Starting and completing works

After the nominated person receives approval for Strata Resilience Program funding from the Department of Housing and Public Works, they can start the next process – starting improvement works.

Do not start any works to improve the property until you receive program approval in writing.

Starting improvement works

Once the application is approved, you must engage a QBCC-licensed contractor to complete the approved works. Here are some things to be aware of before you start.

Insurance

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

Read more about Home Warranty Insurance.

For more information on whether the strata property is insurable, see the QBCC website.

Initial deposit

You may also need to pay the contractor an initial deposit. The deposit should usually be no more than:

• 10% of the quoted price for works up to $20,000
• 5% when the quoted price exceeds $20,000.

However, this could vary depending on the work to be completed and materials needed.

Responsibilities

While works are being completed, the body corporate (or nominated representative) and the contractor are responsible for coordinating all works, including:

• site safety
• property protection
• temporary accommodation as required.

Progress payments

We pay the grant funding directly to the contractor after the body corporate has made its contribution.

Progress payments must be lodged through the grant portal with evidence of the completed stage of works.

Read about how program funding works, including progress payments.

If you request a grant payment, you must provide supporting photos that detail the progress of work. If we can’t assess the progress from photos, we may need to conduct a site inspection, which may delay progress payments.

Changes in scope

If the scope of work changes while work is in progress, notify us immediately. The program will fund only eligible resilience strategies. We may adjust or withdraw grant funding if this scope is modified.

Contact us on (07) 3007 4485 (option 3) if you have questions about scope of work changes.

Completing resilience strategies

Documentation

After the contractor completes the works, but before the program makes any final payments, the contractor must provide this documentation to the body corporate to submit through the portal:

• form 15 – for design compliance or 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
• the contractor's invoice:
  • addressed to the body corporate (full name)
  • referencing the Strata Resilience Program application number
  • itemising and quantifying the works completed

They should also provide evidence of their QBCC Home Warranty Insurance, covering the full value of the quote or more (where applicable), before the work starts.

Submit these documents to the Strata Resilience Program team via the grant portal.

Final inspection

After we assess the documentation, a program assessor will visit your property to complete an on-site, post-works inspection.

Payments

After we confirm that the works have been completed in line with the approved grant and contractual payment schedule, we will pay the funding directly to the contractor.

We can’t make payments directly to the body corporate or property owners.

If the scope of work has been reduced during the works, we will adjust the grant value to cover 75% of the eligible works completed on site.

Protection against fraud

The program has systems to prevent fraudulent activity. Before we approve an application, program assessors inspect the property to ensure the works:

• are in line with the eligible resilience strategies
• will improve cyclone resilience outcomes
• are reasonably priced based on the scope of works.

When the works are completed, a program assessor reinspects the property to ensure the work has been completed in line with the approved grant application.

Only then do we pay the grant funds to the contractor.

Resources

• Resources – James Cook University
• North Queensland Strata Title Inspection Program
• Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC)
• National Construction Code
• Resources – QBCC
• Cyclone resilient building guidance for Queensland homes (December 2019) (Queensland Reconstruction Authority)

Next step

• Applying for funding

Contacts

For more information about the Strata Resilience Program:

• phone: (07) 3007 4485 (option 3)
• email: strataresilience@epw.qld.gov.au