No—if the work is genuinely standalone. The WA Government’s guidance dated 20 May 2025 says home indemnity insurance (HII) is not required for associated work performed on its own under a separate contract, including installing a swimming pool, carport or pergola, or carrying out landscaping. The same guidance says residential building work valued over $20,000 must be covered by HII, but the standalone exclusion is not a blanket exemption for every part of a residential building project; figures checked 1 October 2026.
What makes associated work standalone?
The exclusion depends on the nature of the work and how it is contracted. The cited WA Government position applies when:
- the work is associated work, with a swimming pool, carport, pergola and landscaping given as examples;
- that work is performed on its own; and
- it is covered by a separate contract.
A separate contract does not answer the question if the work is actually being performed as part of a broader job. Likewise, the examples should not be treated as a blanket exemption for every separate construction project.
Is this only a small-job exemption?
No. The cited guidance does not present the standalone associated-work exclusion as a lower-value exception. It is tied to the work being performed on its own under a separate contract.
The separate rule for residential building work valued over $20,000 explains when HII is required. It should not be confused with a statement that every item connected with a home is outside HII.
What if the work is part of a larger residential project?
The exclusion does not mean that every part of a residential building project is exempt. Its stated basis is narrower: associated work must be performed alone under a separate contract.
If a pool, carport, pergola or landscaping forms part of broader residential building work, the cited guidance does not provide an automatic HII outcome. Do not extend the standalone answer to that mixed project, or assume the whole project is exempt because an individual component fits the exclusion. Ask Building and Energy to assess the actual scope and contract arrangement, particularly if there is uncertainty about an exemption.
What must a builder do when HII is required?
Where HII applies, it protects owners against loss of the deposit or other financial loss if the builder cannot complete the work or meet a valid claim for faulty or unsatisfactory building work because of a relevant circumstance concerning the builder.
For residential building work valued over $20,000, the cited guidance requires the builder to:
- obtain an HII certificate before claiming payment from the owner or commencing work under the contract;
- provide a copy to the owner; and
- provide a copy to the permit authority as part of the building approval process.
Before granting the permit, the authority must ensure the submitted certificate is watermarked, was issued by QBE, and matches QBE’s Builders Warranty Insurance Certificate Register. An HII eligibility certificate or a construction/public liability insurance certificate cannot be substituted for a required HII certificate. Builders who fail to obtain required HII risk substantial penalties and disciplinary proceedings.
How can you check the boundary before work starts?
Before relying on the standalone exclusion:
- record the exact scope of work and identify the contract under which it will be performed;
- check whether the associated work will genuinely be performed on its own;
- ask Building and Energy to assess the project if the arrangement is mixed or an exemption is uncertain; and
- if HII is required, ask for the certificate and check its details against QBE’s register.
Building and Energy can also advise on approved HII providers. Its contact details are 1300 489 099 and bcinfo@demirs.wa.gov.au.
This is general information, not financial or legal advice. Check the current WA Government information and the relevant policy PDS before relying on the exclusion or making an insurance decision.
Sources
FAQ
Does a standalone WA carport need HII?
The cited WA Government guidance says HII is not required when the carport is associated work performed on its own under a separate contract. That answer should not be extended automatically to a carport included in broader residential building work.
What about a standalone pergola, pool or landscaping?
The guidance expressly includes a pergola, swimming pool and landscaping when the associated work is performed alone under a separate contract.
Does the $20,000 threshold settle the question by itself?
The threshold states when HII is required for residential building work, but the guidance separately identifies the standalone associated-work exclusion. The nature of the work and its contract structure still need to be considered.
Can an HII eligibility certificate or public liability insurance certificate replace HII?
No. Where HII is required, the WA Government says neither an HII eligibility certificate nor a construction/public liability insurance certificate is a substitute for the HII certificate of insurance.
Who can check if a project is exempt?
If there is uncertainty, ask Building and Energy. It can advise whether the exemption applies and, where HII is required, can advise about approved HII providers.
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