW)
VIC	Building and Plumbing Commission	Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2002 (Vic)
QLD	Queensland Building and Construction Commission	Building Industry Fairness (Security of Payment) Act 2017 (Qld)
WA	Building and Energy (LGIRS)	Building and Construction Industry (Security of Payment) Act 2021 (WA)
SA	Consumer and Business Services	Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2009 (SA)
TAS	Consumer, Building and Occupational Services	Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2009 (Tas)
ACT	Access Canberra	Building and Construction Industry (Security of Payment) Act 2009 (ACT)
NT	Building Practitioners Boarddisputes viaNT Consumer Affairs	Construction Contracts (Security of Payments) Act 2004 (NT)

Topic	Official guide
Before you sign: contracts and quotes	Consumer Affairs Victoria — building and renovating checklists(Building contracts; Extensions and renovations over $10,000; Home improvements $10,000 or less) QBCC Home Owner Hub NSW Fair Trading — contracts
Consumer building guides	Consumer Affairs Victoria — Domestic Building Consumer Guide QBCC — Homeowner’s Guide to Building and Renovating
Paying for work and during construction	Consumer Affairs Victoria checklists:Paying for building work During construction
Variations	Consumer Affairs Victoria checklist:Changing a major domestic building contract QBCC — contract changes and variations
Completion, defects and warranties	Consumer Affairs Victoria checklists:When building work is complete Implied warranties and domestic building insurance QBCC common defects series and Home Warranty Scheme (via the Home Owner Hub)
Other states and territories	Use the regulator links in the table above

Last checked: [month year]

Using Renosafe well

Short guides about how our platform works. These describe our product only. They are not building, legal or financial advice.

Good evidence on Renosafe

Clear, dated photos of each stage; before and after shots; certificates and compliance documents attached to the milestone they relate to.

Logging a defect

How to record a defect during the defects liability period: photos, a short description and the date noticed.

Variations, disputes and cancellations on Renosafe

Variations If there’s a disagreement If a project is cancelled

Glossary

Plain definitions of retention, practical completion, defects liability period, variation, milestone, prime cost (PC) items and provisional sum (PS) items.

Rules vary by state. See your state regulator above.

For contractors, in-app

Milestone templates

Suggested stage names and suggested evidence only, by job type (bathroom, kitchen, deck, extension).

Set your payment amounts under your contract and your state’s building laws.

ATO — Taxable payments annual report Businesses that pay contractors lodge by 28 August each year. ato.gov.au State licence registers See the regulator table above.

Resources forhomeowners and contractors

State regulators and official guides

What is security of payment?

State and territory links

Official consumer guides