To choose the right plumber in Brisbane, run eight checks before any work starts. Look up their licence on the QBCC register, confirm a separate gas licence for gas work, ask for proof of public liability insurance, read recent reviews, match their skills to your job, get an itemised written quote, get the warranty in writing, and make sure they’ll lodge any required QBCC paperwork. A plumber who passes all eight is licensed, insured and accountable for the job.
At Solus Plumbing, our plumbers hold a 4.9-star average across verified Google reviews, and our Brisbane team regularly gets called in to fix a job someone else started. Usually the first plumber wasn’t properly licensed, or never put the scope and price in writing. This guide covers the checks we’d run if we were hiring a plumber for our own homes, using Queensland rules on licences, notifiable work, deposits and who pays for sewer repairs.
Brisbane plumber checklist at a glance
| Check | What to do | Why it matters |
| 1. QBCC licence | Search the plumber on the QBCC licensee register | Plumbing and drainage work of any value needs a licence in Queensland |
| 2. Gas licence | Ask for a gas work licence for any gas job | Gas work needs a separate licence from Resources Safety and Health Queensland |
| 3. Insurance | Ask for a Certificate of Currency for public liability | Covers damage or injury caused during the job |
| 4. Reviews | Read recent Google reviews and ask neighbours | Shows reliability, communication and follow-up |
| 5. Right skills | Ask how often they do your type of job | Drain cameras, leak detection and hot water installs need specialist gear |
| 6. Written quote | Get an itemised price for the same scope from each plumber | Lets you compare fairly and avoid surprise extras |
| 7. Warranty | Get workmanship and parts cover in writing | Tells you who pays if the repair fails |
| 8. Paperwork | Ask whether the job is notifiable work | Your plumber must lodge a Form 4 with the QBCC for some jobs |
How do you check a plumber’s licence in Queensland?
Ask the plumber for their QBCC licence number, then search it for free on the QBCC licensee register. The register shows whether the licence is current, what class of work it covers and any disciplinary history. If you can’t find the plumber, call the QBCC on 139 333.
In Queensland, you need a licensed plumber for plumbing work of any value. That’s different from general building work, which only needs a licence above $3,300. So even a $150 tap repair must be done by a licensed plumber.
The QBCC also suggests asking to see the licence card on the day. A digital licence on the plumber’s phone has the same legal standing as a physical card. Check that the name matches the person or business on your quote.
What are the different plumbing licences in Queensland?
Queensland has two main layers of plumbing licence. The business you sign with needs a contractor licence, and the person doing the work needs an occupational licence.
| Licence type | Who holds it | What it means for you |
| Contractor licence (plumbing and drainage) | The business or sole trader you contract with | Allowed to take on and supervise plumbing jobs |
| Occupational plumber and/or drainer licence | The individual tradesperson | Qualified to carry out the work on site |
| Occupational restricted licence | A tradesperson licensed for a narrow scope, such as irrigation | Can only do the specific work listed on the licence |
| Provisional licence | A plumber working toward full licensing | Must be supervised by a fully licensed plumber |
The QBCC’s contractor licence page states that anyone supervising or performing regulated plumbing work “must also hold an occupational plumber and drainer licence.” To get that occupational licence, a plumber usually completes an apprenticeship and a Certificate III in Plumbing.
Does the plumber need a gas licence?
Yes, if your job involves gas. In Queensland, the QBCC’s gasfitting licence page explains that the occupational gas work licence is issued by the Chief Gas Examiner and Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ), not the QBCC. A plumber licensed for water and drainage can’t legally connect a gas hot water unit, cooktop or heater without one.
RSHQ’s gas licence registers page links to a free search of current gas work licence holders, with no account needed. After gas work, the gas fitter should give you a compliance certificate. If your job involves gas fitting, check both licences before booking.
What insurance should a Brisbane plumber have?
A good Brisbane plumber carries current public liability insurance. This covers accidental damage to your property, or injury to someone, caused by the work. Without it, you could end up paying for a flooded floor caused by a bad joint.
Ask for the Certificate of Currency before work starts, and check three things:
- The name on the certificate matches the business on your quote
- The policy dates are current
- The cover amount suits the size of the job
Is plumbing covered by the Queensland Home Warranty Scheme?
Larger residential jobs can be. Under the Queensland Home Warranty Scheme, most residential building work valued at more than $3,300 must be insured, and the contractor pays the premium. The QBCC also warns that hiring an unlicensed tradesperson may void your access to that cover.
What warranty should you expect from a plumber?
On top of insurance, a good plumber gives you a written warranty on workmanship and parts. If a plumber won’t back their work in writing, treat that as a red flag. Our approach at Solus Plumbing is 12 months on every repair and up to 5 years on the labour for new installations, plus the manufacturer’s parts warranty.
How do you check a plumber’s reviews and reputation?
Read recent Google reviews and focus on the details in the written comments. A plumber with steady reviews over several years, from customers describing specific jobs, is usually a safer choice than one with a handful of perfect scores. Recommendations from neighbours and local Facebook groups also help, especially for plumbers who work your part of Brisbane often.
The ACCC’s guide to spotting fake reviews lists warning signs:
- A spike in very positive or very negative reviews over a short period
- Reviewers with similar names
- Reviews written in similar language
- Generic reviews with no specific detail about the job
A few negative reviews are normal. Look at how the plumber responded. A calm reply that offers to fix the problem says more than a perfect score.
When we read reviews for trades ourselves, we look for mentions of arriving on time, explaining the problem clearly, a final bill that matched the quote, and how callbacks were handled.
Does the plumber have the right skills for your job?
Blocked sewers, hidden leaks and hot water systems each need different equipment and, sometimes, a different licence. Ask each plumber how often they do your type of job and what gear they’ll bring.
| Your problem | What to ask the plumber | What a good answer sounds like |
| Recurring blocked drain | Do you do CCTV drain camera inspections? | Yes, and we’ll show you the footage before quoting a repair |
| Hidden or slab leak | What leak detection equipment do you use? | Acoustic listening, thermal imaging or tracer gas |
| Cracked or root-damaged sewer | Do you offer pipe relining? | Yes, after a camera survey confirms the damage |
| Gas hot water or cooktop | Do you hold a Queensland gas work licence? | Yes, and here’s the number to check |
| Burst pipe or sewage overflow | Do you offer 24/7 emergency service? | Yes, with after-hours rates quoted upfront |
Choosing a plumber for blocked drains and tree roots
For blocked drains that keep coming back, choose a plumber who uses a CCTV drain camera. Tree roots are one of the most common causes we see in Brisbane. The subtropical climate keeps roots growing year-round, and they push into the joints of older clay sewer pipes.
A camera shows root intrusion, cracked joints or a collapsed section before anyone starts digging. If it finds damage, pipe relining can often fix the pipe from the inside without trenching the yard. Without a camera, you can end up paying to clear the same blockage several times.
Choosing a plumber for hot water, leaks and emergencies
For hot water systems, confirm the plumber can handle the full install, including any gas or electrical connection. The most common surprise we see is compliance work the old system never had, such as a tempering valve or a new relief drain line. Ask for these to be listed on the quote.
For burst and leaking pipes behind walls or under slabs, ask about leak detection equipment. Plumbers who use it can usually find the leak without opening large sections of wall. For emergencies, check the plumber will actually attend overnight, and get the after-hours call-out fee before you book.
How much do plumbers charge in Brisbane?
Most Brisbane plumbers charge $80 to $200 an hour, with an average of about $120, plus a call-out fee of $60 to $150 during business hours. After-hours work usually costs 1.5 times the standard rate on evenings and Saturdays, and up to 2.5 times on public holidays.
| Job | Typical Brisbane price (2026, GST incl.) |
| Leaking tap repair, incl. call-out | $150 to $260 |
| Toilet repair or part replacement | $150 to $350 |
| Blocked drain, electric eel | $150 to $280 |
| Blocked drain, jetting or CCTV | $280 to $400 |
| Hot water system replacement | $1,200 to $3,500 or more |
| After-hours call-out fee | $150 to $350 |
These ranges reflect 2026 Brisbane trade pricing and include GST. Use them to sense-check your quotes. A price far above them should come with a clear reason, like tight access or specialist equipment. A price far below them is worth questioning too.
You can save on call-out fees by bundling small jobs into one visit. A dripping tap, a running cistern and a loose mixer can usually be fixed together. Our page on taps, toilets and fixtures covers the common repairs.
How many quotes should you get, and what should they include?
Get two or three written quotes for any job worth more than a few hundred dollars. The QBCC’s guide to comparing quotes recommends asking every contractor to quote “the same tasks, materials and timelines” so you can compare like for like. For a small repair, one clear fixed price from a licensed plumber is usually enough.
A good quote is itemised and lists:
- The plumber’s QBCC licence number
- The call-out or diagnostic fee, and whether it’s credited if you go ahead
- Labour, as a fixed price or hourly rate
- Parts and materials, listed separately
- Any compliance certificate or QBCC lodgement for regulated work
- After-hours surcharges
- GST and payment terms
- Warranty terms
Two quotes that look far apart are often quoting different jobs. One might just clear a drain, while another clears it, films the line and reports on the cause.
Fixed price or hourly rate?
| Pricing model | Best for | Watch out for |
| Fixed price | Defined jobs like a hot water swap, drain clear or tap replacement | Check exactly what’s included so extras aren’t added later |
| Hourly rate | Diagnostic or open-ended work like leak tracing | Ask for an estimate or cap, and whether travel time is billed |
At Solus Plumbing, we quote every Brisbane job in writing before any work starts, and the diagnostic fee comes off the repair cost if you go ahead. We’ve found fixed pricing avoids the most common dispute, where a job runs longer than expected and the bill grows.
How much deposit can a plumber ask for in Queensland?
Queensland caps deposits on domestic building work. According to the QBCC’s rules on deposits and progress payments, the limits are:
| Contract value | Maximum deposit |
| $3,300 or less | 20% |
| $3,301 to $19,999 | 10% |
| $20,000 or more | 5% |
The QBCC notes that if you pay more than the legal maximum, you can’t recover the excess through the Home Warranty Scheme. For most repairs, you shouldn’t need to pay anything upfront. Pay once the work is done and you’re happy with it.
Does your plumbing job need QBCC paperwork?
Many everyday repairs need no paperwork, but some jobs are classed as notifiable work. According to the QBCC, notifiable work includes bathroom and kitchen renovations, water heater installations, and relocating or replacing toilets, showers, basins and sinks in existing homes.
For notifiable work, your plumber must lodge a Form 4 with the QBCC “within 10 business days of issuing an invoice for the work.” They should give you a copy. Plumbing for new construction is permit work instead, and needs council approval and inspections.
Keep your Form 4 with your home records. It shows the work was done by a licensed plumber, which helps when you sell or make an insurance claim. If a plumber offers a discount to skip the paperwork, treat that as a red flag.
Who pays for sewer and water pipe repairs in Brisbane?
The property owner pays for repairs to private pipes on their property. According to Brisbane City Council, you need a licensed plumber to fix a sewage leak on your property. If the leak is coming from pipes in the street, call Urban Utilities instead.
A camera inspection before any repair shows exactly where the fault sits. That way, you don’t pay to fix a pipe that belongs to the utility.
What are the red flags when hiring a plumber in Brisbane?
Walk away, or at least slow down, if you notice any of these:
- No QBCC licence number, or one that doesn’t match the name on the quote
- No gas work licence for gas jobs
- No Certificate of Currency for insurance
- No ABN or business address
- Cash-only payment with no written quote or invoice
- A quote far below every other quote, with no clear explanation
- A deposit above the Queensland limits
- Pressure to decide on the spot
- An offer to skip the Form 4 or compliance certificate
- Reviews that all appeared in the same few weeks
In our experience, the cheapest quote on paper often becomes the most expensive job. The gap usually shows up later as the wrong parts, missing paperwork or a repeat call-out.
Frequently asked questions
Can I do my own plumbing in Queensland?
Only a short list of minor tasks. The QBCC’s unregulated plumbing guide allows homeowners to replace a showerhead, a tap washer or a cistern washer, and to install garden irrigation downstream of a tap. Almost all other plumbing and drainage work must be done by a QBCC-licensed plumber.
How do I check if an emergency plumber in Brisbane is legitimate?
Ask for their QBCC licence number over the phone and check it on the QBCC register before they arrive. A legitimate emergency plumber will also quote the after-hours call-out fee and hourly rate before attending.
Do Brisbane plumbers charge to give a quote?
Many do. The call-out or diagnostic fee of $60 to $150 covers travel and the time spent assessing the job. Some plumbers credit this fee against the repair if you go ahead.
Is a provisional plumbing licence enough for a Brisbane job?
Not on its own. A provisional licence holder must be supervised by a plumber who holds a full occupational licence for that work. The business you contract with should also hold a QBCC contractor licence.
What can I do if I’m unhappy with a plumber’s work in Queensland?
Contact the plumber first and give them written notice of each defect, with a reasonable time to fix it. If that doesn’t work, you can lodge a defective work complaint with the QBCC.
Find a licensed plumber in Brisbane
The right plumber in Brisbane holds a current QBCC licence, carries public liability insurance, has genuine reviews and the right equipment, and puts the price, warranty and any Form 4 paperwork in writing. Run those eight checks on every plumber you shortlist, and you’ll avoid most of the problems we’re called in to fix.
If you’d like a plumber who meets every check on this list, our Brisbane plumbers cover the city and surrounding suburbs, including Ipswich, Browns Plains, Caboolture and Redcliffe, with 24/7 emergency service. Call before the afternoon and we’ll usually reach you the same day. Every job is quoted in writing before we start, with a 12-month warranty on repairs. Call Solus Plumbing on 1300 730 896 or request a quote.
