About Townsville House Relocation

What every Townsville house job should include

Moving, raising or restumping a house is major structural work, and you want the building lifted, transported and set down safely. Before any work starts, make sure these eight essentials are in place.

1. A current QBCC licence. House relocation, raising and restumping are building work in Queensland. The contractor's QBCC licence number must appear on your quote and contract, and can be checked on the QBCC online register.
2. Transit and public liability insurance. Lifting and trucking a house requires public liability cover and transit insurance for the building while it's on the beams, on the trailer and being set down.
3. A written, itemised quote. It should list lifting, transport, permits, stumps, tie-downs and any cutting or roof work, and state clearly what isn't included.
4. A proper written contract. In Queensland, domestic building work over $3,300 needs a written contract, and state law limits how big a deposit a builder can ask for upfront.
5. Clear responsibility for approvals. Engineering, the private certifier, council planning applications and oversize transport permits should all be accounted for in writing before work begins.
6. Townsville and North Queensland know-how. Reactive clay soils, Region C cyclone wind ratings, Ergon power lines and wet-season access need to be checked at the site inspection, not discovered on moving night.
7. Proper lifting gear and licensed trades. Hydraulic jacks, steel beams, heavy trailers and licensed trades for disconnection and reconnection should be confirmed as part of the job scope.
8. A realistic timeline. Approvals take time and the wet season can stop moves, so the project schedule needs to allow for both.

Red flags to avoid: no QBCC licence number, a vague one-line quote, pressure to sign quickly, cash-only payment, a large deposit before approvals, or anyone who claims a house move "doesn't need approval".

Council and transport rules change, so treat the information on this site as a starting point — final requirements are confirmed during site inspection and building certification.