The checks, in order
The right licence for the work
We look the roofer up on their state's public register and check the licence or registration covers the work they want jobs for. Roofing is licensed differently in each state, and roof plumbing and roof tiling can be separate things. In Victoria, for example, roof plumbing is licensed plumbing work, while domestic building work over $10,000 needs a registered builder.
Insurance
We ask for a current public liability insurance certificate, with cover of at least $10 million, and check the business name on it matches the licence.
The business behind the licence
We check the ABN, the business name and the licence holder line up, so the person on the register is the business you'll actually deal with.
The work they specialise in, and where
A roofer is certified job by job: restorations, leak repairs, re-roofs, gutters and so on. For each one, we check their licence covers it and ask for three jobs of that type from the last 12 months, each with photos and an address or invoice. They only get the kinds of jobs they're certified for, so a gutter specialist doesn't get a re-roof, and a Werribee job goes first to roofers who cover Werribee.
Ongoing checks
We look up each roofer's licence on their state's register every three months, and ask for a new insurance certificate whenever their policy renews, which is at least once a year. After a complaint we recheck straight away, and complaints count. If a licence lapses, insurance runs out or complaints stack up, they lose certification and stop getting jobs from us.
Why we check the register ourselves
Anyone can put a licence number on a van. The register is the only place that tells you whether it's current and what it covers. Every state runs one: Victoria's Building and Plumbing Commission practitioner search, the NSW Government's online licence check, the QBCC licensee register in Queensland, and their equivalents in the other states and territories.
Some states also require the licence number to appear in roofers' advertising. Our guide to checking a roofer's licence shows where to look in your state.
What you should still check yourself
- The licence number on your written quote matches the register
- The quote is written down, with the scope, materials and price
- The deposit is within your state's limit. In Queensland, for example, it's capped at 5% for contracts of $20,000 or more
- Home warranty insurance where your state requires it for the size of job
- That you understand your cooling-off rights before you sign
What certified means, and what it doesn't
Find My Roofer certified is our standard, nobody else's. It isn't a government licence, a trade qualification or an industry association badge, and the roofer's licence still comes from their state.
We don't inspect roofs or supervise jobs, and our checks don't replace your rights under the Australian Consumer Law or your state's building laws. The contract for the work is between you and the roofer. If something goes wrong, see our complaints page and your state's page, such as Victoria or Queensland, for where to go.