Request to Complete Unfinished Building Work
Builder left items unfinished, before or after handover? A calm, firm letter that lists every outstanding item as a numbered schedule, refers to your contract and practical completion, asks for completion by a reasonable date and a written reply with a date for each item, notes the statutory warranties under your state's home building law, and names the regulator's dispute service as the next step. You approve it before it is sent.
What this document does
- Lists every unfinished item as a numbered schedule, in your words.
- Refers to your contract and to practical completion or handover, as it stands on your job.
- Asks for completion by a reasonable date and a written reply with a date for each item.
- Notes, factually, the statutory warranties under your state's home building law.
- Names your state building regulator's dispute or complaint service as the next step.
- Drafted in about 5 minutes. You approve it before it is sent.
What we'll ask you
Plain-English questions, one at a time. No legal knowledge needed — if you don't know an answer exactly, your best estimate is fine.
- What stage is the build at?
- Who is the builder? The business name on your contract, plus their licence or registration number if you have it.
- Tell me what has happened, in order: what the job is, when work started, where it is up to, and what the builder has said about the unfinished items.
- What is the address of the property where the work is being done?
- About the contract: the date you signed it, the contract price, the type of contract (for example HIA, Master Builders, or the builder's own), and any clause numbers you know for completion, practical completion or defects.
- Has practical completion or handover happened?
- What date was handover or practical completion? If it has not happened, what completion date or period does the contract give?optional
- List every unfinished or outstanding item, numbered 1, 2, 3: what it is and where it is. Add a clause, plan page or handover list reference if you have one.
- Have you already raised these items with the builder? When, how, and what did they say?
- By when would you like the items finished? A date or a number of days. If you are not sure, we ask for a written reply within 14 days and completion within 28 days.optional
- When can the builder get on site to do the work?optional
- Do you have the builder's email? Once you approve the letter we can send it straight to them.optional
- You approve it before it is sent
- 2 free amendments included
- All Australian states and territories
- Stripe secured · 256-bit encrypted
Your builder dispute: the regulator and tribunal in your state
Each state and territory has its own home building law and building regulator. We only ever name the regulator and the tribunal or court for your state.
New South Wales
Legislation: Home Building Act 1989 (NSW). Section 18B(1) implies into every contract to do residential building work warranties that the work will be done with due care and skill and in accordance with the plans and specifications set out in the contract (s 18B(1)(a)).
Building regulator: Building Commission NSW
Tribunal: NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT), home building (after the Building Commission NSW step)
Victoria
Legislation: Domestic Building Contracts Act 1995 (Vic). Section 8 makes part of every domestic building contract warranties that the work will be carried out in a proper and workmanlike manner and in accordance with the plans and specifications set out in the contract (s 8(a)).
Building regulator: Building and Plumbing Commission (dispute resolution service)
Tribunal: VCAT, with a certificate of conciliation (s 56, Domestic Building Contracts Act 1995)
Queensland
Legislation: Queensland Building and Construction Commission Act 1991 (Qld), Schedule 1B. The warranties in Schedule 1B, Part 3, Division 2 are part of every regulated contract (Sch 1B s 19).
Building regulator: Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC)
Tribunal: QCAT, domestic building dispute (after the QBCC process)
Western Australia
Legislation: Home Building Contracts Act 1991 (WA), which applies to contracts for home building work valued between $7,500 and $500,000, and the Building Services (Complaint Resolution and Administration) Act 2011 (WA).
Building regulator: Building Commissioner, Building and Energy (after a Notice of proposed complaint)
Tribunal: State Administrative Tribunal (SAT), on referral from the Building Commissioner or review of an order
Money claims: Magistrates Court of Western Australia, when the Commissioner or SAT is not dealing with it
South Australia
Legislation: Building Work Contractors Act 1995 (SA). Section 32(2) implies into every domestic building work contract warranties that the work will be performed in a proper manner to accepted trade standards and in accordance with the plans and specifications agreed by the parties (s 32(2)(a)).
Building regulator: Consumer and Business Services (CBS), building disputes
Money claims: Magistrates Court of South Australia
Tasmania
Legislation: Residential Building Work Contracts and Dispute Resolution Act 2016 (Tas). Regulator and dispute step: the Director of Building Control, part of Consumer, Building and Occupational Services (CBOS).
Building regulator: Director of Building Control (CBOS), notice of dispute and mediation
Tribunal: TASCAT, Civil and Consumer stream (after the notice of dispute; contracts of $20,000 or more)
Money claims: Magistrates Court of Tasmania (Civil Division)
Australian Capital Territory
Legislation: Building Act 2004 (ACT).
Building regulator: Access Canberra
Tribunal: ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal (ACAT)
Northern Territory
Legislation: Building Act 1993 (NT). Section 54B(1) sets consumer guarantees for prescribed residential building work (for example a new home, a unit in a complex of up to three storeys, or a renovation or extension that increases floor area above the threshold).
Building disputes: NT Consumer Affairs; Commissioner of Residential Building Disputes (fidelity fund work)
Tribunal or court: NTCAT up to $25,000; Local Court up to $250,000
From your answers to a finished Unfinished Works Request in three steps
Answer 12 quick questions
Who it’s about, what happened and what you want. Plain English, one question at a time.
We draft it for your state
Your Request to Complete Unfinished Building Work is drafted to the legislation, regulator and tribunal for your state or territory, then formatted as a professional PDF. Usually ready within about five minutes.
Review, approve, sent
The draft lands in your dashboard for you to check. Nothing goes to the other party until you approve it — then we email it on your behalf and record the delivery. Two free amendments included.
Ready? Start now.
No card required until the end. No account needed to start.
Start My Unfinished Works Request — $49 →$49 flat fee · You approve it before it is sent · 2 edits included
Everything about the Request to Complete Unfinished Building Work
How much does the Unfinished Works Request cost?
A flat $49 AUD, including GST. There is no card required to start, no subscription and no hourly rate — you see the full summary of your answers before you pay.
How long does it take?
There are 12 questions, which take a few minutes to answer. The draft is usually ready in about 5 minutes after payment, any time of day.
Is it sent automatically, or do I see it first?
You see it first. The draft lands in your dashboard for review; nothing goes to the other party until you approve it. Once you approve, we email it on your behalf and record the delivery.
What if I need changes?
You read the full Unfinished Works Request on your dashboard before anything is sent. You can change the wording yourself or ask for a redraft, with 2 edits included.
Does it work in my state?
Yes. The Request to Complete Unfinished Building Work is drafted to the law of the state or territory the matter is in — NSW, Victoria, Queensland, WA, SA, Tasmania, the ACT and the NT — citing the right Act, regulator and tribunal or court for that state.
Is this a letter of demand?
No. It is a calm, formal request to finish the listed work. It does not claim money, end the contract or threaten the tribunal.
What if my builder has walked off the job?
If the builder has stopped work and will not come back, the Renovator or Pool Builder Abandoned Job demands deal with a refund. This letter asks the builder to return and finish.
Who sends it?
You approve the letter first. We then email it to the builder for you, or you download it and send it yourself.
Read up before you send
Other building & property documents
Put it in writing today.
A few quick questions and your Request to Complete Unfinished Building Work is drafted for your state. No card required until the end.
Start My Unfinished Works Request — $49 →