What documents are required at completion

Handover Documents: What You Must Receive at Project Completion

At the end of your building project, your builder must provide a comprehensive set of handover documents. These confirm compliance, support future maintenance, and protect your rights as the owner. Importantly, many of these documents are also required by your certifier to issue final approvals.

Planning Approval Conditions

Your original planning approval (Development Consent or Permit) will include specific conditions that must be met before and during construction. These may include:

• Stormwater management requirements: Installation of approved drainage systems or onsite detention tanks.

• Landscaping and tree protection: Completion of landscaping works or preservation of existing vegetation.

• Acoustic or privacy measures: Installation of screens, fences, or soundproofing materials.

• Bushfire or flood mitigation: Use of fire-rated materials or elevated construction in flood-prone zones.

• Heritage or environmental controls: Restrictions on materials, finishes, or site disturbance.

These conditions are legally binding and must be fulfilled before the certifier can issue an Occupation Certificate or Final Inspection Certificate.

Documents Your Certifier Will Require

To confirm compliance and issue final approvals, your certifier will need to sight and verify several key documents, including:

• Trade Compliance Certificates (e.g. plumbing, electrical, waterproofing)

• Warranties and Product Manuals

• Final Survey or As-Built Drawings

• Evidence of Planning Condition Compliance (photos, reports, receipts)

• Defect List and Rectification Records

• Occupation Certificate Application Documents

Failure to provide these may delay certification and legal occupancy.

MBH Tip: Keep all of your compliance documents throughout the build in your document control centre. This makes handover smoother and ensures your certifier can issue approvals without delay.