Verify your builder
How to Verify a Builder's Insurance Coverage
Insurance paperwork protects both you and the builder if something goes wrong. Rather than assume it is in place, ask for it and read it. Every reputable builder is used to this request and can produce documents in a day or two.
Public source: SA.GOV.AU: Building Indemnity Insurance (BII) consumer guideFour policies to check
How to request a Certificate of Currency from an Adelaide builder
- 1
Ask by email, in writing
Send one email listing the four policies you want a Certificate of Currency for: public liability, contract works, workers compensation, and Building Indemnity Insurance (BII). Written requests give you a paper trail.
- 2
Check the named insured matches the builder
The Certificate must name the exact legal entity you are contracting with, not a related company or the marketing brand. If the names differ, ask why in writing before signing.
- 3
Check the policy is current
Every Certificate has an "effective" and "expiry" date. The effective date must be before today; the expiry date must sit past your expected practical completion. If it does not, ask for the renewal Certificate before sign-off.
- 4
Check the sums insured are appropriate
Public liability should be at least $20 million. Contract works should cover the full construction value of your home. Workers compensation must be South Australian. BII covers your specific project up to the statutory limit.
- 5
Save all four Certificates to your project file
Give copies to your conveyancer and to anyone financing the build. If you ever need to make a claim, they are the first documents an insurer will ask to see.
Watch: Homes By Homes podcast, episode 134
Explained: New Buyer Protection Laws from 1st July 2026
Recent reforms cover BII more directly than any episode we have done. Worth watching before you request Certificates of Currency.
Section 1
What to ask for
Ask the builder for a Certificate of Currency for each policy they carry. A Certificate of Currency is a one-page summary produced by the insurer confirming the policy is active for the specified period. It is not the full policy document. Reputable builders produce these on request without hesitation.
Section 2
The policies to look for
Public liability insurance (covers injury and damage to third parties during works). Contract works or construction insurance (covers the build itself against fire, storm, theft during construction). Workers compensation (covers the builder's workers if injured on your site). Building Indemnity Insurance (specific policy relevant to South Australian residential builds).
Section 3
What to check on each Certificate
The insured party name matches the licenced entity you already verified with CBS. The policy is current for the whole expected build window. The sum insured is meaningful (public liability is typically at least a substantial multi-million figure appropriate to the project). The insurer is a recognised Australian general insurer.
Section 4
Building Indemnity Insurance
This is the SA-specific residential building insurance. It protects the homeowner if the builder cannot complete the work or fails to fix defects due to death, disappearance, or insolvency. Ask the builder to confirm they will provide it for your project before work starts, and get the Certificate of Currency once it is issued.
Section 5
Red-flag responses to the request
"You do not need to see it, we are covered" is not an acceptable answer. Neither is "we will send it later." Neither is a photocopied Certificate that is more than a year old. A builder who cannot or will not produce current Certificates is one you should walk away from.
Section 6
What to do with the certificates
Keep them with your project file. If the build spans a renewal window, ask for the fresh certificate at renewal time. Most insurers will happily reissue for a client-of-the-insured on request.
What to do next
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Learn moreThis is general due-diligence guidance drawn from public sources and industry practice. It is not legal, financial, or building advice. Always confirm current licence and insurance requirements directly with Consumer and Business Services SA, and consult a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.