Why Verifying Licences Matters
Hiring an unlicensed tradie in Queensland exposes you to serious risks. Unlicensed work is not covered by the Queensland Home Warranty Scheme, meaning you have no recourse if the work is defective. Your home insurance may void a claim if unlicensed work contributes to damage — for example, an electrical fire caused by unlicensed wiring. Unlicensed tradies do not carry the required insurance, so if they are injured on your property, you could be liable. And critically, unlicensed plumbing and electrical work can be genuinely dangerous — faulty wiring causes house fires, and improper plumbing can contaminate drinking water. Taking 2 minutes to verify a licence could save you thousands of dollars and keep your family safe.
- •Unlicensed work is not covered by QLD Home Warranty Scheme
- •Home insurance may void claims related to unlicensed work
- •You could be liable if an unlicensed worker is injured on your property
- •Faulty unlicensed work can cause fires, floods, and health hazards
- •Verification takes 2 minutes and is completely free
How to Check a QBCC Licence (Plumbers & Electricians)
The Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) licences plumbers, electricians, and most building trades. To verify a licence, visit qbcc.qld.gov.au and use the 'Check a licence' search tool. You can search by the tradie's name, business name, or licence number. The search will show the licence status (current, suspended, or cancelled), the licence class and conditions, any disciplinary actions, and the expiry date. For plumbers, look for a 'Plumbing and Drainage' licence class. For electricians, look for an 'Electrical' licence class. A legitimate tradie will happily provide their licence number when asked — if they are evasive or refuse, that is a major red flag.
- •Visit qbcc.qld.gov.au and use 'Check a licence'
- •Search by name, business name, or licence number
- •Check: licence status, class, conditions, disciplinary history
- •Plumbers: look for 'Plumbing and Drainage' licence class
- •Electricians: look for 'Electrical' licence class
- •If a tradie refuses to provide their licence number, do not hire them
How to Check a Locksmith Licence (Office of Fair Trading)
In Queensland, locksmiths are licensed through the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) under the Security Providers Act. Locksmiths must hold a security licence to legally operate. You can verify a locksmith's licence by contacting the OFT on 13 74 68 or searching online through the Queensland Government's licence check service. The licence should be current and in the correct category for locksmithing services. Be aware that some locksmiths operating through online platforms may be based interstate and not hold a Queensland licence — always check. A licensed locksmith in Queensland has undergone background checks, which is important since they have the skills to bypass your security.
- •Locksmiths need a QLD security licence from Office of Fair Trading
- •Contact OFT on 13 74 68 or check online
- •Licensed locksmiths have undergone criminal background checks
- •Be wary of interstate operators without QLD licences
- •The licence must be current and in the locksmithing category
How to Check an HVAC Technician's Licence (ARC & QBCC)
HVAC technicians in Queensland need two types of licensing. For any work involving refrigerant (which includes almost all AC repair and installation), they must hold an Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) licence. You can verify this at arctick.org or by calling 1300 884 483. For installation work that involves electrical or plumbing components, they also need the relevant QBCC licence. A fully licensed HVAC technician will hold both an ARC licence (for refrigerant handling) and a QBCC licence (for installation work). If a technician only holds one, they may not be authorised to perform all aspects of the job.
- •ARC licence: required for any work with refrigerant
- •Verify at arctick.org or call 1300 884 483
- •QBCC licence: required for installation work
- •A fully qualified HVAC tech holds both ARC and QBCC licences
- •Check both before allowing AC repair or installation
Red Flags: Signs of an Unlicensed Operator
Watch out for these warning signs that a tradie may not be properly licensed: they demand cash-only payment with no receipt or invoice, they refuse to provide a licence number or become evasive when asked, their quote is dramatically lower than competitors (legitimate tradies have insurance and compliance costs), they have no business name, ABN, or professional branding, they found you through a social media marketplace with no verifiable business presence, they cannot provide proof of insurance, or they pressure you to decide immediately without providing a written quote. Through UrgentTradie, every tradie is pre-verified for current licensing and insurance, removing the guesswork and risk for customers.
- •Cash-only with no receipt or invoice
- •Refuses to provide licence number
- •Quote dramatically below competitors
- •No business name, ABN, or professional presence
- •Found through social media with no verifiable history
- •Cannot show proof of insurance
- •Pressures for immediate decision without written quote