Does Landscaping Count Toward QBCC Home Warranty Insurance? Associated Work Explained

Yes—if landscaping, a driveway, a fence or a retaining wall is associated work included in a residential contract, its cost enters the QBCC home warranty insurable value; the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) names these examples on its Calculating the premium page, dated 6 Dec 2022. That page places the home warranty payment threshold at $3,300 and above, while QBCC’s When you need a licence guidance says a licence is required to carry out or contract for building work valued over $3,300 (last reviewed 11 Aug 2021), so the two tests are not interchangeable. Figures checked 1 October 2026.

Which landscaping work counts as associated work?

QBCC introduces its list with “such as”, making these examples rather than a closed definition:

• Landscaping
• Driveways
• Fences
• Pool fences
• Retaining walls

The QBCC list also includes air conditioning, hot water systems, security doors and grills.

The important wording is associated work included in the contract. The calculation guidance does not provide a separate worked test for deciding whether a standalone landscaping invoice is associated work. If the builder’s head contract and the landscaper’s subcontract describe the work differently, compare both scopes and have any mismatch reconciled in writing.

How does that work enter the insurable value?

QBCC says to add together the following values:

The home warranty calculation is also made on the basis that all building and other materials are provided by the contractor, even when that is not the actual supply arrangement. Separately, QBCC says the home warranty premium includes GST; that does not make the QBCC premium part of the insurable value because the calculation expressly excludes it.

There is a boundary point to note for QLeave. QBCC separately says licensed contractors carrying out residential construction work in Queensland valued at $150,000 excluding GST or more must pay the levy in addition to the home warranty premium. Because the insurable-value table says “more than $150,000” while the levy obligation says “$150,000 … or more”, an exact $150,000 project should be checked against current regulator guidance rather than calculated solely from this summary.

What does the $3,300 threshold mean?

QBCC uses slightly different boundary wording across its guidance. Its Home warranty insurance: A guide for homeowners, dated 24 Jan 2025, says most residential building work valued over $3,300—including materials, labour and GST—requires home warranty insurance.

At exactly $3,300, “and above” includes that value while “over” does not on its face. The official pages therefore should not be treated as using an identical boundary. Licensing can also depend on the type of work, relevant licence class, exemptions and contracting arrangements.

The practical point is to identify which test is being applied. A value used to assess whether home warranty insurance applies is not automatically the same decision as whether the landscaper or builder needs a QBCC licence.

What should a landscaper check when subcontracting to a builder?

QBCC says a builder must take out home warranty insurance on the homeowner’s behalf and include its cost in the quote. A landscaper working under a builder should therefore check the following rather than assume that a separate landscaping invoice is either insured or excluded:

1. Where the work appears in the contract. Compare the head contract, purchase order and subcontract schedule. Confirm whether each landscaping, driveway, fence or retaining wall item is identified as associated work.

2. How the value has been built. Ask for a breakdown of materials, labour and GST. Materials supplied by the owner, builder or another party still enter the QBCC calculation. The QBCC premium itself is excluded.

3. Which licence class or exemption may apply. QBCC says the licence must match the scope and industry role, and more than one class may be needed. Its guidance also points to 53 exemptions in Schedule 1 of the Queensland Building and Construction Commission Regulation 2018 and situation-specific exemptions in Schedule 1A of the Queensland Building and Construction Commission Act 1991, including landscape gardeners’ design work. That reference is not a blanket exemption for every landscaping or retaining wall job.

4. Who is handling the home warranty insurance. Ask the builder to identify the head contract, the policy calculation and how the landscaper’s scope has been treated. The homeowner guidance does not resolve the effect of every standalone landscaping subcontract.

5. What has been agreed in writing. Retain the scope, itemised valuation, named contracting parties, licence route and any QLeave treatment relevant to the labour calculation. If the project is near a threshold, check the QBCC’s current A to Z guide of insurable work.

Does counting toward the value mean everything is covered?

Not necessarily. The insurable-value calculation answers what contributes to the home warranty premium calculation; it does not by itself determine whether every failure or defect in landscaping, driveways, fences or retaining walls is covered.

QBCC describes the compulsory scheme as a safety net where a builder or contractor fails to complete the work or the building has structural defects. Cover for non-structural work typically lasts around 6 months from completion, but QBCC says these are general timeframes and specific circumstances may vary. Check the contract, current policy and applicable PDS for the particular work.

This is general information, not financial or legal advice. Check the current QBCC regulator page and the relevant policy’s PDS before relying on a threshold or calculation.

Sources

• Calculating the premium | Queensland Building and Construction Commission
• Home warranty insurance: A guide for homeowners | Queensland Building and Construction Commission
• When you need a licence | Queensland Building and Construction Commission

FAQ

Does every landscaping job need QBCC home warranty insurance?

Not simply because the work is landscaping. QBCC’s calculation rule applies when landscaping is associated work included in the contract. The cited pages do not establish that every standalone landscaping invoice triggers the requirement, so check the residential scope, total value and QBCC’s current insurable-work guidance.

Is the threshold $3,300 or more than $3,300?

The official wording differs. The premium page says home warranty insurance applies at $3,300 and above, while the homeowner and licensing pages refer to work valued over $3,300. For a project exactly at $3,300, check the current regulator guidance rather than treating the formulations as interchangeable.

What QBCC licence class does a landscaper need under a builder subcontract?

The cited guidance does not assign one class to every landscaping scope. Requirements vary with the work and contracting arrangements, the relevant class may differ, and more than one class may be required. Check the scope and any applicable exemption with QBCC.

Does being listed as associated work guarantee cover?

No blanket guarantee follows from the valuation rule. Associated-work status affects the insurable value, while the cover decision depends on the contract, policy terms, type of failure or defect and the applicable claim requirements. Check the current policy and PDS.