Building a new home is exciting, but there is no doubt it comes with a lot of moving parts. Permits, reports, council requirements… it can feel overwhelming before the build has even begun. That’s why we take a unique approach to asset protection that takes the stress off your shoulders from day one.
Put simply, asset protection is about making sure your property, your neighbour’s property and surrounding public property is protected from damage during a building project.
With us, you won’t have to worry about what could happen during your build, because we manage the entire process for you. So, here’s what you do need to know.
What is asset protection?
Asset protection refers to the practical and legal steps taken before, during and after construction, to protect existing assets from damage; both yours and surrounding, public or private property. It’s there to reduce financial and legal risk if something goes wrong.
Some of these steps include:
- Clearly documenting the condition of existing assets before construction starts
- Transparently defining who is responsible for rectifying damage
- Managing council requirements, permits and bonds; so you don’t have to
- Ensuring any damage is properly rectified
What is an Asset Protection Permit?
An Asset Protection Permit works to protect public infrastructure such as footpaths, stormwater pits, nature strips and street trees, and is something the local council requires before any building project can commence. It involves a pre-construction inspection of council property, and a refundable bond payment. The permit acts to define liability, ensuring that the cost of repairing any damage does not fall on [GD1.1]ratepayers. Read more in our article, Everything you need to know about Asset Protection Permits.
What is our asset protection process?
At Henley, we don’t just guide you through the asset protection process, we actively manage it on your behalf. This is not standard practice. Many other builders leave it up to their customers to arrange pre construction conditions reports, permits, rectification works and bond recovery. But not at Henley.
Step | What we do | What many other builders do |
Apply for Asset Protection Permit though the council | ✅ We organise it for you | ❌ Owner’s responsibility |
Pay Asset Protection Permit fee | ✅We make the payment and include the cost as an item in your tender | ❌ Owner’s responsibility |
Produce pre‑construction conditions report | ✅ We arrange it for you | ❌ Owner’s responsibility |
Pay council bond | ✅ We pay the bond | ✅ Usually paid |
Recover bond after construction | ✅ We chase and manage it | ❌ Owner’s responsibility |
What about knockdown rebuild (KDR) projects?
Even for KDR projects, we will still step in to manage asset protection for the construction of your new home, as outlined above. As a builder, we do not look after the demolition of existing homes, and therefore asset protection required for the demolition process does need to be organised by the owner.
Who pays for what?
Asset Protection Permit fee and bond
- We pay the permit fee on your behalf. The cost (usually between $150-$400) is passed on in your tender.
- We pay the bond. The amount is covered by us; not passed onto you. Bond amounts vary depending on location and site conditions.
- Greenfield estates: typically $2,000 – $5,000
- KDR: can be up to $15,000 in some circumstances
Cost of rectifying any damages
- Any existing damage (identified in the pre-construction conditions report[GD5.1]) is the homeowner’s responsibility to repair post-settlement, if required by the council.
Any pre-existing damage is outlined in your tender document. Pre-existing damage falls outside the coverage of the Asset Protection Permit.
- Any damage caused to public or private assets during the construction process is our responsibility to fix post-settlement.
This also includes any traffic management or public liability insurance required for the repair works, which some builders ask customers to arrange or pay for these themselves; we don’t.
The part most people don’t tell you about…
Councils can be reluctant to release asset protection bonds, and in some cases, funds can be held for 3–5 years if not actively followed up. Other builders often leave it to the homeowner to chase the bond- long after the build is finished and the excitement has moved on.
That’s why it’s a huge relief for our customers to have the entire process managed by us. We pay the bond, then we recover the bond; so you don’t have to. You won’t have to deal with council correspondence, or stress about damages that might have happened during the build, outside of your control.
Ask other builders about their asset protection process
Not all builders handle asset protection the same way, and very few builders will put their hand up to manage it for you.
When choosing a builder, it’s worth asking:
- Who applies for the asset protection permit?
- Who organises the pre construction conditions report?
- Who pays the bond and who recovers it?
- What happens if council delays releasing the bond?
If the answer is ‘that’s up to you’, it’s something you’ll need to factor into your personal time, costs and mental capacity.
Why it matters
Asset protection isn’t just a box ticking exercise. Done properly, it:
- Protects you from unexpected repair costs
- Reduces legal and financial risk
- Saves time, stress, and ongoing council follow-ups
- Ensures a smoother build experience overall
It’s one of those behind-the-scenes processes that makes a big difference, and one we’re proud to take care of for our customers. Because building your home should be about imagining your future… not chasing councils or worrying about what could go wrong.
Read more about The Henley Way or get all the information on how we strive to deliver the highest level of support for our customers on our build process page.
