Permits, licensing & documents
Documentation assistance
Help organising your property's plans, permits, certificates, warranties and compliance paperwork, so you know what you have, what may be missing and what each document means.
Illustration. Not an actual property or real inspection work.
- Owners preparing to sell, rent out or renovate.
- Owners who have finished building work and want their paperwork in order.
- Investors and property managers keeping records for one or more properties.
- Anyone who has been asked for a document and isn't sure where to find it.
- Sorting plans, permits, certificates, warranties and manuals into a clear structure.
- Compliance paperwork from building and trade work, such as certificates for electrical and plumbing work.
- Identifying documents that appear to be missing, and who usually holds them.
- Plain explanations of what each key document is and why it matters.
- A simple checklist you can keep updating as work is done.
- An organised index of the documents you have.
- A list of items that appear to be missing, with suggestions on where to request them.
- Plain-language notes on key documents.
- A simple structure for keeping future records together.
Gather whatever you have, on paper or digital, even if it's incomplete.
Note any building work done on the property, with approximate dates.
Tell us why you need the documents, such as a sale, a renovation or a request from an authority.
Let us know about any deadlines.
Can’t see your question? Send an enquiry and we’ll come back to you.
More detail
More about documentation assistance
How it works
Share what you have (a folder, a box of papers or a set of scanned files) and tell us what you need the documents for. We'll help sort them into a clear structure, explain what each key document is, and list anything that appears to be missing, with suggestions on where to request it.
Why it matters
Property paperwork tends to be needed at the least convenient time: when you sell, rent out, renovate, make an insurance claim or respond to a request from an authority. Knowing what you have, and where it is, makes each of those steps calmer and clearer.
What this service doesn't do
Organising documents doesn't change what they say. This service doesn't issue permits or certificates, and it doesn't confirm that past work met the requirements that applied to it. Where a missing document matters, it needs to come from whoever issued it, and we can help you work out who that is.
Learn with VicWide
Showing 2 topics
Permits & documentation
Which permits and documents might my project need?
Planning permits and building permits deal with different things, and a project may need one, both or neither. This topic explains the difference in plain terms, the kinds of documents authorities commonly ask for, and why the decision always sits with the relevant authority.
Key points 5
- A planning permit generally relates to how land is used and developed. Your council administers planning.
- A building permit relates to the building work itself and is issued by a building surveyor.
- Whether a permit is needed depends on the project and the property, so check before work starts.
- Authorities commonly ask for plans, specifications and supporting reports. Exact requirements vary.
- Decisions and timeframes sit with your council, the relevant building surveyor or the relevant authority.
Related service: Permits & approvals
Building
What do property owners often ask about their homes?
Many owner questions come back to a few themes: what needs a permit, which records to keep, and who to ask about a particular problem. This topic works through common questions in plain language and points to the right person for each.
Key points 5
- Check whether a permit may be needed before starting building work, including smaller projects.
- Keep permits, plans, certificates and warranties together. They matter when you sell, rent or renovate.
- Some questions need a specialist, such as a licensed land surveyor to confirm a boundary.
- An inspection describes condition. It doesn't settle disputes or give legal advice.
- If you're not sure who to ask, send an enquiry and we'll point you in the right direction.
Related service: Documentation assistance
Ready when you are
Enquire about documentation assistance
Tell us about the property. We confirm the scope and a quote with you before anything is arranged.