What are a certifier’s responsibilities at each stage? Before construction starts, a certifier’s responsibilities include to: • check whether the proposed work will meet legislative requirements if built in accordance with the approved plans and specifications • advise which inspections will be mandatory as the work progresses • notify the council of their appointment as the principal certifier • check your builder or contractor is licensed and insured under the Home Building Act 1989 • check whether any applicable conditions of your consent or approval are met • check whether any applicable fees are paid, such as the long service levy • install a sign on the building site, showing the certifier’s details • inspect the building site (if required). During construction, a certifier’s responsibilities include to: • inspect the work in person, at each required stage • if a non-compliance is identified, issue a direction to you and/or the builder requiring certain action to be taken, and notify the council if the required action isn’t taken • respond appropriately to any complaints about the development, including informing the council if needed. After construction is finished, a certifier may issue an occupation certificate if: • all relevant conditions of your consent are met, and you have applied for the occupation certificate, and • all inspections have been carried out and the work is found to be satisfactory, unless an inspection (other than the final inspection) was missed under circumstances deemed unavoidable by the certifier (and evidence of suitability of the work is provided), and • the work is ‘suitable for occupation’ in accordance with the Building Code of Australia. Important: this is a minimum standard of compliance that must be met. It does not guarantee that all the work has been completed. For example, a house or apartment may be suitable for occupation while painting or landscaping is still being completed. An occupation certificate does not certify that the conditions of your contract with the builder have been met. The contract with your builder is a different contract to the contract with your certifier and must be considered separately.
Information about registered certifiers – Home Building Act 1989 – June 2020
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