Welcome to RGIB’s Owner-Builder’s Insurance Centre

If you’re looking for Owner-Builder Insurance you have come to the right place.

Wider Coverage   *   More Affordable Premiums  *   Polices Tailored To Your Project  *  No Fine Print

If you’re planning on becoming an Owner Builder one of the first things you will have to do is arrange insurance for the project. Insurance is a compulsory requirement for all Owner-Builders in every State & Territory of Australia.

That’s where we come in because, RGIB Insurance Broking has decades of experience arranging Owner-Builder’s Insurance for people just like you – and just like getting the foundations right, you need to make sure your insurance cover is robust enough to meet any challenges which could ruin the experience for you.

While, taking out Owner-Builder’s Insurance through a ‘call centre’ seems simple enough; there are lots of material differences in each insurance companies policy wordings [fine print] which could render your insurance cover useless. The key to your success as an owner builder is insurance right from the start so that no matter what happens you can still succeed.

RGIB’ is not an insurance company; we’re a Nationwide Insurance Brokerage and that means we will act on your behalf to secure you the best insurance cover to suit your project’s requirements, and always on the best terms available.

In most cases we can secure your Owner-Builder’s Insurance on the same day you contact us; it’s an easy process with hardly any paperwork to complete:-

Call us on 1300 620520  [toll free phone] 

Index to Owner-Builder Insurance Topics

⇒ Definition of an Owner Builder
⇒ Definition of an Owner Builder
⇒ Options for Various Degrees of Insurance Cover
⇒ Owner-Builder Risks Can Include:
⇒ Arranging Your Owner-Builder Insurance with RGIB’
⇒ You’re safer with RGIB’s Owner-Builders Insurance Products & Services

Definition of an Owner Builder

While each State & Territory has their own legislation concerning Owner-Builders, it can be said that the  general definition of an Owner–Builder is a person who constructs or renovates a domestic building on his or her own land, and who is not otherwise in the business of building; also,

• an Owner Builder essentially acts as the general contractor on the building project, hiring individual sub-contractors (excavation, plumbers, carpenters, etc...) to undertake the building work needed to complete the project.



• Owner-Builders manage the building schedule and take on all the responsibility and liability that would normally fall to an outside building contractor. In that way, an owner-builder takes on all the risks and responsibilities of a registered builder.

So, are you planning on becoming an Owner-Builder?

Well, as mentioned earlier, before you embark on the project of a life-time you’ll need to make sure you have insurance in place and that’s where we come in.

Owner-Builder Insurance is a specialist insurance product; and because every building project is different it’s best to make sure the cover you choose is adjusted to meet your own project’s specific requirements.

While each State & Territory have their own legal and regulatory requirements affecting the rights and obligations of owner builders there is a common thread to an Owner-Builder’s legal liability; in that an Owner-Builder takes on all the risks and responsibilities of a registered builder, from the initial stage of site preparation through to the construction & completion of the project.

In some States & Territories the owner’s legal liability extends to a building warranty period of several years after completion of the project.

Generally speaking, some of the types of Laws, Regulations & Council By-Laws commonly affecting Owner-Builders are:-

• Safe Work Practice legislation - including Occupational Health & Safety OH&S;



• Compliance with the terms of any Building Act &/or Regulations of the State or Territory the project is located in;
• Legislation, regulations & by-laws concerning:-
• structural and building technique & materials;
• electrical, plumbing and gas services;
• security & public access; [holes in the ground, unfinished swimming pools etc’]



• Pollution & Contamination including the accidental release of harmful chemicals in to the environment & noise pollution; [imagine children playing on your site on a weekend when no one is about and they somehow get their hands on dangerous solvents or chemicals which cause them injury or even worse]



• Trade Practice Laws which may affect after you sell the property;



• Workers Compensation & Laws affecting Supervision of Sub-Contractors;



• Not to mention the countless number of Council By-Laws & any additional requirements contained in your building approval which might cause you to become legally liable as a result of negligence.

Thus, depending on the size scope & complexity of your building project, and the extent of your involvement, will determine the scope of insurance cover required; for instance where the owner takes part in the design stage there could be design related issues that for some time remain dormant and unnoticed until much later on down the track; often found by the building’s next owner who demands compensation.

Options for Various Degrees of Insurance Cover

While Public Liability Insurance of a broadform nature is the key component of an Owner-Builder’s insurance package, Owner-Builders should also consider purchasing insurance to protect the project against fire, theft and defective work; not to mention tools of trade cover and machinery breakdown insurance.

If protection work is required, the owner-builder must also obtain insurance for adjoining property protection during construction, and for 12 months following the project’s completion.

In Victoria for instance, if a property owner sells their house within six years of completing works as an Owner-Builder, they must provide warranty insurance cover to the purchaser of the property. They are also required to provide a technical inspection report that identifies defects. It’s a bit of a mine field really.

Buying Owner-Builder Insurance is not like buying home & contents insurance, it’s a much more complicated product then that; besides Owner-Builder’s Insurance is not a ‘prescribed contract of insurance’ which means you can’t rely on tough consumer protections otherwise available to persons aggrieved under their home and contents insurance policies.

Because Owner-Builders are required to undertake studies to ensure they are aware of their rights, risks and obligations in undertaking the project, authorities expect you to be aware of the risks involved and adequately insure against such – but, in reality a short coarse isn’t going to make you professional builder or a professional insurance broker.

Owner-Builder Risks Can Include:

Financial Risks

• Project cost increases as a result of poor estimating
• Rework due to faulty workmanship and/or non-compliance
• Variations from the original plans
• Loss by theft or fire on the site
• Site protection costs (security, safety)
• Occupational health and safety claims
• Adjoining property owner claims

Quality risks

• Adequacy of drawings and specifications
• Standard of workmanship by others
• Compliance with regulations (building, occupational health and safety, etc)
• Technical ability to direct and assess workmanship

Time risks

• Identification and engagement of suitable trades-people
• Coordination and continuity of work
• Completion of work

Future risks

• Cost of insuring prospective purchasers for several years after a Certificate of Final Inspection or Occupancy Certificate is issued [and/or similar such Certificate required by the particular State or Territory the project is located in]



• Claims by purchaser within required statutory time period

Being an Owner-Builder is challenge enough
Getting the right Insurance cover is one less challenge

Arranging Your Owner-Builder Insurance with RGIB’

No Project is Too Big or Too Small – from grand designs to a weekend shack with an outdoor dunny we can help any Owner-Builder secure the necessary level of affordable insurance cover without fuss.

Once you contact us, we’ll take down the necessary information about the project and then approach a number of our preferred insurance underwriters for their terms. Some insurance underwriters like inner city projects, others like regional and rural projects, some hate sea-side and waterfront locations while others love them. That’s why it pays to deal with an expert insurance brokerage specialising in Owner-Builder insurance – because we know the market and we’ll do the work for you.

No Obligation Free Quotes - we don’t earn a thing unless we’re successful in arranging your insurance. If we are successful we will earn a commission from whichever insurance underwriter issues the insurance policy. Depending on the complexity of the project we usually charge a broker fee of approximately 5% of the premium – but, once again only if we’re successful.

RGIB operates on a nationwide basis with offices and representatives in

New South Wales NSW	Queensland QLD	Western Australia WA	Victoria VIC
Northern Territory NT	South Australia SA	Australian Capital Territory ACT	Tasmania TAS

You’re safer with RGIB’s Owner-Builders Insurance Products & Services

It can be intimidating dealing with an insurer on your own especially if there is a problem with your claim - that's one of the many reasons having your insurance managed by an independent insurance expert is a better proposition.
Being part of a much bigger collective of clients holds the key to getting underwriters undivided attention because they know, that to get a look at the rest of our customers business, they will have to look after you - the same goes for claims when we phone a claims manager expressing our dissatisfaction concerning a client's claim, things happen fast.

For a No Obligation - Free Insurance Quote you have a couple of choices:-

Telephone us and speak directly with one of our experienced staff:             Email us Quick & Brief Details and we will phone you at a time requested: