Find the trade for your job
In short
Use a plumber for water pipes and fixtures, an electrician for fixed wiring and ceiling fans, and a fencing contractor for fence repairs or replacement. A leaking shower or renovation may need several trades once the cause and scope are established. Check the licence required for the work in your state or territory before booking.
Step 1
Match the job to a starting trade
Choose by the work involved, rather than the room it is in. A bathroom tap and a bathroom light need different trades. The table gives you a starting point for an enquiry; an inspection may change the scope.
For a small general repair, describe the exact task to a handyman or maintenance business. That label does not authorise electrical, plumbing, gas or other work requiring a licence.
Common home jobs and who to ask
| Your job | Starting trade |
|---|---|
| Leaking tap, pipe or toilet | Plumber. Describe where the water appears and when it leaks. |
| Blocked sink or drain | Plumber or drainer whose licence covers the work. Ask about diagnosis and clearing before repair. |
| Install or replace a ceiling fan, light or power point | Electrician. Include whether there is an existing fitting and wiring. |
| Water escaping from a shower | Plumber to investigate suspected pipe or fixture leaks; bathroom repair or waterproofing specialist if the shower enclosure or waterproofing is involved. |
| Damaged fence or gate | Fencing contractor. Timber, metal, glass and masonry work can require different skills and licence categories. |
| Paint walls or repair surface damage | Painter for preparation and paint; plasterer if plasterboard needs repair. Investigate damp before covering it. |
| Move a wall or renovate several parts of the home | Builder or renovation contractor with the appropriate licence. Structural changes may also need an engineer and approvals. |
Step 2
Check whether the job needs more than one trade
A wet patch beside a shower does not establish the cause. Tell the contractor whether it appears after showering, where it is, and what has already been repaired. Ask what they will inspect and whether their quote covers diagnosis, the repair, or both. Replacing grout or silicone should not be presented as proof that an underlying waterproofing problem is fixed.
Replacing a timber fence may be one fencing job. A brick fence, a retaining wall beside it, or a pool barrier changes the work and the checks needed. Share photos of the whole area and ask about boundary agreement, council approvals and any pool safety requirements before arranging replacement.
For a ceiling fan, ask the electrician to assess the wiring, controls and mounting location. If separate building work is needed, confirm who arranges it. For a bathroom renovation, identify who coordinates plumbing, electrical work, waterproofing and tiling, and who is responsible for each part.
Step 3
Check the licence for the work and location
Licence rules differ between states and territories. Check the business named on the quote, the current licence status and the category of work it covers. A business name, an ABN or experience in a related trade does not establish permission to do your job.
In Queensland, building work generally requires a QBCC licence when its value exceeds $3,300, with exceptions and additional requirements for particular work. Plumbing, drainage and gasfitting have licensing requirements regardless of value. Electrical licensing is handled separately by the Electrical Safety Office. Check the regulator's rules for your exact scope rather than using the price alone.
In NSW, residential fencing work over $5,000 in labour and materials, including GST, requires a contractor licence. Plumbing, draining and gasfitting require the appropriate licence or certificate regardless of cost. In Victoria, electrical installation work must be arranged through a registered electrical contractor, with a licensed electrician carrying out the work and a Certificate of Electrical Safety supplied.
These are examples, not a national threshold. For other locations or trade categories, use the Australian Business Licence and Information Service to find the relevant requirements, then confirm them with the regulator. Ask about council, strata or landlord permission where it applies to your property.
Step 4
Send a description a contractor can act on
Describe what you can observe, what result you want and what you are unsure about. Include your suburb, useful photos, approximate measurements, access restrictions and preferred timing. For example: ‘Replace the damaged timber side fence, approximately 12 metres long. The gate also needs replacing. Photos show the slope and side access. Please include removal of the old fence and confirm what needs agreeing with the neighbour.’
When a contractor responds, confirm that the proposed trade and scope fit the task, then compare the written quote and complete your own hiring checks.
Sources and useful links
Sources checked 6 October 2026
- QBCC: when you need a licence
Queensland thresholds, occupational licensing and handyman boundaries.
- QBCC: finding a licensed contractor
Check licence status and whether the licence covers the work.
- Queensland Electrical Safety Office: licence search
Electrical contractor licensing is separate from QBCC building licensing.
- QBCC: waterproofing warning signs
Moisture symptoms can indicate an underlying waterproofing defect.
- NSW Government: fencing work
Residential fencing threshold and categories covering different fence materials.
- NSW Government: plumbing, draining and gasfitting
Licensing requirements regardless of job cost.
- Energy Safe Victoria: electrical workers
Registered electrical contractors, licensed electricians and completion certificates.
- Australian Business Licence and Information Service
Government service for locating requirements by activity and location; it is not a contractor licence register.
