House Relocation FAQs Cairns

Yes. We hold QBCC Licence #733646, which is the licence required under Queensland law for structural building relocation work. Homeowners can verify our licence number independently on the QBCC public register at any time. We recommend that all homeowners ask any contractor to produce their QBCC licence number before any structural work begins on their property.

We carry structural transit insurance, which protects the building during physical relocation; public liability insurance, which covers third-party property damage and injury risk on site; and contract works insurance, which covers the full scope of the job from start to completion. Certificates of currency are available on request before any work commences.

Yes. Under the Queensland Building and Construction Commission Act, structural building work — including restumping, house lifting, and structural relocation — requires a valid QBCC licence. Engaging an unlicensed contractor may void your building insurance and expose you to personal liability. If you have any questions about licensing requirements, call us and we will clarify what applies to your job.

We work with timber-framed and steel-framed residential homes, traditional Queenslanders, post-war timber cottages, and modular buildings. Slab-on-ground concrete structures cannot be relocated. If you are unsure whether your home qualifies, call us to arrange a site assessment before making any assumptions about eligibility — it is the fastest way to get a definitive answer.

They are related but distinct. Restumping replaces deteriorated stumps to restore structural stability at the existing floor height. House lifting raises the entire structure to a new height — typically to create usable space below, improve flood resilience, or transition from timber to steel, galvanised, or hot-dipped posts. Both can be carried out at the same time on the same job.

No. We are a structural building relocation specialist, not a furniture removalist. We move the physical structure of a home — the building itself — not its contents. Before any structural relocation begins, homeowners should engage a separate removalist contractor to clear furniture and personal belongings from the property.

At a high level, structural relocation involves a structural assessment of the building, council development approval and building certification, road transport permits and utility clearances, disconnection of services, lifting the structure onto transport equipment, road transit, and setting down on new or prepared foundations. For full detail, visit our structural building relocation service page.

In most cases, yes. House moves and structural lifts in Cairns typically require a development approval (DA) from Cairns Regional Council and a building approval from a private certifier or the council building assessment team. Exact requirements depend on whether the structure is moving to a new site or being raised on the same block. We coordinate this process with our clients from the outset.

Responsibility is split by permit type. We coordinate road transport permits, police escort arrangements, and utility line clearances with Ergon Energy and NBN. Development approvals and building certifications are the homeowner's or developer's responsibility — though we assist clients in understanding exactly what is required and who the right people to engage are.

Timelines vary significantly. Straightforward on-block repositioning decisions can take four to eight weeks, while complex relocations involving road transport across multiple council areas may take considerably longer. Early engagement with the relevant council is essential. We advise all clients to begin the approval process before confirming job dates to avoid costly scheduling delays.

Pricing depends on the number of stumps to be replaced or installed, material choice (timber versus steel, galvanised, or hot-dipped posts), site access conditions including clearance, slope, and soil type, and any council fees or engineering reports required. No fixed rate applies — every job is assessed on site. Call 0418 730 039 for a site-specific quote.

The primary cost drivers unique to FNQ include distance from our Portsmith base to the job site, road transport permit complexity across multiple council jurisdictions, police escort requirements, utility line clearance, the structural condition of the building, and wet-season scheduling constraints. Remote sites such as Cape York attract higher logistics costs than inner Cairns suburbs.

Timeline varies by the size and condition of the home. A straightforward partial restump on a standard Cairns home typically takes one to three days on site, while a full restump on a large elevated Queenslander may take up to a week. The site assessment, material ordering, and any council requirements all add lead time before physical work begins.

The site assessment covers a visual inspection of all stumps for rot, movement, and subsidence; measurement of floor height and bearer condition; assessment of site access for equipment; and identification of any structural complications that could affect scope or cost. The assessment informs the written quote. Call 0418 730 039 to book your assessment.

Our primary service area includes Cairns (home base at 6-8 Bollard Street, Portsmith), Mossman, Port Douglas, Atherton, Mareeba, Innisfail, and Cape York. We also regularly work across Gordonvale, Babinda, Kuranda, Smithfield, Redlynch, Trinity Beach, Edmonton, and Bentley Park. Coverage extends further north for appropriate projects — call to confirm coverage for your specific location.

Yes, we cover Mossman and the wider Douglas Shire regularly. The drive from our Portsmith base is approximately 78 kilometres north via the Captain Cook Highway — around 60 to 70 minutes under normal conditions. We have completed restumping and lifting jobs throughout the Mossman area and surrounding Douglas Shire communities. Visit our Mossman page for location-specific detail.

Yes. Cape York is within our service area for appropriate structural relocation projects — remote site logistics are factored into project scoping and cost from the start. Innisfail, as the southern boundary of our service area, is also covered. Homeowners in either location are encouraged to call us directly to discuss their project and site conditions.