How to Check the Buildings Department Window Inspection Register: Verifying Qualified Persons & Registered Contractors
After receiving a mandatory window inspection notice, owners must appoint a "Qualified Person" to carry out the inspection and supervise the repairs. But with so many companies around, how do you confirm someone really holds a Buildings Department–recognised qualification rather than taking jobs without registration? In fact, the Buildings Department maintains a public online register that anyone can check for themselves. This guide walks you step by step through verifying the qualification and licence of a window inspection company or person, so you avoid hiring an unqualified party and having your documents rejected.
What Is a "Qualified Person" in Mandatory Window Inspection?
Under the Mandatory Window Inspection Scheme (MWIS), the "Qualified Person" appointed to carry out prescribed window inspection or supervise prescribed repairs must be listed in the register kept by the Building Authority (the Director of Buildings). According to the Buildings Department, Qualified Persons include the following categories:
For the inspection and repair of ordinary residential windows, the party owners most commonly appoint is a Registered Minor Works Contractor. Amgen is a Registered Minor Works Contractor, licence number MWC 316/2021, and can handle inspection and repairs in one stop.
Why Must You Verify the Qualification?
Verifying the qualification is not overkill — it is a key step in protecting your own interests.
First, only documents (Form MWI1) submitted by a Qualified Person on the register will be accepted by the Buildings Department. If you hire an unqualified party, then even after paying and having the works done, the documents may not be accepted and you'll have to redo everything — a poor outcome.
Second, verifying the qualification helps you avoid getting caught out. Companies that are unregistered or overstate their qualifications often lack oversight on pricing, quality and after-sales protection. For a full look at how to choose a reliable company, see how to choose a window inspection company.
How to Check the Buildings Department Register: A 4-Step Guide
The Buildings Department provides a "Search of Registers" online tool on its official website, free for the public to use. The checking steps are roughly as follows:
If you are hiring a Registered Minor Works Contractor, you can also verify directly against their licence number (for example, Amgen's MWC 316/2021) in the register.
The 4 Things to Check When Searching the Register
Finding the name is only the first step; you also need to check the following details to truly confirm the qualification:
Once the check is complete, you can hire with confidence. For the inspection process and follow-up documents, see the 5 steps after a mandatory window inspection notice.
A Real Scenario: Check the Register Before Hiring
Take a common scenario: an owner receives a mandatory window inspection notice and asks two companies for quotes. One quote is noticeably low but cannot provide a clear registration number.
The owner then logs into the Buildings Department online register and searches by company name, finding that the low-price company is not in the Registered Minor Works Contractor register; the other can be verified in the register by its MWC licence number. In the end the owner chose the company whose qualification was verified, ensuring the inspection documents could be submitted to the Buildings Department smoothly. This shows how one simple register check can steer you clear of potential risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a fee to check the Buildings Department register?
No. The Buildings Department's "Search of Registers" is a public online tool that anyone can use for free — just enter a company name or registration number to verify. This is the most direct way for owners to protect their interests and avoid hiring an unqualified party.
A company says it is "government-recognised" — does that mean it is qualified?
Not necessarily. "Government-recognised" is a vague claim, not a formal qualification. The genuine credential is a registration number listed in the Buildings Department register (such as a Registered Minor Works Contractor number, MWC XXX/XXXX). Owners should ask for the registration number and verify it in the register themselves.
Does any registered contractor automatically qualify to do window inspection?
It depends on their registration type and items. Inspection and window replacement are minor works, so confirm the party is a Registered Minor Works Contractor whose class and items cover the required works (a full window replacement is Class II Minor Works). Check these details when searching the register.
Conclusion
Before hiring a window inspection company, spending a few minutes verifying the qualification in the Buildings Department online register effectively avoids the risk of hiring an unqualified party and having documents rejected. Checking the registration type, class, validity and company name is a step every owner should take.
Amgen is a Registered Minor Works Contractor (MWC 316/2021) whose qualification is publicly verifiable, handling inspection, repairs and documentation in one stop. If you have received a mandatory window inspection notice, learn more via our mandatory window inspection service, or WhatsApp Amgen at 6586 3435 to arrange a free on-site assessment. For details on the inspection report, see the Form MWI1 window inspection report explained.
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