Checking a pool builder before you sign

Before you sign with a pool builder, check their licence and licence history on QBCC's register, get the contract in writing, and know three QBCC rules: you generally have five business days to withdraw, the deposit is limited (10% for contracts from $3,301 to $19,999 and 5% for contracts of more than $20,000), and home warranty insurance is compulsory for residential construction work valued at more than $3,300.Source: QBCC, Deposits and progress payments (page reviewed 27 Jun 2025), Cooling-off period (page reviewed 27 Jun 2025), What is home warranty insurance (page reviewed 11 May 2025) and Find a licensed contractor (page reviewed 12 Dec 2025), all read 5 Nov 2026.

1. Check the licence and its history

QBCC recommends its online search for a local contractor, where you pick the type of work, a location and a radius. It says the licensee register goes further and gives a complete licence history. You can also phone QBCC on 139 333 to confirm a licence. Our pool builder directory is built from QBCC's licensed contractors register and shows the date each licence was last checked, but status changes, so confirm on QBCC's own search before you sign. How the directory works.

2. Get a written contract and use the cooling-off period

QBCC says all contracts for building work valued at over $3,300 must include advice about your right to a cooling-off period. It says you generally have five business days to withdraw, starting the day after you receive a signed copy of the entire contract including the plans and specifications. To withdraw you give the contractor a written, signed notice, and you pay the contractor's costs. QBCC lists cases where you cannot withdraw, such as when you had legal advice from a practising lawyer before signing, so read its page before you rely on it.

3. Know the deposit limit

These are QBCC's figures on a page reviewed 27 June 2025. The page does not say which row a contract of exactly $20,000 falls under, so ask QBCC if yours is on that line. It also allows a deposit of up to 20% in limited circumstances, and says that if you pay more than the lawful deposit you will not be entitled to recover the excess. Rules and amounts can change, so check the page before you pay.

4. Ask about home warranty insurance

QBCC says home warranty insurance is compulsory for residential construction work valued at more than $3,300, including materials, labour and GST. It describes the premium as one the contractor pays QBCC, which is included in your contract and paid before work begins. QBCC's page does not name swimming pools, so ask your builder to show you in writing that cover is in place for your job and what it covers, rather than assuming it.

5. What happens at the end

A certifier inspects the fence before the pool is filled and issues the final certificate: building a pool in order and who signs off a new pool. We have not covered which licence class a pool job needs, so check that on QBCC's search.

How this page was made: the PoolPreCert team read each page listed under Sources on 5 November 2026 and wrote this in plain words. The dates beside each source are the dates those pages show. PoolPreCert is not part of QBCC or the Queensland Government, and only a licensed pool safety inspector decides whether a pool meets the standard.

When your pool is finished, the self-check shows what to look at before an inspector visits. A licensed inspector decides.