If you're a builder in Brisbane or Southeast Queensland, one uninsured incident on site can wipe out a year's profit. Whether you're running a small renovation crew or managing new home builds across the region, the right insurance protects your business, your license, and your clients' investment.
At Monarch Insurance Brokers, we work with builders across Brisbane and SEQ every week. From owner-builders and licensed contractors to larger construction businesses juggling multiple subcontractors. We know the cover requirements attached to your builder's license, and we structure policies that actually match how your business operates on site.
Whether you’re going at it solo or managing a crew, your tools, vehicles, and liability need proper cover. One unexpected event can put everything on hold, that’s where we come in.
What Builders Insurance Covers
Public Liability
Covers claims for third-party injury or property damage arising from your work. Most head contractors and QBCC licensing require a minimum of $10-20 million in cover.
Contract Works
Protects the physical works under construction including the structure itself against fire, storm, theft, and malicious damage while the build is in progress. This is essential cover for new builds and major renovations.
Tools & Equipment
Covers portable tools, power equipment, and machinery against theft and damage, both on site and in transit. Site theft is a common and costly claim for builders, particularly on unoccupied properties overnight or over weekends.
Personal Accident and Illness
Income protection for sole traders and working directors who can't earn if they're injured and unable to work on site.
Business Interruption
Covers lost income and ongoing expenses if a covered event (like fire or storm damage to a depot or office) stops your business from trading.
Professional Indemnity
Relevant for builders who also provide design, certification, or advice services — covers claims arising from errors in that professional work, separate to the physical build itself.
Why Builders Need Specialist Insurance
Standard business insurance rarely covers the risks that come with construction work. Builders face exposures that most other trades don't:
Multiple subcontractors on site, each creating liability exposure back to the head contractor
Partially completed structures vulnerable to weather, theft, and vandalism
Expensive plant and equipment left on unattended sites overnight
Strict QBCC licensing requirements around minimum insurance cover
Client disputes over defects, delays, or incomplete work
Real Claim Scenarios: Brisbane Builders
Storm damage to works in progress
A builder in Brisbane's north had a partially framed home damaged during a summer storm before the roof was on. Without contract works cover, the cost of rebuilding the damaged frame and replacing water-affected materials would have come entirely out of pocket.
Overnight tool theft
A renovation site in Logan had over $15,000 in tools and equipment stolen from a locked site shed over a weekend. Tools and equipment cover replaced the stolen items, keeping the job on schedule.
Subcontractor damages a neighbouring property
During excavation for a new build in Ipswich, a subcontracted excavator operator damaged a neighbouring property's fence and retaining wall. As head contractor, the builder was liable — public liability cover funded the repair and the ensuing dispute.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. QBCC licensing conditions require licensed contractors to hold minimum public liability cover, and certain license classes have additional requirements. Not meeting these can put your license at risk.
It depends on project value and who holds responsibility for the works. For new builds and larger renovations, most clients and financiers will require it. We can help you determine whether project-specific or annual cover suits your business better.
Generally, no. Public liability and contract works policies cover accidental damage and third-party injury, not the cost of fixing your own faulty work as that would be a contractual and warranty issue, not an insurance one. This is a common misunderstanding, so it's worth being clear with clients about what your policy actually responds to versus what falls under your workmanship warranty.
Cover needs to be in place before work begins, not after. Contract works insurance in particular only protects damage that occurs after the policy starts, so if a storm hits your site in week one and cover wasn't arranged until week two, you're not protected. Most clients and financiers also expect proof of insurance before granting site access.
Why Monarch?
Why choose us as your brokerage
Personalised Service
We take the time to understand your business, tailoring insurance solutions to fit your exact needs rather than offering a one-size-fits-all policy.
Expert Guidance
Our team brings deep industry knowledge and explains your options in plain language, helping you make confident, informed decisions.
Trusted Claims Support
If the unexpected happens, we stand by your side. We’ll guide you through the claims process and advocate on your behalf to get the best outcome.
Local Focus, Real Relationships
As a Brisbane brokerage, we’re invested in our community and committed to building lasting relationships, not just policies.
Get Builders Insurance Sorted Properly
Every building business is different! The cover a solo renovator needs looks nothing like what's right for a business running five sites at once. We'll take the time to understand how you operate and structure a policy around it, not the other way around.
