Frequently Asked Questions
Are you a licensed builder?
Yes. A J Lee Building Services Pty Ltd holds NSW Builders Licence No. 160761C.
Our licence allows us to undertake residential building work within the scope of our licence, including renovations, extensions, alterations and other building work we undertake for our clients.
You can independently check our licence details through the NSW Fair Trading licence register before engaging us.
For you as a homeowner, working with a licensed builder means you have the reassurance of dealing with a builder who is licensed and accountable under the NSW residential building regulatory framework.
It also means you have a clear point of responsibility for your project. When you work with A J Lee Building Services, you deal directly with me, Anthony Lee, from the initial conversation through to completion.
Our licence allows us to undertake residential building work within the scope of our licence, including renovations, extensions, alterations and other building work we undertake for our clients.
You can independently check our licence details through the NSW Fair Trading licence register before engaging us.
For you as a homeowner, working with a licensed builder means you have the reassurance of dealing with a builder who is licensed and accountable under the NSW residential building regulatory framework.
It also means you have a clear point of responsibility for your project. When you work with A J Lee Building Services, you deal directly with me, Anthony Lee, from the initial conversation through to completion.
Are you a member of any associations?
Yes. A J Lee Building Services is a member of the Housing Industry Association (HIA), Australia’s peak industry association representing builders and other professionals in the residential building industry.
Being a HIA member helps us stay connected with the industry and keep up to date with building practices, industry developments, standards and regulatory changes that affect residential construction.
For our clients, that means you’re working with a builder who takes professional standards seriously and stays engaged with the industry we work in every day.
Being a HIA member helps us stay connected with the industry and keep up to date with building practices, industry developments, standards and regulatory changes that affect residential construction.
For our clients, that means you’re working with a builder who takes professional standards seriously and stays engaged with the industry we work in every day.
Will my renovation or extension be insured?
Yes. Where required under NSW law, Home Building Compensation (HBC) cover (previously known as Home Warranty Insurance) is arranged for your project.
For residential building work over $20,000 including GST, HBC cover is generally required unless an exemption applies. We arrange the cover for your project, and the cost is shown separately from the contracted building work. You will receive a Certificate of Insurance.
The benefit to you is that HBC cover provides an important last-resort protection if we were unable to complete the work or honour certain statutory warranty obligations because of circumstances such as insolvency, death, disappearance or certain licence suspensions.
Your Home Insurance
Your existing home and contents insurance is separate from HBC cover. Before work begins, we recommend contacting your insurer and letting them know that you are renovating or extending. Ask them whether your policy continues to cover your existing home, contents and any damage or theft during construction, and whether your increased property value should be reflected in your policy.
This gives you a clearer understanding of what protection is provided by your builder's HBC cover and what remains your responsibility to arrange through your own insurer.
For residential building work over $20,000 including GST, HBC cover is generally required unless an exemption applies. We arrange the cover for your project, and the cost is shown separately from the contracted building work. You will receive a Certificate of Insurance.
The benefit to you is that HBC cover provides an important last-resort protection if we were unable to complete the work or honour certain statutory warranty obligations because of circumstances such as insolvency, death, disappearance or certain licence suspensions.
Your Home Insurance
Your existing home and contents insurance is separate from HBC cover. Before work begins, we recommend contacting your insurer and letting them know that you are renovating or extending. Ask them whether your policy continues to cover your existing home, contents and any damage or theft during construction, and whether your increased property value should be reflected in your policy.
This gives you a clearer understanding of what protection is provided by your builder's HBC cover and what remains your responsibility to arrange through your own insurer.
Do I need Council Approval?
It depends, so don't guess, check the approval pathway before you start planning your build.
In Hornsby, Ku-ring-gai and Willoughby, some renovations can be carried out as Exempt Development, meaning no development approval is required. Others may qualify as Complying Development (CDC), while larger or more complex projects will generally require a Development Application (DA).
The important thing is that it depends on what you’re changing and the property itself — including things such as extensions, structural changes, heritage, bushfire or environmental constraints.
Before you start, check which approval pathway applies to your project.
The best place to start is the NSW Planning Portal. Enter the property and proposed works to determine whether they can be Exempt Development, Complying Development (CDC), or require a DA.
For a renovation in Hornsby, Ku-ring-gai or Willoughby, you should also check the relevant Council controls because things such as zoning, heritage, bushfire constraints and other site-specific restrictions can affect the pathway.
In simple terms:
In Hornsby, Ku-ring-gai and Willoughby, some renovations can be carried out as Exempt Development, meaning no development approval is required. Others may qualify as Complying Development (CDC), while larger or more complex projects will generally require a Development Application (DA).
The important thing is that it depends on what you’re changing and the property itself — including things such as extensions, structural changes, heritage, bushfire or environmental constraints.
Before you start, check which approval pathway applies to your project.
The best place to start is the NSW Planning Portal. Enter the property and proposed works to determine whether they can be Exempt Development, Complying Development (CDC), or require a DA.
For a renovation in Hornsby, Ku-ring-gai or Willoughby, you should also check the relevant Council controls because things such as zoning, heritage, bushfire constraints and other site-specific restrictions can affect the pathway.
In simple terms:
- Check the property on the NSW Planning Portal.
- Check the relevant Council’s planning controls.
- If you’re unsure, speak with a qualified certifier, town planner or Council before commencing work.
