Choose a plumber for your Perth property
In short
Find a licensed plumbing contractor who serves your Perth suburb and handles your type of job. Check their details through WA's official licence search and compare written quotes for the same work. For wastewater overflowing on your property, call Water Corporation on 13 13 75 immediately. For a leaking meter with an unclear source, contact Water Corporation before assuming it is a private plumbing repair.
Step 1
Decide who to call first
A tap repair and an overflowing sewer need different first steps. Water Corporation's advice distinguishes faults in its network from plumbing on your property. Do not try to identify underground ownership by the street boundary alone.
For routine work, take time to compare suitable contractors. For damage that needs urgent attention, explain what is happening when you call and ask what you can safely do while waiting.
Match the problem to the first call
| What you have noticed | First action |
|---|---|
| Wastewater overflowing on your property | Call Water Corporation on 13 13 75 immediately. If it identifies an internal property blockage, contact a plumber. |
| Water leaking around the meter, source unclear | Contact Water Corporation on 13 13 75. Its meter diagrams explain responsibility, including different arrangements for submeters. |
| A leaking tap or planned fixture replacement | Contact a licensed plumbing contractor and describe the fitting, access and preferred timing. |
| Signs of a hidden leak inside the home | Ask for a licensed plumber with leak detection skills and equipment before booking diagnosis. |
Step 2
Check the WA licence for the work
Use the WA Government's licence search to check the plumbing contractor's details. WA requires the appropriate licence for water supply, sanitary and drainage plumbing. Ask to see the attending plumber's licence card and check its expiry and scope of work.
If a tradesperson attends on behalf of a contractor, ask which licensed contractor is responsible for certifying the work. For gas hot-water work, check the relevant gas fitting licence as well; a plumbing licence alone does not establish permission for gas work.
Step 3
Describe the job and confirm suburb coverage
Give the suburb and postcode rather than just saying Perth. Ask whether the contractor covers that address, when they can attend and whether travel is charged. Confirm these details directly for your booking.
A useful brief might say: 'Kitchen tap leaking at the base in a ground-floor unit in Maylands. Photos attached. Repair preferred if practical. Please separate the attendance and diagnosis cost from any replacement quote.' Include parking, gate access and any shared water shut-off arrangements.
Step 4
Compare the proposed repair and total price
Ask for a written scope and price. Confirm call-out or diagnosis fees, parts, labour, any after-hours rate and GST where applicable. If the cause is unknown, agree how the plumber will seek approval for repairs after diagnosis.
For a blocked drain, clearing the blockage and replacing a section of pipe are different jobs. Ask what findings support a replacement recommendation and what the quote includes, such as excavation and restoring disturbed surfaces. WA consumer guidance recommends another opinion and quote when you are concerned about proposed additional work. Address the immediate problem first if delay would cause damage.
Step 5
Keep the repair records and required certificate
Keep the accepted quote, approved changes and invoice. Ask what was repaired and what remains unresolved, especially if the first visit provided only a temporary fix.
Ask the contractor whether your job requires a plumbing compliance certificate and keep it with your records. WA's consumer fact sheet explains that major work, including water heater replacements, requires a copy for the owner or occupier. If there is a workmanship concern, contact the responsible contractor first and use Building and Energy's guidance if it remains unresolved.
Sources and useful links
Sources checked 6 October 2026
- WA Government: Building and Energy licence search
Official WA lookup and separate plumbing and gas fitting licence guidance.
- WA Government: having plumbing work done
Consumer guidance on contractor responsibility, licence cards and compliance certificates.
- Water Corporation: sewer blockage or overflow
Who to call for wastewater overflow and the distinction between property plumbing and sewer mains.
- Water Corporation: leaking meter
Meter and submeter responsibility diagrams, fault contact and electrical hazard advice.
- Water Corporation: choosing a plumber for a leak
Why hidden leaks may need a plumber with specific detection skills and equipment.
- WA Government: choose your plumber wisely
Perth consumer advice first published in 2022; used for quote and second-opinion guidance, not current complaint statistics.
