What Is NSW Fair Trading?
NSW Fair Trading is a division of the NSW Department of Customer Service that administers licensing and consumer protection for the building and construction industry in New South Wales. It issues home building licences, trade licences, and contractor licences, and enforces compliance with the Home Building Act 1989 — the primary legislation governing residential building work in NSW.
Key Functions
NSW Fair Trading is responsible for:
- Licensing — issuing and renewing licences for builders, tradespeople (electricians, plumbers, gasfitters, air conditioning installers), and specialist contractors
- Home building compensation — administering the Home Building Compensation Fund (managed by icare) that protects homeowners when a licensed builder cannot complete work or rectify defects due to death, disappearance, or insolvency
- Complaint handling — investigating complaints about defective or incomplete building work and facilitating resolution
- Compliance and enforcement — prosecuting unlicensed contracting, issuing penalty notices, and taking disciplinary action
- Consumer education — publishing guides on hiring tradespeople, understanding contracts, and managing building disputes
NSW Licence Search
NSW Fair Trading maintains a public licence check tool (Service NSW) where you can search by licence number, name, or business name. The results show licence type, status, conditions, and any disciplinary action.
Licence Types in NSW
| Licence Type | Scope |
|---|---|
| Contractor Licence | Contracts directly with homeowners and employs others |
| Qualified Supervisor Certificate | Supervises building or trade work for a contractor |
| Tradesperson Certificate | Carries out specialised trade work (plumbing, electrical, etc.) |
| Owner-Builder Permit | Allows owner to manage their own building project |
How It Relates to Licence Verification
NSW Fair Trading is the authoritative source for all home building and trade licences in New South Wales. TradieVerify integrates NSW licence data so you can verify a tradesperson’s credentials alongside practitioners from every other state. A current, unrestricted NSW Fair Trading licence confirms the holder meets qualification, insurance, and financial requirements.