The end of construction is the beginning of ownership
Handover is not merely the moment the keys are exchanged. It is the formal transfer of a completed building from the contractor to the client, supported by a comprehensive package of documentation, a thorough defect identification process, and a clear understanding of each party's obligations during the statutory warranty period. A well-managed handover sets the tone for the post-construction relationship and ensures the client has everything they need to occupy, maintain, and ultimately sell or refinance the property with confidence.
At Century Built Homes, we prepare for handover from the beginning of the construction programme — not in the final week. The documents, records, and certifications that make up the handover package are accumulated and verified progressively throughout the project, so that handover is a considered and complete process rather than a rushed assembly of whatever can be found at the end.
Practical completion and the occupation certificate
Practical completion (PC) is the contract event at which the building is complete in accordance with the contract documents, with only minor defects that do not prevent occupation. It triggers the final payment claim, starts the defect liability period, and is followed by the application for the Occupation Certificate (OC) from the building certifier.
In Queensland, an Occupation Certificate is required before a new building can be legally occupied. It is issued by the building certifier once the final mandatory inspection is passed and all approval conditions have been satisfied. For renovation projects, an Amenity and Safety Certificate or a Certificate of Classification may apply depending on the scope of works. We manage the application and inspection process and ensure no client is asked to move in before the correct certificate is in hand.
Prior to applying for PC, we conduct a thorough internal pre-completion inspection — room by room, system by system — and rectify all defects identified before presenting the building for client inspection. The client then conducts their own inspection, typically with two to three weeks to identify any items they wish to note. All agreed items are recorded on a defect schedule, and a programme for rectification is agreed before the final payment is released.
The practical completion inspection — what to look for
A systematic approach to the PC inspection is far more productive than a general walk-through. We provide clients with a room-by-room inspection checklist that covers: surfaces (walls, ceilings, floors — checking for damage, finish inconsistencies, gaps at junctions); joinery (doors, windows, cabinetry — operation, alignment, hardware, seals); wet areas (tiling, grouting, silicon seals, fixture installation, drainage fall); services (all electrical outlets, switches, and fixtures; plumbing fixtures and fittings; HVAC operation; hot water system); external works (paving, drainage, landscaping, fencing, site reinstatement); and general building envelope (roof, guttering, downpipes, flashings, external cladding).
The inspection distinguishes between construction defects (items that do not comply with the contract specification or the NCC) and matters of preference (items the client may have preferred differently but that are not defects). The contractor's obligation is to rectify defects; neither party is obligated to agree to changes of preference at practical completion.
QBCC statutory warranty obligations
In Queensland, residential construction contracts are subject to mandatory statutory warranty provisions administered by the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC). These warranties exist independently of the contractual defect liability period and cannot be contracted out of. They provide significant protections for homeowners that continue well beyond the end of the contract.
The key QBCC warranty periods for residential construction are: one year for minor defects; six years and six months for structural defects (measured from when the work was completed or the client took possession, whichever is earlier). Structural defects are those that affect the structural performance of the building — foundations, framing, load-bearing elements — and the six-year-and-six-month warranty period reflects the serious consequences these defects can have.
QBCC warranty claims are lodged through the QBCC's online system. Where a claim is accepted and the contractor fails to rectify, the QBCC has powers to direct rectification and, in cases of contractor insolvency, to fund rectification from the Home Warranty Insurance Scheme. Understanding this framework is important for homeowners — it means that statutory protections remain in place even in worst-case contractor scenarios.
The documentation handover package
The documentation package we hand over at practical completion is a complete reference archive for the life of the building. It contains: the as-built drawing set (with any construction-stage variations marked up); the structural engineering drawings and calculations; the energy compliance certificate and NatHERS assessment; all approval documentation (DA and BA approvals with conditions, occupation certificate); the inspection register with photographs of all mandatory hold points and concealed works; the materials and products register (brands, models, suppliers, installation dates); all subcontractor warranties (roofing, waterproofing, windows, kitchen appliances); operating and maintenance manuals for all mechanical and electrical systems; supplier warranty cards for fixtures, fittings, and appliances; emergency service locations (electrical switchboard, water main isolation, gas isolation, sewage access points); and the builder's contact details for the defect liability and warranty period.
Where clients prefer a digital archive, we provide this as a structured PDF package. Where physical copies are preferred, these are provided in a durable binder. Either way, the client receives a complete and organised record — not a collection of loose documents and photocopied brochures.
Maintenance guidance for the first year
Newly constructed homes require a degree of active monitoring and maintenance in the first twelve months as the building settles and materials acclimatise to Queensland's climate. Normal movement in timber framing and joinery, minor cracking at plasterboard joints, and initial settlement of external paving are anticipated and do not constitute defects. We explain what to expect, what to watch for, and what to report as a potential defect during the defect liability period.
Specific maintenance requirements we discuss at handover include: silicon joint maintenance in wet areas (critical for waterproofing integrity); roof and gutter inspection and cleaning after the wet season; re-sealing of external timber elements according to the product manufacturer's schedule; HVAC filter replacement; and the servicing intervals for hot water systems, range hood fans, and exhaust ventilation. A well-maintained home performs better, lasts longer, and is more valuable at resale than a neglected one.
Post-handover communication
Our relationship with clients does not end at the handover meeting. During the defect liability period — typically six to twelve months from practical completion — we respond to defect reports within five business days and schedule rectification within a further ten business days, with priority given to any defect that affects habitability or weather resistance. We maintain a defect register for each project throughout the liability period, and all rectifications are photographed and recorded.
For clients who wish to plan future improvements — an extension, a pool, a secondary dwelling — we are available to assist with feasibility advice based on our knowledge of the property and its approval history. Many of our clients return to us for successive projects; we regard this as the strongest possible endorsement of the process we have described across these six steps.
Business is governed by written contract, drawings, and approval documentation; this page is informational only and does not constitute an offer or guarantee.