As Australians across the country grapple with increased restrictions and further lockdowns in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people are wondering what trades and services are considered essential workers and whether they can engage tradesman for home renovations or general maintenance work on their property, in both indoor and outdoor spaces.

We’ve put together this handy state-by-state guide to help you navigate the rules and restrictions and find out what you can and can’t do on your property, while staying informed about the latest guidelines that may apply to you.

As the lockdown restrictions are ever-evolving, please do remember to keep up-to-date with all the latest information about the current restrictions in your local government areas (LGA) from your relevant local authority.

What works can you have done on occupied premises in New South Wales during lockdown?

In New South Wales, the government has set varying restrictions for different regions. This determines what you can and can’t do on your property when it comes to hiring tradespeople to help with construction work, renovations, cleaning, maintenance and repairs.

Local Government Areas of concern

The current LGAs of concern in Sydney are:

• Bayside
• Blacktown
• Burwood
• Campbelltown
• Canterbury-Bankstown
• Cumberland
• Fairfield
• Georges River
• Liverpool
• Parramatta
• Strathfield
• Certain Penrith suburbs (Caddens, Claremont Meadows, Colyton, Erskine Park, Kemps Creek, Kingswood, Mount Vernon, North St Marys, Orchard Hills, Oxley Park, St Clair and St Marys).

If you reside in these areas, you are limited to “prescribed work that is necessary”, such as emergency repairs inside your home, completed by authorised workers. For instance, if you have an emergency plumbing or electrical problem, an authorised worker can enter your home to make the repair.

Here’s a list of “prescribed work that is necessary” that can be completed by a tradie with an authorised worker permit inside your home, if you are in these LGAs:

• Completing renovations that had already commenced before the lockdown that is necessary for the function of your home, such as a bathroom renovation if it’s the only bathroom in your home
• Ensuring a site is safe and secure (fire checks, emergency window replacements, etc.)
• Plumbing emergency repairs, including burst pipes, leaking toilets, blocked drains, flooding
• Fixing or maintaining air conditioning for your household
• Television and internet related repairs or maintenance
• Emergency car repairs and breakdown services
• Cleaning services can be provided as a care service for the elderly or people with a disability
• Waste disposal on common property.

You are not permitted to have a worker inside your home for home renovations, carpet replacement, painting, decorative work, general cleaning or non-urgent repair or maintenance work, or to install air-conditioning units inside unless it’s required for the urgent health and safety of a resident.

Prescribed work that is not deemed “necessary” can continue to be done outdoors. If you want your grass mowed, bushes pruned, pool cleaned or exterior renovations completed, you can employ the services of trade businesses for these jobs.

Work on the exterior of your house is limited to five workers in the area at any time. Jobs include:

• repairing or maintaining a roof, including replacing the roof
• construction of a detached outbuilding, such as a shed, carport, pergola or deck
• repairing or maintaining a fence, including replacing the fence
• external painting
• establishing or maintaining a garden
• installing a swimming pool and appropriate fence
• installing, repairing or maintaining a driveway
• pest control inspections and treatment.

Greater Sydney and regional and rural NSW

If you’re residing outside of the LGAs of concern, the good news is that all work, including prescribed work relating to renovations, repairs, cleaning and maintenance, can be completed as long as you follow the set rules.

Rules include a limit of two people in your home at a time to conduct works, and a limit of five people outside. Occupants should stay in a separate room inside the home while the job is being completed to limit contact and any potential spread of COVID-19.

For regional and rural New South Wales, the rules are currently in place until the 10th of September, 2021. You can find updates on the NSW government website.

Can tradesman work during lockdown on my property in Victoria?

While lockdowns are in place for Melbourne and regional Victoria, The Victorian Government and Victorian Chief Health Officer have announced that maintenance and repair work indoors can only be done in the case of emergency or if they meet environmental and safety obligations.

An authorised worker must carry a permit when they are travelling to or attending work, and it must be certified by their employer.

A tradesman can only enter your premises to conduct emergency repairs. This includes HVAC services, if it’s deemed necessary for the healthy and safety of an occupant. A cleaner is only permitted as an in-home support service for those in need of assistance, relating to their age, disability, health or other medical reason.

Outdoor maintenance workers, including gardeners that hold a workers permit and have COVID safe measures in place, are allowed to work on your property to provide repairs, maintenance, building work and home installations, as long as workers maintain physical distancing and the service is completed by just one worker (unless extra tradies are required for safety).

You can have someone:

• Inspect and maintain your pool, including fencing (for health and safety)
• Do your gardening and landscaping
• Repair or maintain an unoccupied structure, such as a shed or granny flat
• Install solar panels (if roof cavity access is necessary, there must be external access)
• Paint the exterior.

While these regulations do currently cover all of the state, easing of regulations to regional Victoria are set to be announced.

Can tradies work during lockdown at my home in Australian Capital Territory?

ACT is currently in lockdown, which has been extended until midnight Friday 17 September 2021. There has been partial easing of restrictions in regards to lower risk outdoor activities. Let’s take a look at what that means for ACT residents who need work done on their property by a qualified tradesman.

Essential work continues for those needing emergency repairs and maintenance services. This covers services such as plumbing, electrical and HVAC. Cleaning services may be provided to support a vulnerable person.

Outdoors, there is now more freedom. As long as physical distancing is observed, outdoor maintenance, cleaning, gardening and pet grooming services have resumed for residential premises. Where possible, outdoors work should be performed by one person, unless in the case of safety reasons where more workers are needed. Residential construction is still on pause.

Services that are necessary to support the ongoing use and regulation of electricity, gas, water, sewage and waste and recycling services and their maintenance are permitted.

You can get the latest updates for state government protocols for ACT here.

Are there COVID-19 restrictions on tradesman working on my home in Queensland?

Since the 27th of August 2021, restrictions that applied to the 11 LGAs in South East Queensland have been eased, except for the mask mandate. Queensland is currently open for business and you can employ tradespeople as normal, under COVID Safe Framework. Keep up-to-date with the Queensland governments most current regulations for any changes.

Can tradies work indoors and outdoors in South Australia?

The South Australian government is currently under Level 1 restrictions and has some additional restrictions imposed. You can still have tradies working on your property both inside and outside as long at the employer has a COVID-Safe plan in place, which includes physical distancing, supporting staff to stay home if unwell, mask-wearing, best hygiene practices and cleaning.

Visit SA business restrictions and SA government for more information.

Are there restrictions on tradies working on my home in Western Australia?

There are currently no restrictions in place in Western Australia that affect tradies working on your property. You can find the latest COVID-related information for WA here.

Are there COVID-19 restrictions on tradies in Northern Territory?

There are currently no restrictions in the Northern Territory that impact tradespeople working on your property. You can find the latest COVID-related updates for NT here.

What work can tradesmen do on my home in Tasmania?

While Tasmania’s borders remain closed to Australians from other states and there are currently no lockdowns and restrictions in Tasmania, all regular home renovations, building, maintenance, cleaning and repairs can continue. Please keep up-to-date with the latest protocol on the Tasmanian government’s coronavirus site.

Tips to follow restrictions

Regardless of which state you live in and the current protocols and other restrictions, it’s important that when you have tradies entering your home you maintain the highest hygiene measures possible. In LGAs of concern many of these measures are mandatory:

• Limit movement
• Maintain physical distancing
• Wear face masks when you cannot physically distance
• Clean and sanitise your home.

For more tips read: How to interact with trades during COVID-19

To find out more, or to get a quote, get in touch with a local tradesman today.