137B Owner Builder Defects Report
Required When Selling a Home in Victoria With Owner Builder Work Completed in the Last 6 Years and 6 Months.
If you’ve carried out building, renovation or repair work without a registered builder or without a building permit, you may be considered an owner-builder. And if you’re selling within 6 years and 6 months of completing those works, you’ll likely need a Section 137B Defects Report.
If the work involved more than one trade — or one person performed work normally requiring multiple trades — a 137B Report is almost always required.
Use our online tool below to determine whether you require a 137B Report
- Victoria Wide Inspections
- Fast Turnaround
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How It Works
Answer A Few Questions
Tell us about your renovation in our online checker
Get Your Result
We’ll let you know if you require a 137B inspection
Book Your Inspection
Give us a call to book in your inspection.
This applies to all owner‑builder work, including:
Bathrooms
Kitchens
Decks
Pergolas
Garage
Laundry
Structural Changes
If you’re unsure,
call us
If you’ve touched the house, the buyer needs to know.
Examples of When a 137B Report Is Required
- Converting a wardrobe into an ensuite
- Building a deck without a permit
- Major renovations involving multiple trades
- Repairs after a break-in involving multiple trades
- Extensions completed without building permit
Examples of When a 137B Report Is NOT Required
- Standalone single-trade jobs
- Replacing carpet or a hot water system
- Retiling a balcony (if not part of a larger project)
- Minor decorative upgrades
Instant 137B Checker Tool
Use our quick online tool — answer a few simple questions and get an instant result.
But here’s the truth:
The rules are confusing. The safest option is to call and get clarity in minutes.
What’s Included in a 137B Defects Report
- Full inspection of all owner‑builder work
- Identification of defects (major + minor)
- Clear photographic evidence
- Compliance notes
- Buyer‑ready documentation
- Fast turnaround
- Victoria‑wide coverage
- Same day inspection and report (if required)
If you touched the house, the buyer needs to know.
- Multiple trades = 137B Report required
- One person doing multi‑trade work = 137B Report required
- Single‑trade exemptions exist, but only for standalone work
- Report must be dated within 6 months of contract of sale
- First Resort Home Warranty Insurance Scheme (simply referred to as “Home Warranty”) threshold updated to $20,000
- We cover all of Victoria
- We even offer same-day inspections
- Reports can be completed on same day as inspection
- We offer a 7 days a week service
Need Clarity? Call Mark
Most people misunderstand the 137B rules.