Owner Builder Courses

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Owner Builder Courses

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An owner builder is an individual who does owner builder work under the authority of a permit.

Owner Builder work is any work (including supervision and co-ordination) involved in the construction of, or alterations, repairs or additions to, a dwelling (which includes a house, terrace, town-house, garage, swimming pool and certain other structures and improvements).

Enrol in one of our Owner Builder Courses and we will post FREE

For NSW and VIC: Guide to Standards and Tolerances - this helpful 56 page guide can be used as an acceptable and authorised reference to independently determine the minimum quality of building work or workmanship that is to be, or has been, carried out.
For NSW: Consumer Building Guide - this 20 page guide contains important information if you are considering to Build/ Extend or Renovate your home. You should read it carefully before signing any contract, and have a good understanding of everyone's responsibilities under the 'NSW Home Building Act 1989.' Additionally it covers Contracts, Statutory warranties, Asbestos, Insurances or what to do if things go wrong.
For VIC: Victorian Building Commission Owner Builder Application Kit - a 25 page guide for owner builder's in Victoria. This booklet provides helpful information when engaging builders, tradesmen, selling your property and insurance.
For VIC: Victorian Building Commission Being an Owner Builder - This 7 page booklet guide explains all the necessary information you need to know as an Owner Builder.

Sub Topics

NSW - Owner Builder Course

If you are planning to build a home, extension, garage or swimming pool as an Owner Builder in NSW, it is mandatory to obtain an Owner Builder Permit from the NSW Office of Fair Trading, if the work's value is more than $12,000 (including labour and materials). If you wish to obtain an Owner Builder Permit, you must be the owner of the land or a joint owner as per details on the Title Deed of where you are planning to build and complete an Course approved by the NSW Office of Fair Trading. We can assist you to book into such a course. Some Local Councils will require you to build as an Owner Builder if the value of your project is $5,000 or over. Always check your Local Council requirements prior to initiating any building works. Many Local Council will require you to take out Construction and Public Liability Insurance. Again, we can help you with Owner Builder Insurances

Important Changes from 1st September 2010.

The NSW Office of Fair Trading has developed a new course for Owner Builder education. From 30 August 2010, this new course will be the only accredited New South Wales Course in Owner Builder Compliance. It will run for 4 days over two weekends, delivered by approved providers. Contact us to enrol in this NEW Course, which must be completed for Owner Builder Permits from 1st January 2011. The existing approved Owner Building Courses will cease being offered on 29 August 2010. However, Permits will be issued to Owner Builders who have completed the existing approved courses and who have obtained their Certificate of Attainment (COA), when lodged before 31st December 2010. From 1 January 2011, only the new Course COA in Owner Builder Compliance can be submitted with an Application for a Permit.

Any home owner, who is planning to build as an Owner Builder or to have a builder build their new home, extension or renovation, must enrol into an Owner Builder Course to obtain their COA before applying for a Permit. These courses are available as:

As from 29th April 2005, it is an offence with a maximum penalty of $22,000 for each offence for the holder of an Owner Builder Permit to:

Knowingly engage an unlicensed contractor
Lend your Permit to another person
Refuse to disclose the names and addresses of contractors working on-site

It is essential to learn as much as possible while planning and designing your project, as well as before selecting and contracting with a builder or contractors. You cannot become a licensed builder with a day's tuition as it takes many years of study and experience to obtain necessary skills and knowledge to get a building licence. However, to obtain an Owner Builder Permit the same degree of commitment is not required. Still, it is in your interest to learn as much as you can. Completing this course will give you the general overview of your obligations and responsibilities as an Owner Builder.

Futher Details

VIC - Owner Builder Course

In Victoria an owner builder’s permit is required for building works carried out on your land that exceeds $12,000. The applicant must sign a statutory declaration and pay a $79 fee. Owner builders may only obtain building permits for a single dwelling and associated work on a single property in any three-year period. This course is required to complete all 5 modules to obtain the owner builder's permit.

Next Courses

The Owner Building in Victoria Course held in Melbourne, which comprises of 5 modules:

Knowledge Module 1.1: Design Check - 5 Star Energy Rating explanation (3 hours)
Knowledge Module 1.2: Estimating, Cost control plus Occupational Health & Safety (3 hours)
Knowledge Module 1.3: Off site co-ordination + Administration, On site supervision, Planning & Permits (3 hours)
Knowledge Module 1.4: Specification workshop A - Contracts + Insurances (1 hour) / Module 1.5 (2 hours)
Knowledge Module 1.5 Specification workshop B - Materials & Systems, Identification, Product & Material info. (3 hours)

Please note: On the day Module 1.4 runs as it is only 1 hr, Module 1.5 will begin straight after and run for 2 hrs. Module 1.5 runs for a total of 5 hours.

The fee including GST is $330 per person, or $440 for a couple.