Yes. Consumer and Business Services (CBS) says an unsolicited SA landscaping contract over $100 must be in writing and gives the consumer a 10-day cooling-off period to cancel; except in very limited cases, the business must not supply products or services or take payment during that period (figures checked 1 October 2026). This protection can apply even when the visit began as an invited quote, but it does not cover every customer-initiated repair or later acceptance.
When does an at-home quote become an unsolicited consumer agreement?
The fact that a landscaper visits your home does not, by itself, make the sale unsolicited. What matters is why they were invited and whether you entered a contract while they were there.
| What happens | Treatment under CBS guidance |
|---|---|
| You invite a tradesperson only to provide a quote, but enter a contract at the time of that quote | The sale is unsolicited |
| The tradesperson offers additional work during the visit, quotes it, and you agree to the extra work at the time of the new quote | The contract for the additional work is an unsolicited consumer agreement |
| A tradesperson approaches you uninvited by telephone or at the door and offers to sell services, such as driveway surfacing | This is an unsolicited sales situation |
Simply asking for a quote is therefore different from agreeing to the work during the visit. If you only request a quote and make no agreement at that stage, the unsolicited-sale protection does not arise merely because the landscaper attended your home.
Why must the contract be in writing when it is over $100?
CBS presents the written contract as a legal requirement for an unsolicited agreement above this threshold. It is separate from the cooling-off right: one establishes a written record of the deal, while the other allows the consumer to cancel during the cooling-off period.
| Point | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Contract amount | Over $100 |
| Agreement | Must be in writing |
| Cooling-off right | The consumer can cancel during the 10-day period |
| Supply and payment | Except in very limited cases, the business must not supply products or services or take payment during the period |
CBS describes the exceptions only as “very limited” and does not set out their details in this guidance. Do not assume that an exception permits immediate work or payment. If the landscaper claims an exception, check the current regulator guidance before agreeing to proceed.
When is the landscaping sale not unsolicited?
CBS gives two customer-initiated scenarios that are not unsolicited sales:
| Customer action | CBS treatment |
|---|---|
| You call out a tradesperson to perform repairs | Not considered unsolicited |
| After receiving a quote, you call the tradesperson later to confirm that you want to proceed | Not considered unsolicited |
These examples turn on who initiated the contact and when the agreement was made. Agreeing to the job while the landscaper is at your home after requesting only a quote is materially different from making a later call to accept the quoted work.
Being outside the unsolicited-sale category does not mean that every other consumer right disappears. It means the unsolicited-agreement protections explained here should not be assumed solely because the work was later accepted.
What should I do if the landscaper presses for an on-the-spot agreement?
CBS advises consumers to be firm and politely say no if a business pressures them to agree to work immediately. Before agreeing:
- Ask for an itemised, fixed quote and check the total cost, not only the call-out fee.
- Compare quotes from different businesses. CBS recommends seeking advice from at least three different tradespeople, even when the problem seems urgent.
- Check whether apparently different businesses are connected. Companies can trade under multiple names.
- Note the licence number and use the CBS licensing register to see which business or trading names are connected with it.
- Check that the tradesperson is licensed for the type of work required. Every builder and tradesperson must display their licence number in advertising, including on social media, a website or a business card.
- Remember that some companies send a salesperson rather than a tradesperson to inspect the issue and provide a quote.
- If the contract is over $100, ask for the agreement itself in writing and take time to review it.
For smaller domestic building jobs, CBS advises avoiding excessive advance payments because money already paid could be lost if the business closes. Payment rules for other building work can differ, so the contract and current regulator guidance should be checked before money changes hands.
Where should you confirm the current position?
This is general information, not financial or legal advice. Check the current Consumer and Business Services regulator page linked above and the product disclosure statement (PDS) for any insurance policy relevant to the work.
Sources
FAQ
Does every quote made at my home count as unsolicited?
No. CBS describes a sale as unsolicited when you invited the tradesperson merely to quote but entered a contract at the time of the quote. It also applies when you agree at the home visit to additional work introduced through an upsell.
Must an unsolicited contract over $100 be in writing?
Yes. CBS says an unsolicited contract over $100 must be in writing. It also gives the consumer a 10-day cooling-off period to cancel.
Can the landscaper supply services or take payment during the cooling-off period?
Generally, no. CBS says the business must not supply products or services or take payment during the 10-day period, except in very limited cases. Check the current regulator guidance rather than assuming an exception applies.
What if I called the landscaper to request repairs?
CBS gives customer-called repairs as a scenario that is not considered unsolicited. That differs from agreeing to quoted additional work while the tradesperson is at your home.
What if I accepted the quote in a later phone call?
A later call to confirm that you want to proceed after receiving a quote is also a scenario CBS says is not considered unsolicited. Keep the quote and record the acceptance for your own reference.
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