Building trade advertisements

Building trade advertising comes with certain obligations under the Home Building Act 1989 and Australian Consumer Law. The laws apply to advertising the following media:

• print 
• internet
• television
• radio
• other advertising.

The Act prohibits a company or individual from advertising for any residential building work over $5,000 or specialist work of any value without having a current contractor licence for:

• electrical wiring
• plumbing
• draining
• gas fitting
• air conditioning and refrigeration work.

Details that your building advertisement must include 

The licensee’s name and licence number must be shown in all advertising. If the licensee has a business name registered under the Business Names Registration Act 2011 that name can be included instead of the licensee’s.

Fair Trading NSW requires that that advertisements include:

• licensee's name (individual, company or business name registered to the licensee)
• licence number with correct category of work 
• business telephone number.

You should make sure you have a system in place so you can identify who placed an advertisement. It should include:

• company or business name
• full name and phone number of the contact person
• complete street address.

Note: You cannot state a price that is only a part of the cost unless the single price is also clearly stated.

You cannot make false and misleading statements in your advertisement

Advertisements should not make statements or representations that are not true or likely to mislead or deceive. A builder or tradesperson should not persuade clients using any statement, representation or promise that is:

• false
• misleading or deceptive, or
• hiding a material fact.