How to Choose a Plumber in Australia

Why licensing matters in Australia

Plumbing in Australia is strictly regulated — and for good reason. Faulty plumbing can contaminate drinking water, cause structural damage from leaks, and create serious health hazards. Every state and territory requires plumbers to hold a valid licence before they can legally carry out most plumbing, drainage, or gas-fitting work.

Hiring an unlicensed plumber exposes you to real risk: dodgy workmanship with no insurance backing, voided home insurance claims, and potential liability if something goes wrong. Always verify the licence before anyone touches your pipes.

What work legally requires a licensed plumber

You cannot legally do most plumbing work yourself in Australia. A licensed plumber is required for:

Installing, repairing, or replacing hot water systems
Any work on gas lines or gas appliances
Connecting or disconnecting to the mains water supply
Installing or repairing toilets, sinks, showers, and baths (anything connected to the sewerage or water supply)
Stormwater and drainage work
Installing irrigation systems connected to the mains

What you can DIY (with care):

Replacing tap washers and O-rings on existing taps
Unblocking a drain with a plunger
Replacing a shower head (where no pipe work is involved)
Replacing the flexi hoses under a sink (in most states, though this is worth double-checking locally)

If in doubt, call a plumber. The fine for unlicensed plumbing work can reach thousands of dollars, and insurance won't cover damage from unlicensed work.

How to verify a plumber's licence by state

Always check the licence before you accept a quote. Here is how to do it in each state:

New South Wales NSW Fair Trading maintains the public licence register. Search online at licence.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au using the plumber's name, business name, or licence number. Look for a current "Plumbing contractor licence" or "Tradesperson certificate — plumbing". Apprentices cannot work unsupervised.

Victoria The Victorian Building Authority (VBA) regulates plumbers. Check the register at vba.vic.gov.au under "Find a registered practitioner". Plumbers in Victoria must hold both a registration (competency) and a licence (to contract). Ask to see both.

Queensland The Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) runs the licence register. Search at qbcc.qld.gov.au/licensee-search. Look for a current "Plumbing and Drainage" licence class.

South Australia Consumer and Business Services (CBS) manages the register at cbs.sa.gov.au. Search under "Plumber/gas fitter" licensing.

Western Australia The Building and Energy division of the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety maintains the register. Search at buildingcommission.wa.gov.au or call 1300 489 099.

Australian Capital Territory ACT Access Canberra handles licensing. Check at accesscanberra.act.gov.au.

Tasmania and Northern Territory Contact Consumer, Building and Occupational Services (CBOS) in Tasmania and NT Consumer Affairs in the NT for licence verification.

When you find the licence, confirm:

The licence is current (not expired or suspended)
The name matches the person or business on the quote
The licence class covers the work they are doing (e.g., drainage, gas fitting)

Questions to ask before hiring

Before anyone starts work, get clear answers to these questions:

Are you licensed for this specific type of work? Ask for their licence number and verify it yourself.
Are you insured? They should carry public liability insurance (minimum $5 million is standard) and, for larger jobs, home warranty insurance.
Will you provide a written quote? Never accept a verbal estimate alone. Get it in writing, itemised.
Is your quote fixed price or hourly? Fixed price is safer for well-defined jobs. If hourly, ask for a time estimate in writing.
Does your quote include GST? Most quotes exclude it — add 10% to compare fairly.
Is there a call-out fee? This is charged just for turning up, regardless of whether work is done. It ranges from $0 to $150+. Confirm upfront.
Will you lodge the compliance certificate? After most plumbing work, a Certificate of Compliance (or equivalent) must be lodged with the relevant authority. This is the plumber's responsibility, not yours — but confirm it is included.
Who actually does the work? Some businesses sub-contract. Make sure the person on-site is also licensed.

Getting multiple quotes

For any job over a few hundred dollars, get at least three quotes. This is not just about price — it also tells you whether one plumber is significantly cheaper (possible red flag) or significantly more expensive than the others.

Tips for comparing quotes:

Make sure each quote covers exactly the same scope of work
Ask each plumber to inspect in person before quoting — phone quotes are unreliable
For urgent jobs (burst pipe, gas leak), it is fine to call one plumber immediately, but ask for the fee breakdown before they start
Written quotes are valid for a set period (usually 30 days) — confirm this

Typical costs in Australia (2025)

Plumbing costs vary by state, job complexity, and time of day. These are approximate ranges:

Job	Approximate cost
Call-out fee	$80 – $150
Hourly rate	$120 – $200/hr
Leaking tap repair	$150 – $350
Toilet replacement	$400 – $900
Hot water system replacement (electric)	$800 – $1,800
Hot water system replacement (gas)	$1,200 – $2,500
Blocked drain (basic)	$200 – $500
Blocked drain (CCTV camera + water jet)	$400 – $1,200
Burst pipe repair	$300 – $700
New bathroom rough-in	$3,000 – $8,000+

After-hours, weekend, and public holiday rates are typically 50–100% higher. Always ask what the after-hours rate is before the call-out.

Note on drain cameras and water jets: these are often charged separately on top of the hourly rate. Ask specifically whether these tools are included in the quoted rate or billed as extras.

Red flags to watch for

Walk away — or at least ask hard questions — if a plumber:

Cannot provide a licence number or gets evasive when you ask
Refuses to give a written quote and only speaks in rough estimates
Quotes significantly lower than everyone else without a clear explanation
Demands full payment upfront before any work begins (a deposit of 10–20% is reasonable; full payment is not)
Does not mention a compliance certificate for notifiable work
Pressures you to decide immediately, particularly after "discovering" additional problems during the job
Arrives in an unmarked vehicle with no ID and no company details
Cannot provide evidence of insurance

Also be cautious of tradespeople found via unsolicited door-knocking. Legitimate plumbers do not cold-call homes.

Using online directories and review sites

These platforms are useful for finding plumbers and reading reviews:

hipages.com.au — Post a job and receive quotes from local plumbers. Tradespeople are verified on the platform.
serviceseeking.com.au — Similar model; useful for comparing quotes quickly.
truelocal.com.au — Local business directory with reviews.
Google Reviews — Search the business name and read recent reviews. Look at the one-star reviews carefully, not just the average.
Word of mouth — Ask neighbours, friends, or local Facebook community groups. This is often the most reliable source.

When reading reviews, look for patterns rather than individual comments. A business with 200 reviews and a 4.2 average is generally more trustworthy than one with 12 reviews and a 5.0 average.

Stormwater and drainage: a hidden cost

Stormwater drainage is a common and expensive problem for Australian homeowners, particularly for houses with long driveways. A few things to know:

Stormwater and sewage are separate systems. Stormwater (from roofs, driveways) drains directly without treatment. Sewage goes to the treatment plant. They must never be connected.
Blocked stormwater drains can cost $500 to $10,000+ to fix depending on the extent of the blockage or collapse. Tree roots are a frequent cause.
Home insurance typically does not cover stormwater drainage repairs unless the damage results in structural subsidence.
Gutter guards (available at Bunnings and hardware stores) help prevent leaves and debris from entering downpipes and blocking the system. They are worth fitting, particularly if you have overhanging trees.
Know where your pipes are. The drainage diagram from your property's conveyancing documents shows the layout. If you cannot find it, your local council may have a copy on file.

After the job: compliance certificates

For most plumbing work beyond minor repairs, your plumber must issue a Certificate of Compliance and lodge it with the relevant authority (the process varies by state). This certificate:

Confirms the work meets the Plumbing Code of Australia and state regulations
Is required for insurance purposes
Is essential documentation when you sell the property

If your plumber does not mention a compliance certificate for work that requires one, ask about it directly. Failure to lodge can create legal issues for you as the property owner down the track.