Congratulations!

Everything is now in place and you're clear to start bringing your project to life. It's an exciting stage, and we wish you all the very best with the build.

Before you get going, here are the important things to keep front of mind. A little organisation now will save you a great deal of stress later, particularly when it comes time to obtain your Occupation Certificate at the end.

You're Cleared to Start

The groundwork is done. Your Owner Builder Permit has been issued and provided to us, we've appointed your Principal Certifier, and your Notice of Commencement has been received. That means the formal requirements to begin work are in place and you're good to go.

A couple of things to hold onto as you start:

1. Build in accordance with your approved plans and conditions. Now that work can commence, everything you do needs to match your stamped plans and satisfy your conditions of consent. More on that below.

2. If anything needs to change, talk to us first. If your plans need to shift once you're underway, please check in with us before you build the change, as it may need a modification or an amended certificate first.
   

Read Your Approval Documents Properly

Your approval isn't just a green light, it's a rulebook. Please take the time to read it before you lift a hammer.

Your consent (your DA approval or your CDC) contains a set of conditions. These conditions run your entire build and tell you exactly what you must do, and when. Importantly, they also list the certificates and documents you'll need to produce at the end to obtain your Occupation Certificate. Read them at the start, not the finish, so you know what's coming.

You'll also have a set of approved, stamped plans. The work must be built in accordance with these plans. If anything needs to change once you're underway, talk to us first, because changes may need a modification or an amended certificate before you build them.

Book Your Critical Stage Inspections!

This is the single most important thing to get right, so please read it twice!

Your certifier must inspect the work at set points during construction, known as critical stage or mandatory inspections. These have to happen at the correct stage, in the right order, and they cannot be done after the fact. If work is covered up, such as pouring a slab or closing in a frame, before the required inspection takes place, it can hold up or even jeopardise getting your Occupation Certificate.

Contact your certifier early and lock these inspection points into your build schedule so nothing is built over before it's been checked. When in doubt, call your certifier before you cover anything up.

Take Photos Throughout the Build

Get into the habit of photographing your work as you go, especially anything that's about to be covered up, such as footings, reinforcement, framing, waterproofing and plumbing before the slab or lining goes on. It only takes a moment, and a clear set of dated photos can be invaluable. If an inspection is ever missed, or your certifier needs to understand how something was built before it was concealed, good photographic evidence can make the difference between a simple resolution and a costly one. Keep them organised alongside your compliance certificates so everything is in one place when you reach your Occupation Certificate.

Use Licensed Trades and Keep Your Paperwork

As an owner builder, you organise and supervise the work, but you can't do everything yourself. Specialist work such as electrical, plumbing, asbestos removal etc must always be carried out by an appropriately licensed tradesperson.

Any tradesperson doing work over $10,000 needs to hold the relevant licence, and you'll need a written contract with them once the price is over $5,000. Always check a licence is current before you sign anything. You can verify a licence through the NSW Government owner-builder resources linked at the bottom of this page.

Collect Your Compliance Certificates as You Go

Throughout the build, your trades will produce compliance certificates for the work they carry out, covering things like waterproofing, glazing, termite protection, smoke alarms and your BASIX commitments.

You will need these certificates at the end to obtain your Occupation Certificate, and chasing a tradesperson for a certificate months after they've left the job is difficult and stressful. Collect them as you go and keep everything together in one place. Your conditions of consent and your Construction Certificate tell you exactly which certificates apply to your particular build.

If you'd like a hand, we offer ready-to-use compliance certificate templates that your trades can complete and sign, which makes gathering everything at the end much simpler.

Keep Your Site Safe

As an owner builder, you carry work health and safety responsibilities for your site under NSW law, and significant penalties can apply if these aren't met. Keep your site safe for everyone who works on it and anyone who visits, and take particular care with hazards such as asbestos in older homes. If you're engaging workers, check whether you have workers compensation obligations as well.

The Finish Line: Your Occupation Certificate

You cannot legally occupy or use your building (home, shed, pool) until an Occupation Certificate or Partial Occupation Certificate has been issued. To get there, your certifier will need to be satisfied that all the mandatory inspections were carried out, the work complies with your approval, and all the required compliance certificates and documents have been provided.This is where all that organising through the build pays off. If you've kept your certificates together and booked your inspections properly, the final stage is far smoother. We're here to help you pull it all together and obtain your Occupation Certificate when you reach this point.

A Note on Selling Later

Something worth knowing for down the track: if you sell your home within 7 years and 6 months of your Owner Builder Permit being issued, the contract of sale must include a consumer warning that an owner builder permit was issued. As an owner builder, you also guarantee your own workmanship for a period after completion. It's simply worth being aware of before you start, especially if you may sell in the future.

We're Here to HelpYou're not on your own.

If anything comes up during the build that touches on your approval, your conditions, a change to your plans, or your Occupation Certificate, please get in touch and we'll help you work through it.All the best with your build. We can't wait to see it come together.

Useful Resources

Occupation Certificate Compliance Certificate templates:

NSW Government owner-builder responsibilities