Building Advice

The Official Dodgy Builder List Sydney: A Homeowner's Guide

A complete homeowner's guide to the dodgy builder problem in Sydney — what the 'official list' really is, the warning signs, and how to protect yourself end to end.

TL;DR There's no single official "dodgy builder list" in Sydney — but there's a complete way to protect yourself. It combines official NSW registers (licence status, enforcement records), a set of unmistakable warning signs, and the legal safeguards every build should have. This guide pulls all of it together for homeowners. Vet the builder, structure the contract correctly, and know your rights, and you don't need a list to stay safe. Part 1: What the "official list" really is The closest thing to an official list is the set of public tools NSW Fair Trading maintains: a licence check showing current status, and published enforcement and disciplinary records. Add ASIC's insolvency registers and you can build a reliable picture of any builder's history. There's no single blacklist, but ther…