What insurance and licensing should your Adelaide painter actually have?

Insurance and licensing aren’t bureaucratic box-ticking. They’re how you protect your house, your neighbours, and your bank balance if something goes wrong. Here’s what to check before any painter starts work on your home.

Public Liability ($10M minimum)

Covers damage to your property, injury to you, your neighbours or your guests, and any third-party claims arising from the painter’s work. $5M is the legal minimum many policies carry; $10M is the professional standard. For commercial jobs, $20M is common.

Workers Compensation

Required by law if the painter has any employees. Covers injury to the painter’s staff while on your property. Sole traders with no employees are exempt but should carry personal income protection.

SA Building Work Contractor Licence

Required for any painting work valued over $12,000 (including materials). This is a Consumer and Business Services SA licence, separately from any business registration. Hiring an unlicensed painter for work over $12,000 puts you at legal risk and removes your access to the Building Work Contractors Guarantee Scheme.

How to verify

Ask for a current Certificate of Currency. This is a one-page document from the painter’s insurance broker that lists: policy holder name, policy number, period of cover, insured amount, and insurer name. Check that:

• The policy is current (expiry date is in the future)
• The policy holder matches the business name on the quote
• The insured amount is at least $5M public liability
• The certificate is signed by the insurance broker (not just the painter)

Red flag answers

“I’m covered through TradieCover” — not specific enough. Ask for the actual Certificate.
“I’ll send it through after we start” — never start without it in hand.
“Insurance is in my main contractor’s name” — only valid if the main contractor is on the quote.

Every painter in our network has been verified on insurance and licensing before receiving any quote requests. Full detail in our painter insurance requirements guide and SA painter licensing guide.