Login
Landlords to save money on value-add constructions
Western Australian property owners will be able to save money while adding value to their homes after the government removed restrictions around low-risk non-habitable buildings.
The government will raise the requirement for home owners to employ a registered builder to complete the construction of 10a buildings, such as sheds, carports, and garages, to a new threshold of $50,000.
Under the current laws, any construction valued at over $20,000 must be performed by a registered builder, with the change set to take effect from 1 July 2026.
Building permit obligations will remain unchanged, with home owners still required to obtain council approval for construction to ensure compliance with the state’s building standards.
Research showed that a well-built shed or carport can add up to $20,000 in property value, with the reforms allowing home owners to construct their own as long as they have approval.
Commerce Minister Tony Buti said the change in the requirement for a registered builder had been brought about by the shifting nature of the construction market.
"Lifting the builder registration threshold for certain low-risk Class 10a buildings to $50,000 brings the rules into line with today’s costs without changing building permit requirements,” Buti said.
Buti said the changes would provide consumers with more choice, allow small businesses to take on a greater volume of work, and enable registered builders to focus on delivering housing projects.
“It means more choice for people building a shed, carport or garage and more opportunity for capable local businesses to compete for the work.”
“It helps free up registered builders to focus on higher-risk work and the housing pipeline, where Western Australians need them most.”
The raised threshold was introduced during a period of change in Western Australia’s construction sector, with the state recently increasing regulatory powers to restrict builders from operating while there are doubts over their financial viability.
Want to see more stories from trusted news sources?
Make Smart Property Investment a preferred news source on Google.
Click here to add Smart Property Investment as a preferred news source.