Last reviewed 6 November 2026. This is general information for homeowners, not legal advice. Rules and thresholds change, so check the linked source, Building Commission NSW or your council for your own situation.
Most of the work on this site, from house washing to hedge trimming, is not a licensed trade, but every job still sits inside NSW rules on licences, wash water, asbestos, heights, trees, waste, pools and heritage. This page sets out what applies, what TPS Trade Connect checks, and where your rights sit when an independent tradie quotes and does the work.
Our role: a matching service, not the contractor
TPS Trade Connect matches your job with vetted, independent tradies across Sydney's Northern Beaches, North Shore and Eastern Suburbs. We do not do the work, quote for it or contract for it. The tradie you choose quotes you directly and contracts with you under their own ABN, insurance and licence. Homeowners pay nothing to use the service, and you are under no obligation to hire.
Before a tradie receives a job from us, they pass six checks (see how we vet):
- Identity and ABN: photo ID matched to an active Australian Business Number.
- Licence where the work needs one: checked on the NSW public register, class included.
- Public liability insurance: a current certificate of currency, with the policy limit on file.
- Work history: photos of recent jobs nearby and two references, or an equivalent track record.
- Conduct: written quotes, the Australian Consumer Law and our code of conduct.
- Ongoing feedback: we ask how it went after each match, and remove tradies who fall short.
Your rights under the Australian Consumer Law and the Home Building Act 1989 sit between you and the tradie, exactly as if you had found them yourself.
Licences and contracts under the Home Building Act 1989
Building Commission NSW, with NSW Fair Trading, regulates residential building work. The thresholds:
| Value of the job (labour and materials, incl. GST) | What the law requires |
|---|---|
| Any value | A licence for specialist work: electrical wiring, plumbing, drainage, gasfitting, air conditioning and refrigeration. |
| More than $5,000 | A contractor licence, a written contract signed by both parties, and the Consumer Building Guide before you sign. |
| $5,000 to $20,000 | A small job contract: licence number, a description of the work, the price if known. |
| More than $20,000 | A full written contract and a Home Building Compensation (HBC) insurance certificate before any deposit is taken. |
At any value, the most a contractor can ask as a deposit is 10 per cent of the contract price. Licence holders must show their name and licence number in all advertising, online included; only a licence holder may advertise licensed work.
For this site: cleaning, gardening, rubbish removal, pool cleaning and most handyman jobs are not licensed trades and usually sit under the threshold. Deck restoration, driveway sealing and larger maintenance jobs can pass $5,000, which brings in the licence and the contract.
How to check a tradie yourself
We run these checks before a tradie gets a job; you can repeat them in minutes.
- Licence. Use the free home building licence check on the Service NSW website, the register NSW Fair Trading calls Verify.licence. Search by name, licence number, ABN or suburb. The result shows the holder's licence categories, expiry date and status, plus any suspensions, conditions or public warnings. Check that the category matches the job.
- ABN. ABN Lookup, the Australian Business Register's free service, needs no login. It shows whether an ABN is active or cancelled, and the GST status.
- Insurance. Ask for a certificate of currency: the insurer's proof that a policy is in force, showing the insured name, policy type, dates and the maximum the policy covers.
- Quotes. Building Commission NSW advises written quotes, the same brief to each contractor, and a check that the quote lists all the work and materials.
See the guide: how to check a tradie in NSW.
Water filters are plumbing work
In NSW you need a licence before you do any plumbing, draining or gasfitting work, whatever it costs. Water plumbing means work in connection with the supply or conveyance of water, and it includes appliances and fittings that treat it. A whole-house filter or an under-sink system plumbed into the supply is covered, so it is a job for a licensed plumber. Unlicensed plumbing carries fines of up to $22,000 (individual) or $110,000 (company).
Expect WaterMark-certified parts and a Certificate of Compliance. WaterMark is the mandatory certification scheme, run by the Australian Building Codes Board, for plumbing products of a certain type; look for the symbol and licence number. Sydney Water says to ask for the certificate when the work is finished; it confirms the plumbing meets the Plumbing Code of Australia, which calls up AS/NZS 3500.
On the water itself: Sydney Water supplies all three regions, filters 100 per cent of it, adds chlorine and runs up to 70 tests to confirm it meets the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (NHMRC). Sydney tap water is safe to drink. People fit filters for taste and chlorine smell, sediment and scale, old pipework on their own side of the meter and tank water. See water filtration.
Wash water, stormwater and pool water
Street gutters and stormwater drains are not connected to the sewer: stormwater is not treated, and it flows straight to the harbour, beaches and lagoons. Polluting waters is an offence under section 120 of the POEO Act (Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997); councils as well as the EPA prosecute and issue on-the-spot fines.
For exterior cleaning the working rule is "only rain down the drain". Detergent, roof chemicals, paint flakes, sediment, slurry and pool water all count once they reach the kerb. Tradies in the network use low-pressure, low-chemical methods where they can, block drains and collect solids before rinsing, direct wash water onto lawn or garden, and send anything that cannot go to ground to the sewer, never the gutter.
Sydney Water's customer contract bars wrongful discharges into its water, wastewater and stormwater systems, and councils list pool overflows among their pollution complaints. Backwash and drained pool water belong in the sewer. Ask your pool tradie where the water will go.
Asbestos in homes built before 1990
SafeWork NSW says a home built before the late 1980s may contain asbestos; manufacturing of asbestos cement stopped in 1987. In our suburbs it turns up as fibro wall and ceiling sheeting, eaves linings, "Super Six" corrugated roofing and fencing, gutters, downpipes and flashing.
Bonded asbestos cement is low risk while it is left alone; disturbed fibres are the hazard. SafeWork NSW says never to use high-pressure water, power tools or compressed air on asbestos cement or any other asbestos product. Tradies in the network are told to stop and advise you if they suspect asbestos.
A licensed removalist is required for more than 10 square metres of non-friable (bonded) asbestos, and for any amount of friable asbestos, which only a Class A licence holder may handle. Below that, a homeowner or tradie may legally remove it, though SafeWork NSW recommends a licensed removalist for any amount. Asbestos waste must be wrapped, sealed, labelled and taken only to a landfill licensed to accept it, never a kerbside bin, a council clean-up or an ordinary skip.
Working at heights: roofs, gutters and high windows
Falls are covered by Part 4.4 of the Work Health and Safety Regulation (NSW). The 2017 Regulation was replaced in 2025; SafeWork NSW points to sections 78 to 80. A business must manage the risk of a fall from one level to another that is reasonably likely to cause injury, at any height.
The rules rank the controls. Where possible, work is done from the ground or a solid construction. If not, a fall-prevention device such as a scaffold, an elevating work platform or temporary roof edge protection comes next, then a work-positioning system, and only after that a fall-arrest harness. Ladders are for short tasks: extend them a metre past the landing and keep three contact points.
In practice, a careful cleaner on a two- or three-storey house works from ground level using a water-fed pole, which commonly reaches three to four storeys. Roof and gutter work calls for edge protection or anchors and harnesses, and fragile surfaces such as skylights need covers or exclusion zones.
Trees, hedges and council permits
Every council in our regions protects trees above a set size through its development control plan; pruning or removing one without a permit is an offence. Thresholds differ, so "check with your council" is the only safe answer. Examples:
| Council | What is protected | Without a permit |
|---|---|---|
| Woollahra (DCP 2015, Chapter E3) | Most species above 5 metres in height, or whose crown spreads more than 3 metres | Only DCP-listed exempt works and species; the rest needs a permit and an arborist working to AS 4373 |
| Ku-ring-gai (DCP Part 13) | Any tree 5 metres or more tall, or with a trunk 150 mm or more across at ground level | Only the Part 13 exemptions; even a dead tree needs council's written confirmation |
| Northern Beaches | Trees and vegetation on private land, under council's DCP | Trees under 5 metres or within 2 metres of an approved building, deadwood, and up to 10 per cent of the canopy in 12 months |
Mosman goes further: all pruning on private land needs consent unless the species is exempt. Northern Beaches Council notes that the Land and Environment Court can fine up to $1.1 million, and Woollahra fines both the owner and the contractor. The Rural Fire Service 10/50 rule gives mapped bushfire properties separate clearing rights.
Rubbish removal, green waste and illegal dumping
Anything a removalist takes from your property must end up at a lawful waste or recycling facility. Dumping it anywhere else is an offence under the POEO Act, policed by councils, the EPA and regional illegal dumping squads, and the waste's owner can be liable as well as the dumper. Report dumped asbestos to council or the EPA on 131 555; do not touch it.
For ordinary household items, check your council clean-up first:
| Council | Service | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Woollahra | Scheduled clean-up days by street; items out the Sunday night before | One ute load per household; no building materials, soil, asbestos or e-waste |
| Mosman | Free twice-yearly clean-up, plus prepaid bookings | 5 cubic metres; no building or demolition waste, e-waste or hazardous items |
| Ku-ring-gai | Booked general and green-waste clean-ups, four of each a year | 3 cubic metres; no building or renovation waste, paint or chemicals |
| Northern Beaches | Booked bulky goods collection; apartment blocks check with the strata manager | Furniture, mattresses, white goods and electricals; no e-waste, chemicals or building material |
Renovation waste, soil, bulk green waste and deceased-estate clearances are where a removalist earns the fee. See rubbish removal.
Pool barriers and compliance certificates
The Swimming Pools Act 1992 applies to every pool and spa on a residential property, including portable pools that hold 30 centimetres of water. Owners must register the pool on the NSW Swimming Pool Register, keep the barrier to the relevant Australian Standard (AS 1926.1-2012 for pools built since May 2013) and display a CPR sign readable from 3 metres.
Paperwork matters at sale and lease. A contract for sale must include the registration certificate and one of: a relevant occupation certificate issued within the last 3 years, a valid certificate of compliance, or a certificate of non-compliance. To rent the property out, the landlord must give the tenant a certificate of compliance or an occupation certificate; a certificate of non-compliance will not do. Compliance certificates last 3 years and come from the local council or a registered swimming pool inspector.
For pool care: cleaning the glass on a frameless fence, servicing equipment or recovering a green pool does not change the barrier's compliance, and a cleaner is not a certifier. See pool care and pre-sale presentation.
Heritage conservation areas and strata buildings
Large parts of our regions sit inside heritage conservation areas. Woollahra has 15 of them and more than 700 heritage items, with Paddington, Woollahra and Watsons Bay the largest. Mosman lists 13 conservation areas and around 500 items. Ku-ring-gai has dozens, and North Sydney and Hunter's Hill have their own. A conservation area does not stop you cleaning or maintaining a house, but external changes may need council consent, and even minor works may need to be notified and confirmed in writing first.
For the trades on this site: sandstone, soft brick, render and painted timber need low-pressure washing, not blasting, and repointing or replacing original fabric is a conversation with council first. We never say whether approval is needed for a particular house; check with your council.
External walls, windows from the outside, roofs, shared driveways and gardens are usually common property, so cleaning or repairing them is the owners corporation's decision under the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015, usually through the strata manager. NSW guidance separates cosmetic work (no approval) from minor renovations (a strata vote) and major ones (a special resolution), and work on common property may need a by-law change. See strata exterior maintenance.
Your rights, and what to do if something goes wrong
The Australian Consumer Law applies to every service a tradie provides to a household, and its guarantees cannot be taken away by anything a business says or does. Services must be carried out with an acceptable level of care and skill, be fit for any purpose you made known, and be delivered within a reasonable time if none was agreed.
Get the quote in writing, with scope, materials and price, before anyone starts. If the job goes wrong:
- Raise it with the tradie as soon as you notice, then confirm it in writing and keep a dated copy.
- If that fails, lodge a complaint with NSW Fair Trading, or Building Commission NSW for residential building work, which can order rectification of major defects.
- If it is still unresolved, apply to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal. Consumer claims run up to $100,000 and must be lodged within 3 years; home building disputes go through Fair Trading first, and statutory warranties last 6 years for major defects and 2 years otherwise.
Tell us as well: a tradie who leaves a dispute unresolved does not stay in the network. Contact us or call 0494 810 609, Monday to Saturday, 7am to 6pm.
Sources
- Building Commission NSW: General building work (licence threshold)
- NSW Government: Checking your contractor or tradesperson is qualified
- NSW Government: Contracts for residential building work
- NSW Government: Building trade advertisements
- NSW Government: Insurance requirements for contractors
- NSW Government: Getting quotes
- Service NSW: Check a builder or tradesperson's licence
- ABN Lookup (Australian Business Register)
- CBOS Tasmania: What is a certificate of currency
- NSW Government: Plumbing, draining and gasfitting work (licensing)
- Building Commission NSW: Plumbers and drainers
- Sydney Water: General plumbing information
- Sydney Water: Backflow prevention
- Sydney Water: Our contract with you (customer contract, PDF)
- ABCB: WaterMark Certification Scheme
- ABCB: WaterMark scheme overview
- Sydney Water: Safe drinking water
- NHMRC: Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, purpose of the guidelines
- Northern Beaches Council: Water pollution
- Northern Beaches Council: Construction company convicted over water pollution incident
- North Sydney Council: Water pollution
- Randwick City Council: Beach pollution
- Ku-ring-gai Council: Water pollution
- Mosman Council: Stormwater management
- Waverley Council: Keeping our beaches clean
- SafeWork NSW: Asbestos
- Asbestos NSW: Unlicensed asbestos removal
- Asbestos NSW: Disposal of asbestos waste
- Asbestos NSW: Fact sheet for homeowners (PDF)
- SafeWork NSW: Working at heights
- SafeWork NSW: Managing the risk of falls at workplaces, code of practice (PDF)
- Woollahra Council: Private trees
- Mosman Council: Tree management
- Ku-ring-gai Council: Trees on your property
- Northern Beaches Council: Removing and pruning trees on private land
- Northern Beaches Council: Illegal tree works
- Woollahra Council: Scheduled clean-up service
- Mosman Council: Household clean up
- Ku-ring-gai Council: Book a Council clean-up
- Northern Beaches Council: Bulky goods collection
- NSW Government: Owning a pool or spa, your obligations
- NSW Swimming Pool Register
- Woollahra Council: Environmental heritage
- Woollahra Council: Undertaking heritage works without consent
- Ku-ring-gai Council: Heritage conservation areas
- Mosman Council: Heritage
- NSW Government: Strata renovation rules
- ACCC: Consumer rights and guarantees
- NSW Government: Resolving building disputes
- NCAT: Home building
- NCAT: Consumer claims
Frequently asked questions
Usually not. A contractor licence is needed once residential building work is valued above $5,000 including GST, and for plumbing, gasfitting, electrical and air-conditioning work at any value. Cleaning, gardening, rubbish removal and small repairs fall outside that, so our checks centre on identity, ABN, insurance, references and conduct.
The tradie. We make the introduction; the tradie quotes you directly, you accept or decline, and the agreement, invoice, insurance and licence are theirs. Your consumer rights apply against them as normal.
If it connects to the water supply, no. Plumbing work in NSW needs a licensed plumber whatever it costs, and that includes a filter plumbed into the line. Ask the plumber for a Certificate of Compliance and look for the WaterMark symbol.
No. Street drains carry water untreated to the harbour and beaches, and letting detergent, sediment, paint flakes or pool water reach them is an offence under the POEO Act. Tradies divert it to lawn or garden, collect solids, or send it to the sewer.
Only once someone has checked what it is made of. Fibro sheeting, eaves and Super Six roofs on houses built before about 1990 may be asbestos cement, which must not be pressure washed, sanded or drilled. Brick, render and painted timber are fine at the right pressure.
It depends on the council and the size. Woollahra protects most trees above 5 metres tall or 3 metres across, Ku-ring-gai anything 5 metres or more, and Northern Beaches allows up to 10 per cent of the canopy a year without a permit. Light trimming is normally fine; big reductions and removals need a council check first.
Inside your own windows, yes. The building's exterior, including outside glass, walls, roofs and shared driveways, is normally common property, which means the owners corporation decides, usually through the strata manager.
Tell the tradie first and confirm it in writing. Consumer law requires due care and skill and a result fit for purpose, so a proper fix is yours to ask for. If that fails, NSW Fair Trading can step in, and NCAT hears consumer claims up to $100,000. Tell us too; feedback decides who stays in the network.
