Hiring Guide

How to Vet a Tradie in Victoria: Licence Check, Insurance, and Reviews

A mate of a mate who "does a bit of plumbing" might quote you cheap, but when the hot water system floods your kitchen at 2am, that bargain evaporates fast. Vetting a tradie properly takes about 15 minutes. Fixing a botched job takes months and thousands of dollars.

Here is exactly how to check credentials, insurance, and reputation before you hire anyone in Victoria.

Step 1: Check Their Licence on the VBA Register

Victoria requires licences for specific trades. Not all of them, which catches people off guard. The Victorian Building Authority (VBA) maintains a public register you can search for free.

Trades that MUST hold a VBA licence or registration

• Plumbers - licensed and regulated by the VBA. Every plumber doing work in Victoria needs one, including gasfitters and drainers.
• Electricians - licensed through Energy Safe Victoria (ESV), not the VBA. You check these on the ESV licence checker instead.
• Building practitioners - builders, building surveyors, building inspectors, engineers, and quantity surveyors all need VBA registration.

Trades that DO NOT need a VBA licence in Victoria

• Painters - no licence required in VIC (unlike Queensland)
• Tilers - no licence required in VIC
• Landscapers - no licence required
• Concreters - no licence required unless doing structural work that falls under building permits
• Fencers - no licence required for standard fencing

If a plumber or builder tells you they're "between renewals" or "just waiting on paperwork," walk away. A lapsed licence means they are not allowed to do the work. Full stop.

Step 2: Verify Their ABN

Every legitimate tradie operates with an Australian Business Number. Search it on the Australian Business Register. You are looking for three things:

• The ABN is active (not cancelled)
• The business name matches what they told you
• They are registered for GST (if they are quoting you more than $75,000 annually in work, they must be)

No ABN means no tax obligations, no traceability, and no accountability. If something goes wrong, you will struggle to make a claim against someone who does not officially exist as a business.

Step 3: Ask for a Certificate of Currency

Public liability insurance protects you if the tradie damages your property or someone gets injured on the job. Ask for a certificate of currency - this is a one-page document from their insurer that proves the policy is active right now.

• Public liability: $10 million to $20 million is standard. Anything under $5 million should make you ask questions.
• Workers compensation: Required by law if they have employees. If a subcontractor's employee gets hurt on your property without it, you could be liable.
• Professional indemnity: Relevant for builders and designers. Covers errors in their professional advice or designs.

Any tradie worth hiring will have this document ready to email within minutes. If they hesitate or say "I'll get it to you later," that is a red flag.

Step 4: Read Reviews Properly

A 4.8 star rating on Google means nothing if you do not look at how they got there. Here is what to actually check:

• Google Reviews: Look at the 1, 2, and 3-star reviews first. How did the tradie respond? A professional response to a bad review tells you more than 50 five-star ones.
• Facebook page: Check how recently they have posted. An active page with job photos shows pride in their work.
• HiPages profile: Verified reviews from actual jobs. Harder to fake than Google.
• Word of mouth: Ask your neighbours, local Facebook groups, or community boards. Real experiences from people in your area are gold.

Step 5: Ask for References

Request three references from jobs completed in the last six months. Call them. Ask these questions:

• Did the tradie finish on time?
• Was the final price close to the quote?
• Did they clean up after themselves?
• Would you hire them again?

A good tradie will hand over references without blinking. If they struggle to name three recent happy clients, that tells you something.

Step 6: Get a Written Quote

In Victoria, for jobs over $500, a tradie must provide a written quote or estimate before starting work. For domestic building work over $10,000, a written contract is required by law under the Domestic Building Contracts Act.

The quote should include:

• Full scope of work (exactly what they will and will not do)
• Materials to be used (brands and grades, not just "tiles" or "paint")
• Total cost including GST
• Start date and estimated completion date
• Payment schedule (never pay 100% upfront)

Red Flags: Walk Away If You See These

• No ABN or licence number on the quote - not a legitimate operation
• Cash only, no invoice - avoiding tax and leaving you with zero paper trail
• Won't provide a written quote - "it'll be around..." is not a quote
• Pressures you to decide today - legitimate tradies are busy, not desperate
• Demands a large deposit upfront - 10% deposit is normal, 50% before they start is not
• No insurance documents available - if they cannot produce a certificate of currency, they probably do not have one
• Cannot show previous work - no photos, no references, no portfolio

Questions to Ask Before You Hire

Print this list or save it on your phone. Ask every tradie these questions before you commit:

1. What is your licence or registration number? (Check it yourself on the VBA or ESV site)
2. Can you email me your certificate of currency for public liability?
3. Do you have workers compensation if you bring employees on site?
4. Can I see photos of three similar jobs you have completed recently?
5. Can you provide three references I can call?
6. Will you provide a written, itemised quote?
7. What is your expected timeline, start to finish?
8. What is your payment schedule?
9. What happens if the job goes over budget?
10. Who do I contact if there is an issue after the job is finished?

A tradie who answers all ten without hesitation is almost certainly someone you can trust. One who dodges half of them is someone you should avoid.

If you hire someone and the job goes wrong, you have rights. Read our guide on your rights under Australian Consumer Law for the step-by-step process of making a complaint, contacting Consumer Affairs Victoria, and lodging a VCAT claim.