Information for contractors

The Household Resilience Programs assists eligible homeowners in coastal parts of Central and Northern Queensland to improve the resilience of their homes against cyclones.

Phase 4 is now open and accepting applications from homeowners.

In previous years, this program has supported many jobs and businesses in regional Queensland:

• More than 400 businesses have been engaged to complete works.
• 95% of contractors have been sourced directly from the local community and 99.8% of these have been Queensland businesses.
• More than $80 million of works have been approved.
• More than 250 full-time jobs have been supported.

How the program works

The Household Resilience Program enables eligible homeowners to apply for a grant to engage a QBCC-licensed contractor to improve their home to make it more cyclone resilient.

There is a 2-stage application process – confirming eligibility and providing a quote for the works from a QBCC-licensed contractor.

If approved, the homeowner nominates the types of eligible improvement works they require. A qualified assessor visits their home to assess whether the work will improve the structure’s cyclone resilience.

Our assessors also review the estimated price for the works. This forms the basis of the grant allocation – 80% of the estimated costs up to a maximum of $15,000, including GST.

After the contractor completes the works satisfactorily, funds are paid directly to the contractor. The homeowner must pay a minimum co-contribution of 20%. They must also pay the contractor any outstanding costs for works not covered by the grant allocation.

Improvement options for homeowners

Specific improvement options available to homeowners under the program include:

• full roof replacement and roof structure tie-down upgrades (e.g. strapping battens to rafters and rafters to top plates) to AS 1684.3:2021*
• roof structure tie-down upgrades using an external over-batten system installed to
  HB 132.2:1999 Structural Upgrading of Older Houses, Part 2: Cyclone Areas
• replacement of existing garage doors and frames to withstand wind pressure tests from AS 4505:2012 wind-rated garage doors
• window protection, including cyclone shutters or screens, to withstand debris impact tests to AS 1170.2:2021** and wind pressure tests to AS 4055:2021 Wind Loads for Housing
• tie-downs of external structures (e.g. sheds) to withstand wind loads from AS 4055:2021 Wind Loads for Housing
• replacement of existing external hollow core doors with solid external grade doors, including update of lockset and reinforcement of door frame to withstand wind loads from AS 4055:2021 Wind Loads for Housing

Notes:

* Cyclone Testing Station – educational videos (James Cook University Australia)
** Technical note 4 – Simulated windborne debris impact testing (PDF, 768KB)

Read more about the eligible improvement works:

• external solid core doors (PDF, 245.2 KB)
• external structures (PDF, 249.4 KB)
• garage doors (PDF, 245.1 KB)
• over-batten system (PDF, 311.4 KB)
• roof replacement (PDF, 332.6 KB)
• window protection (PDF, 278.9 KB) .

Contracts

Standard QBCC contracts are required for all works. These include:

• Level 1 – Renovation, Extension and Repair Contract – for renovations, extension and repair on existing homes for contracts $3,301 to $19,999
• Level 2 – Renovation, Extension and Repair Contract – for renovations, extension and repairs on existing homes for contracts $20,000 and over.

Insurance

Before works can start, the contractor must show the homeowner evidence of their QBCC Home Warranty Insurance policy covering the full value of the quote or more (where applicable).

Documentation

After completing the works, and before payments are made by any party, the contractor must provide this documentation to the homeowner:

• form 15 – for design compliance or a statement of compliance provided by engineer or supplier of proprietary products (e.g. cyclone shutters)
• form 43 – for the installation of proprietary items
• form 21 – for certification of structural works
• copy of the contractor’s invoice:
  • addressed to the homeowner (full name)
  • referencing the Household Resilience Program application number
  • itemising and quantifying the works completed.

An assessor then inspects the works.

Payment of grant funds

Once the assessor confirms that the works have been completed in line with the approved grant, we pay the funding directly to the contractor.

The homeowner also pays the balance of their co-contribution, plus any additional costs for works not covered by the grant, to the contractor when satisfied that the works have been completed in full.

Contact us about any changes to your ABN, banking details or company name to keep your vendor details current.

Contacts

Get more information about the Household Resilience Program:

• phone: 07 3007 4485 (option 1)
• email: strongerhomes@epw.qld.gov.au