Starting and completing works

After you’ve received approval for Household Resilience Program funding from the Department of Housing and Public Works, you can start the next process – making the approved improvements.

Do not start any works to improve your home until you receive this approval in writing.

Starting improvement works

Once your 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 give you evidence of their QBCC Home Warranty Insurance to confirm the works will be insured.

You will need to upload a copy of this insurance to the grants portal after the works are completed. Read more about Home Warranty Insurance.

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

Responsibilities

On completion of the works and before any payments are made by the program, the following documentation must be provided by the contractor to the homeowner for the relevant aspect of the resilience work being undertaken:

• Accepted development (no building certifier requirement)
  • Form 73 – Product Technical statement – May be used to demonstrate that a material, product, or form of construction fulfils the specific requirements of the Building Code of Australia
  • Form 30 – QBCC licensee aspect certificate for accepted development (self-assessable) – may be used to state that aspect work, that is prescribed accepted development (self-assessable) complies with the relevant provisions including any standards or codes applicable to the work

  or

• Building development approval (building certifier requirement)
  • Form 15 for design compliance or statement of compliance provided by engineer or supplier of proprietary products (e.g., cyclone shutters)
  • Form 12 – Aspect inspection certificate (appointed competent person) – for aspect work to an attached class 1 or class 2-9 buildings
  • Form 43 – Aspect certificate (QBCC licensee) - for the installation of proprietary items for aspect work to a single detached class 1a building and class 10 buildings and structures
  • Form 11 – Certificate/interim Certificate of Occupancy – for an attached class 1 or class 2-9 building
  • Form 21 – final inspection certificate - for single detached class 1a and class 10 buildings or structures certifying the work is compliant with the building development approval
• 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
• Evidence of QBCC Home Warranty Insurance details taken out by the contractor covering the full value of the quote or more (where applicable), prior to the work starting.

We recommend you contact your QBCC Licensee, local government or private certifier to confirm any requirements and the relevant building approval process that considers your specific circumstances, building criteria and location.

Upload these documents to the grants portal. You will receive instructions on how to do this.

Final inspection

Once our grants officer has reviewed the documentation, a qualified assessor will visit your home to complete an on-site, post-works inspection.

Payments

After the grants officer has confirmed that the works have been completed in line with the approved grant, the team will pay the funding directly to the contractor.

No payments are made directly to homeowners.

However, you will then pay the balance of your co-contribution (minimum 20% of the total quote), plus any additional costs for works not covered by the grant, to the contractor, once you’re satisfied that the works have been completed in full.

Protection against fraud

We have systems in place to prevent fraudulent activity. Before we approve an application, government officers inspect the property to ensure the works:

• will improve cyclone resilience outcomes
• are reasonably priced based on the scope of works.

When the works are completed, an officer reinspects the property to ensure the work has been completed to a satisfactory standard.

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

Resources

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

Next steps:

• Applying for funding

Contacts

For more information about the Household Resilience Program:

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