How to check if a builder is in liquidation

Search the builder’s company name or ACN on ASIC’s published notices website, where registered liquidators lodge insolvency notices, then confirm the company record on ASIC’s registers. Our ASIC notices tracker lists recent notices naming building and development companies. Remember that liquidation is only one kind of appointment, and that a sole trader is not a company.

An insolvency notice is a filed record of a legal step. It is not a finding about how the company was run or about the people behind it. This guide explains where to look, how to read what you find, and why the answer matters if you have a contract with the builder.

Where do liquidation notices appear?

ASIC runs a published notices website where you can search and browse insolvency and deregistration notices. These notices used to be printed in newspapers and the Business Gazette.

Three things to know:

• Registered liquidators must lodge most notices with ASIC for publication on that site.
• The site only holds notices published from 1 July 2012.
• Search by the company’s exact name or its ACN (the 9 digit Australian Company Number on your contract or invoice). Trading names can differ from the registered company name.

Is there a quicker way for builders and developers?

Yes. Our builder and developer insolvency notices tracker pulls ASIC published notices that name building, construction and development companies in Queensland, NSW, Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania. Each row gives the company, the notice type exactly as ASIC words it, the filing date and a link to the notice. Companies with more than one notice, or that we have reported on, have their own page with every notice we have recorded.

The tracker covers recent notices and building related companies only, so treat it as a starting point and confirm with ASIC.

What does liquidation mean?

ASIC describes two types of liquidation for an insolvent company:

• Creditors’ voluntary liquidation.
• Court liquidation, ordered by a court. ASIC notices for these often refer to a winding up order.

In both, a liquidator winds up the company, usually selling its assets and distributing the proceeds to creditors.

What does voluntary administration mean?

In a voluntary administration, an independent registered liquidator, the voluntary administrator, takes control of the company. ASIC says the process “is designed to resolve a company’s future direction quickly”. Creditors may approve a deed of company arrangement (DOCA), under which the company pays all or part of its debts and is then free of them. A company in administration may keep trading, so check what the notice actually says.

What does receivership mean?

A receiver is appointed by a secured creditor or by the court, and takes control of some or all of a company’s assets. Receivership is a different appointment from liquidation or administration.

ASIC’s page describes “external administration” as a company being put under the control of an independent external administrator (a liquidator or voluntary administrator) or a receiver. You will also see notices for small business restructuring, where a restructuring practitioner is appointed.

Where can I see more company filings?

ASIC lists “Search ASIC registers” among its online services, through ASIC Connect. That is where you can confirm the company’s registered details. ASIC says administrators’ annual administration returns can also be found on ASIC Connect.

What if the builder is a sole trader?

A sole trader is not a company, so ASIC’s company insolvency notices will not cover them. Personal insolvency is handled through a separate system. If your builder trades in their own name, get advice on how to check their position.

Why does it matter for a warranty claim?

The answer changes what you can claim:

• Queensland: the QBCC says an insolvent contractor’s licence must also have been cancelled by the QBCC before a non-completion claim is eligible (QBCC).
• NSW: icare lists insolvency, such as bankruptcy or liquidation, as a trigger for a Home Building Compensation Fund claim (icare).
• Victoria: for eligible contracts signed on or after 1 July 2026, Home Warranty claims can be made when an issue is first identified, without waiting for insolvency (Victorian Government).

For the next steps, see what happens to your deposit if your builder is insolvent and our guide to home warranty insurance in QLD, NSW and Victoria.

A quick checklist

1. Find the builder’s registered company name and ACN on your contract.
2. Search both on ASIC’s published notices website.
3. Check our ASIC notices tracker for recent notices on building companies.
4. Read the notice type carefully: liquidation, administration, receivership and restructuring are different steps.
5. Confirm the company record on ASIC’s registers.
6. Contact the appointed practitioner named in the notice if you are owed money or work, and check your warranty deadlines.

Primary sources

• ASIC: Insolvency notices
• ASIC: Insolvency for investors and shareholders
• QBCC: Home warranty for non-completion claims
• icare: What is icare HBCF
• Victorian Government: Home Warranty insurance

General information only, not legal or financial advice. Check the primary sources above or get professional advice for your situation.