The rules behind a compliant Geelong bathroom.

1. A VBA registered builder for work over $16,000.

In Victoria, any domestic building work valued over $16,000 must be carried out by a builder registered with the Victorian Building Authority, under a major domestic building contract. Most full bathroom renovations sit above that threshold. Always check a builder’s registration on the VBA public register before you sign.

2. Domestic building insurance.

That major domestic building contract triggers domestic building insurance (builder’s warranty insurance) for work over $16,000. It protects you if the builder dies, disappears or becomes insolvent before the work is finished or a defect is fixed. Don’t pay a large deposit on a job over the threshold without it.

3. AS 3740 certified waterproofing.

Wet-area waterproofing must be done by a licensed waterproofer to AS 3740:2021, and certified compliant before tiling. This is the single most important — and most commonly skipped — step. Keep the certificate; it’s what a building inspector and a buyer’s conveyancer will ask for.

4. Licensed plumbing with a Compliance Certificate.

Plumbing work over $750 must be carried out by a licensed plumber who issues a VBA Compliance Certificate, backed by a six-year warranty. That covers the rough-in, drainage, water supply and the fit-off of your tapware, toilet and vanity.

5. The right permits for structural or heritage changes.

A like-for-like bathroom inside the existing footprint usually needs no separate building permit from the City of Greater Geelong. But move or add an external wall or window, extend the footprint, or change a Heritage Overlay property’s exterior, and a building permit (and sometimes a planning permit) is required. We lodge these with council where the job needs them.

• Victorian Building Authority (VBA) — the regulator for building and plumbing in Victoria. Search the public register to confirm a builder’s registration and a plumber’s licence before you sign. vba.vic.gov.au
• Standards Australia — AS 3740 Waterproofing of domestic wet areas — the standard every compliant bathroom membrane must meet. The current edition is AS 3740:2021. standards.org.au
• Consumer Affairs Victoria — your rights under a domestic building contract, deposit limits, cooling-off periods and the dispute process if a renovation goes wrong. consumer.vic.gov.au
• City of Greater Geelong — the local authority for Geelong, Newtown, Belmont, Highton, Lara, Armstrong Creek and the Bellarine. Building permits, planning and Heritage Overlay information for your property. geelongaustralia.com.au
• Surf Coast Shire — the local authority for Torquay, Anglesea, Jan Juc and the Surf Coast. Permits and coastal-overlay controls for properties in that part of our service area. surfcoast.vic.gov.au
• Master Builders Victoria — industry body with consumer resources on choosing a builder, understanding contracts, and what a quality renovation should include. mbav.com.au

How do I check my builder is actually registered?

Search the builder’s name or registration number on the VBA public register at vba.vic.gov.au. It will show their registration class and status. Do the same for the plumber’s licence. If a builder can’t give you a registration number for a job over $16,000, walk away.

What paperwork should I have at the end?

For a compliant Geelong bathroom you should finish with: a signed building contract, domestic building insurance certificate (work over $16,000), the AS 3740 waterproofing certificate, the plumbing Compliance Certificate, and a written workmanship warranty. Keep them — they matter at resale and for any future claim.

Is the waterproofing really worth insisting on?

Yes. Failed waterproofing is the leading cause of bathroom failure in Geelong’s older homes, and re-tiling over a bad membrane just hides it until it’s far more expensive to fix. A certified AS 3740 membrane is non-negotiable on every job we do.