The Licence You Should Always Ask For
If you’ve been getting quotes for a kitchen renovation on the Gold Coast, you may have noticed that some companies mention their QBCC licence prominently — and some don’t mention it at all.
That difference matters more than most homeowners realise.
What is QBCC?
The Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) is the state’s building industry regulator. It licenses contractors, enforces building standards, and administers the Home Warranty Insurance scheme that protects Queensland homeowners.
Any contractor carrying out residential building work valued over $3,300 in Queensland must hold a current QBCC licence. This applies to kitchen renovations — without exception.
Why the Licence Exists
QBCC licensing isn’t bureaucratic box-ticking. It exists because:
- Competency requirements: A licensed contractor has demonstrated the qualifications and experience required to carry out building work safely and to code.
- Insurance requirements: Licensed contractors must hold current public liability insurance. This means your home is protected if something goes wrong during the renovation.
- Home Warranty Insurance: For work over $3,300, licensed contractors are required to provide Queensland Home Warranty Insurance — which protects you if the contractor becomes insolvent, dies, or disappears before completing the work.
- Accountability: Licensed contractors can be investigated, disciplined, and have their licence suspended or cancelled if they breach building standards or contractual obligations.
What Happens if You Use an Unlicensed Contractor?
The short answer: you lose all of these protections.
An unlicensed renovation means no Home Warranty Insurance — so if the contractor walks off the job halfway through, you have no recourse. It means no guarantee that the work meets Queensland building standards. It may affect your home insurance policy. And it may affect your ability to sell the property in the future, as buyers and their conveyancers increasingly check the compliance status of renovation work.
The savings from an unlicensed quote are never worth this risk.
How to Verify a QBCC Licence
Verifying a licence takes less than two minutes:
- Go to qbcc.qld.gov.au
- Click “Licence Search”
- Enter the contractor’s name or licence number
- Confirm the licence is current and covers the type of work being carried out
Do this before you sign any contract. A legitimate contractor will give you their licence number without hesitation.
Konnect Kitchens — QBCC Licence 1213227
Konnect Kitchens holds QBCC Licence 1213227. You can verify this directly on the QBCC website. We’ve held continuous QBCC licensing throughout our 35 years on the Gold Coast — and we carry $10 million public liability insurance on every project.
When you ask us for our licence number, we don’t hesitate. It’s on our quotes, our contracts, and our website — because we understand that it’s one of the most important things you need to know before you trust someone with your home.
Questions to Ask Before You Sign
Before engaging any kitchen renovation company on the Gold Coast, ask these questions:
- What is your QBCC licence number?
- Can you provide a Certificate of Currency for your public liability insurance?
- Will the project be covered by Home Warranty Insurance?
- Who are the subcontractors on this project, and are they also licensed?
If any of these questions are met with evasion, the conversation should end there.
Ready to talk to a properly licensed, properly insured kitchen renovation company? Book your free design consultation or call Darren on 0478 148 508.