What are my responsibilities as an owner-builder? (NSW)

As an owner-builder, you are responsible for:

• overseeing and supervising all tradespeople
• ordering of materials and management of the building site
• obtaining all necessary council and authority approvals
• ensuring that the financial, taxation and insurance requirements of the building work are met and fully comply with all laws
• being aware of your obligations under the Workers Compensation Act 1987 and Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 and providing a safe work environment that complies with WorkCover requirements
• ensuring any contractor engaged is appropriately licensed and insured to do the work contracted for
• warranting that the work and materials will be fit for the purpose and that the work results in a dwelling fit for occupation.
  

Do your sums before you start and ask yourself if any saving you will make is worth the time and responsibility it will take.

As an owner-builder you are guaranteeing the work you undertake.
It is an offence under the Home Building Act (maximum penalty $22,000) for the holder of an owner-builder permit to:

• knowingly engage an unlicensed contractor
• lend your permit to another person
• refuse to disclose to an authorised officer the names and addresses of contractors working on the site.

If you don’t want the responsibility of being an owner-builder, you should be wary of a builder who suggests you obtain an owner-builder permit while they do all the building work for you. This may be a ploy where the builder is shirking responsibility, is unlicensed, or is unable to get necessary insurance.