Whether you are or aren’t an owner builder can sometimes be a tricky concept to get your head around.
Even if you didn’t personally lift a hammer, but rather project managed different trades to do the work, you are still, legally, the owner builder.
To summarise, you are an owner builder if you:
- Use your own skills to build, extend or renovate your home
- Manage sub-contractors to do the work on your behalf
- Are a registered builder who builds, extends or renovates a home on your property
As an owner builder you would be responsible for –
- Doing all or part of the work yourself, except work that must be carried out by licensed tradespeople
- Checking the licenses and registration of tradespeople before they are contracted
- Arranging insurance
- Managing the occupation health and safety of the workers on your property
- Obtaining permits and organising building inspections
- Ensuring the work meets building regulations and standards
There are many advantages to being an owner builder, including better control, cost savings and flexibility.
Risks to consider include unknown budgetary issues, facing complex and unfamiliar situations, and shouldering the overall responsibility for the project and finance.
If you’d like to speak to a professional about your home project, don’t hesitate to call the team at Jim’s Building Inspections on 0800 454 654 .
For more information about the responsibilities of being an owner-builder CLICK HERE.
Conclusion
Deciding you’re an owner-builder means more than simply doing the work yourself—it involves full responsibility for permits, safety, selecting trades, and meeting legal standards. While it offers control and potential savings, the risks of budget overruns and compliance issues are real. If you recognise you’re managing or doing the build, stay organised, stay informed and consider professional advice for peace of mind.
FAQs
An owner-builder is someone who either personally performs or entirely manages building, renovating or extending their home—whether using their own skills or contracting trades themselves.
It depends on your jurisdiction. Many places require registration, insurance or compliance with specific rules when you act as an owner-builder.
Yes—even if you don’t pick up a hammer yourself, if you manage the project and engage trades directly on your property, you are legally considered an owner-builder.
You’re responsible for ensuring building work complies with regulations, obtaining permits, managing health & safety, checking trade licences, securing insurance and selecting compliant materials/trades.
Advantages include greater control over the project, potential cost savings and flexibility in design and schedule.
Risks include budget overruns, unfamiliar regulatory requirements, potential for non-compliant work, and being fully liable for any issues.
Since you’re legally responsible, you need to arrange building inspections yourself and ensure compliance rather than relying on a builder to do so.
Cost savings are possible but not guaranteed—owner-builders save on builder’s margin but must absorb hidden costs of project management, compliance and liability.