What handymen are covered for?
VIZ covers handymen for the scope of work reasonably expected of the trade. OSCA is the Australian Bureau of Statistics' national occupation classification system - the reference VIZ uses to define what activities sit clearly within each trade. The handyperson classification (code 899331) sets the baseline: if an activity is listed there, it clearly falls within your covered business activities - the scope of work your policy responds to.
Under OSCA 899331, handymen can be covered for:
• Performing routine maintenance tasks, such as changing light bulbs and fixing leaks
• Cleaning and maintaining buildings, grounds and facilities
• Repairing and replacing broken or damaged fixtures, furniture and equipment
• Painting walls, ceilings and other surfaces
• Operating and maintaining hand and power tools
• Assisting with the installation of new equipment or fixtures
• Inspecting buildings and facilities for safety hazards, and reporting any issues
• Performing landscaping and gardening tasks
• Moving and arranging furniture and equipment as needed
• Keeping records of maintenance and repair work performed
If it's on the OSCA list above, it is within your covered business activities. If it's not on the list, it's not automatically excluded - it just needs to be reasonably expected of a handyman.
What if you do more than general maintenance?
While many day-to-day repair and maintenance activities fall within handyman work, larger, more specialised or complex projects may require work from a specialist contractor. If you take on these types of contracts, you can add the respective occupation to your policy.
For example, repairing or repainting sections of a property as part of routine maintenance would generally sit within handyman work. However, being contracted to fully repaint an entire commercial building - work that would ordinarily be performed by a specialist painting contractor - may require Painting to be added as a separate occupation.
Occupations that can be added to your VIZ policy include:
• Awning, shed, garage door, patio, and blind/curtain installation
• Cabinet making and installing
• Carpentry and joinery
• Caulking and mastic sealant services
• Fencing
• Flyscreen installation
• Furniture installation, assembly, repair and restoration
• Grouting
• Guttering and fascia board installation and cleaning
• Landscaping, mowing and gardening
• Plastering, ceiling fixing and rendering
• Pool maintenance and cleaning
• Pressure washing
• Renovations (residential only, contracts under $200,000)
• Security screen and blind installation
• Shelving and racking
• Shower installation
• Tiling
• Water and damp proofing
• Window cleaning
With VIZ you can cover 3 occupations under one policy and one premium.
Residential and commercial work
VIZ covers handymen across residential and commercial work. Private homes, rental properties, offices, retail precincts, and business premises all sit within the covered business activities.
Property managers and real estate agencies regularly use handymen to maintain their rental portfolios. Handling maintenance calls, between-tenant repairs, and routine upkeep across a book of tenancies sits within the covered business activities for a VIZ handyman policy.
Property managers and commercial clients will often ask for a Certificate of Currency before work starts. VIZ issues yours by email the moment the policy goes active. It also sits in your phone's digital wallet through the VIZ Tradie Pass.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does VIZ only cover basic handyman and maintenance work?
No. A VIZ policy covers the wide scope of work reasonably expected of a handyman, starting with the OSCA handyperson definition (899331) - routine maintenance, minor repairs, basic painting, fixture replacement, grounds upkeep and more. For handymen who also perform other trade activities, many of those occupations can be added to the same policy rather than taking out separate cover for each.
I do handyman work plus mowing and window cleaning - do I need a separate policy?
No. You can simply add Window cleaning and Gardening, Lawnmowing and Landscaping as additional occupations to your handyman VIZ tradies insurance policy. VIZ allows up to 3 occupations on one policy, all under one premium and on one Certificate of Currency.
I work for a real estate agency doing maintenance across their rental properties - can I get cover with VIZ?
Yes. Carrying out maintenance and repairs across a real estate agency's rental portfolio is within the covered business activities for a VIZ handyman policy. That includes routine maintenance calls, between-tenant repairs, and general upkeep across residential tenancies. Property managers typically require a Certificate of Currency before work begins - VIZ issues yours by email the moment the policy goes active.
Does handyman insurance cover commercial work?
Yes. VIZ covers handymen at commercial sites including offices, retail precincts, and business premises. Commercial clients often require a minimum of $10M or $20M public liability cover as a condition of the contract. Both limits are available with a VIZ policy.
How much does handyman insurance cost?
Handyman public liability insurance starts from $35 per month with VIZ. The final premium depends on your public liability limit ($5M, $10M or $20M), the state you work in, and the number of employees in your business. Head to our handyman insurance page for a full breakdown with worked examples.