Licences, insurance, and how to check them yourself.

Our credentials at a glance

How to verify our QBCC licence

The Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) runs a free public licence search. Use it on any plumber, gas fitter, builder or trades contractor in QLD before you sign a quote. It's the single most important 30 seconds you can spend before paying a deposit.

1. Go to the QBCC Licensee Search.
2. Choose "Search by Licence Number" (fastest) or "Search by Name".
3. Enter our licence number (—) or company name "Hills Plumbing & Gas".
4. Confirm: Status: Active, the licence classes include Plumbing and Gas Fitting, and there are no current sanctions.

If the licence status shows anything other than "Active", do not engage that contractor — Suspended, Cancelled or Surrendered licences mean they are not legally permitted to do contracted plumbing or gas work in QLD.

What "QBCC licensed" actually means for you

People hear "licensed" and assume it's a piece of paper on a wall. It's a lot more than that. When you hire a QBCC licensed plumber:

• The work has to be certified. Any plumbing or gas work that connects to a council main, gas main or hot water system must be done by a licensed plumber and certified — the certification is what the next owner's building inspector looks for.
• QBCC Statutory Home Warranty kicks in over $3,300. The premium is built into the quote, and you (the homeowner) are covered for non-completion and defective work without filling in a form.
• Complaints get investigated. If a licensed plumber does shoddy work and refuses to rectify, QBCC has the power to investigate, order rectification, and ultimately suspend the licence. There's a real watchdog with teeth.
• Insurance stays valid. Your home and contents insurer relies on the assumption that contracted work was done by licensed trades. Unlicensed work gives them a clean reason to deny a claim later.
• Resale value is protected. Buyers' building inspectors flag uncertified plumbing as a defect. Licensed-and-certified means it doesn't become a price-chip negotiation later.

The Plumbing & Drainage Act 2018 (Qld) — your rights in plain English

The Plumbing and Drainage Act 2018 (Qld) is the legislation governing all plumbing and drainage work in Queensland. It works alongside the Queensland Plumbing and Wastewater Code (QPW Code) and the Australian Standards (AS/NZS 3500 for plumbing, AS/NZS 5601 for gas). You don't need to read the whole Act, but it gives you these rights:

• The right to a licensed plumber. All notifiable and regulated work must be done by a licensed plumber or drainer. The Act defines what's notifiable — the plumber, not you, is responsible for the notification.
• The right to a compliance certificate on every notifiable job. You should receive a Form 4 or Form 9 (depending on local government area) once the work is signed off.
• The right to inspection. Some work classes require a local government inspection. The plumber arranges and pays for the inspection — it's built into the quote.
• The right to complain to the QBCC. If the work is defective and the plumber won't fix it, you can lodge a complaint with QBCC. They can issue direction-to-rectify orders that have legal force.
• Protection against unlicensed work. If a contractor does unlicensed plumbing in your home, you have grounds to require its replacement at their cost, and they face significant penalties under the Act.

Why unlicensed plumbing is illegal in QLD

Queensland is one of the strictest jurisdictions in Australia for plumbing and gas work. Unlike a wall paint or even some electrical work, there is essentially no DIY plumbing legally allowed for anything past the isolation valve on a fixture. And gas work — connecting any gas appliance, running any line — is licence-only, full stop.

The reason is real risk. Bad plumbing causes black-mould water damage, cross- contamination of drinking water, sewer backflow into homes. Bad gas work causes house fires, carbon monoxide poisoning and explosions. The licensing system exists because the cost of getting it wrong is paid by the homeowner, the neighbours, and the next owner — usually after the cowboy who did it is long gone.

Master Plumbers' Association Queensland

We've lodged our membership application with the Master Plumbers' Association of Queensland (MPAQ), the state's peak body for the plumbing industry. The membership process verifies QBCC licensing, track record, and ongoing training commitment. We'll update this page once approved.

How to spot a fake or sloppy operator

We've been called in to fix unlicensed work plenty of times. The warning signs are usually the same:

• No licence number on the quote or invoice (every QLD plumber must show it).
• No GST registered (check the ABN on ABN Lookup — Active ABN, GST registered).
• Won't put the quote in writing, just "tell you on the day".
• Cash-only or massive deposit upfront (>30% on a residential job).
• No compliance certificate offered on gas or notifiable work.
• Vehicle is unmarked and they can't produce a Certificate of Currency.

Any one of these is a yellow flag. Two or more is a no. The cost saving on the quote is never worth the rework cost six months later.