Kit home construction
Buying a shed or a kit home can be rewarding and save you money. Make sure you fully understand the risks before you commit to a home-building project.
Permit requirements
The Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) issues permits for building kit homes and sheds.
You won’t need a permit to do building work on your own land if it has a value of under $11,000. If the value is $11,000 or more (including GST), you will need:
- an owner-builder permit
- a QBCC-licensed builder to co-ordinate the project.
If you don’t do either, your building work will be unlawful.
Kit homes and sheds are generally for owner-builders.
The manufacturer will usually give you:
- building materials
- owner-builder support
- a construction manual.
If a licenced building contractor does the work for you or co-ordinates it, the 'value' is how much the licensed contractor would charge you for the work. It must include all their labour and material costs (even if you do the labour yourself).
Learn how to become an owner-builder
Find out if your co-ordinating builder has a licence (click on ‘search for QBCC licensee register’)
Inclusions
Always ask about what’s included in your purchase.
Building issues
Find out the following:
- What construction materials do they include?
- Has an engineer certified all structural aspects of the building?
- Do you have access to licensed tradespeople in your local area to perform the building work?
- Will you need to lay a concrete slab, or does it come with a steel floor system?
- Will you have to cut the materials to size yourself, or are they pre-cut to specifications?
- Who is responsible for site work, including clearing and disposing of rubbish?
Support services
Find out the following:
- Does it come with a manual?
- What is the timeframe for the company to make the kit?
- What support or assistance can you access during the process?
- How many deliveries will the company make?
Approval issues
Find out the following:
- Does it come with council plans and specifications?
- Who needs to pay council fees and lodge the plans?
Costs to you
Find out the following:
- Does the price include transport and delivery?
- Is there a separate charge for each delivery?
- What product warranties are in place?
- How much will it cost to make changes or amendments to the plans?
Choose your kit provider
You should try to find a company with a proven reputation in the industry. Ideally, they should be a member of an industry body, such as the:
To decide if a company is worth buying from:
- ask if they’re familiar with your local council rules and regulations
- get references from previous customers in your area (ask the company for contact details)
- read owner-builder magazines or websites to look for recommended suppliers
- ask if they can offer you lots of help and support.