How to Verify a Tradesperson's Licence in Tasmania (CBOS Register)

Why Licence Verification Matters for Landlords

Using an unlicensed tradesperson for regulated work in Tasmania carries two consequences that hit simultaneously: criminal penalties under Tasmanian building legislation, and voided landlord insurance. An insurance claim denied because unlicensed electrical work caused a fire is the worst possible outcome of skipping a two-minute licence check.

The CBOS Occupational Licensing Register is a free, public search tool. Every landlord should check it before engaging any electrical, gas or plumbing contractor.

How to Search the Register

Consumer, Building and Occupational Services (CBOS) operates within the Department of Justice and maintains the public register of licensed trades. You can search by the tradesperson's name, licence number or business name.

The register covers:

• Licensed Electrical Contractors — anyone performing electrical work on your property must hold this licence
• Licensed Gas-fitters — required for all gas appliance installation, servicing and repair
• Licensed Plumbers — required for work on water supply, drainage and wastewater connections
• Licensed Builders — for structural work that requires a building permit

If a search doesn't show the tradesperson, verify the licence details with CBOS before engaging them for regulated work.

When Licensed Work Is Required

Not every repair needs a licensed tradesperson. The distinction in Tasmanian law:

Licensed tradesperson required:

• Any electrical work — replacing a power point, wiring a new light fitting, installing a heat pump, connecting a hardwired smoke alarm
• Any gas-fitting work — installing, servicing or repairing gas heaters, gas cooktops, gas hot water systems
• Plumbing work affecting water supply or drainage connections — replacing a hot water system, modifying pipe runs, connecting to sewer or septic
• Structural work requiring a building permit — wall removal, roof repairs of a certain scale, foundation work

Examples of work that does not ordinarily involve regulated trade work:

• Installing curtain rods and blinds
• Replacing a battery smoke alarm (not hardwired)
• Painting, cleaning, garden maintenance
• Replacing door handles and locks (unless it involves modifying the door frame structure)

Do not assume that a minor plumbing task such as changing a tap washer is exempt from licensing requirements. Check with CBOS before doing plumbing, electrical, or gas work yourself.

The Compliance Certificates

Licensed tradespeople don't just do the work — they issue mandatory compliance documentation:

Certificate of Electrical Compliance (CEC) — issued by the electrician after completing any electrical work. The white copy must be lodged with TechSafe Australia. As a landlord, keep your copy in the property's compliance archive.

Gas Fitting Notice (GFN) — issued by the gas fitter after installing or modifying a gas appliance. The white copy goes to the Director of Gas Safety (CBOS) within 48 hours of commissioning. Again, keep your copy.

These certificates serve dual purposes: they prove the work was done by a licensed professional, and they establish the date and scope of the work. Both matter in disputes and insurance claims.

What Tasmania Doesn't Require (Despite What You'll Read Online)

A common trap: search results for safety certification in rental properties pull in Victorian rules. Victoria mandates 2-year gas and electrical safety checks by accredited inspectors. Tasmania does not.

In Tasmania, the obligation is functional — electrical and gas systems must be kept safe and in good working order continuously. Professional trade certifications are triggered when work, replacement or modification occurs, not on a fixed calendar. You don't need to pay for a biennial safety inspection certificate that Tasmanian law doesn't require.

Visual checks during your routine quarterly inspections (looking for damaged power points, gas leaks, frayed wiring) are the standard practice between professional trade visits.

Keeping Records

Trade certificates should be retained for 10 years, aligned with statutory building defect liability windows. A folder per property, organised by trade category and date, is the minimum viable system.

When a repair complaint reaches the Residential Tenancy Commissioner, the first thing they'll want to see is evidence that any previous work was done by licensed professionals. A missing CEC or GFN is harder to explain than the original defect.

Our Rental Minimum Standards in Tasmania guide includes a trade verification record template and a document retention schedule with the statutory holding periods for every type of compliance document.

See more Tasmania guides →