Homeowners urged to watch out for unlicensed storm chasers

‘Make sure you know who’s knocking after the storm’: Homeowners are being urged to only use appropriately licensed tradespeople to repair damage as door knockers can be dodgy.

​Homeowners are being urged to only use appropriately licensed tradespeople to repair damage as door knockers can be dodgy. (Picture: File)

FOLLOWING the destructive storms that have recently struck Queensland, homeowners are being urged to be cautious when calling on tradespeople to repair the damage, especially door knockers.

The Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) has warned residents about the potential presence of ‘natural disaster chasers’ and advised home and property owners to be careful with who they hire.

QBCC Commissioner, Brett Bassett, said owners risked sustaining more damage by using random people who showed up at their door offering to quote for, or perform building work.

“If you have insurance, check with your insurer first about how your repairs will be dealt with,” Mr Bassett said.

“They normally have a set procedure with pre-approved, licensed tradespeople to undertake work.

“You need to liaise with your insurer, even if you want the damage fixed urgently.”

Mr Bassett said anyone needing a tradesperson should always use the free licence check on the QBCC website to confirm if a person is appropriately licensed.

“Unscrupulous or unqualified individuals will not work to the same standard of a QBCC licensee, and the work won’t be protected by the Queensland Home Warranty Scheme,” he said.

Homeowners should ensure the work is accompanied by a written contract, understand who they are contracting with and not be pressured into signing anything without fully understanding it.

The QBCC website also offers a free Find a Local Contractor search to help consumers locate a local, licensed and skilled tradesperson.

Originally published as