Moving Into a New Build in Melbourne: Permit, Dust & Move Day
By Move Near Me team ·
Short answer: Before moving into a new build in Victoria, wait until your building surveyor has issued the occupancy permit and you have the keys. Then do a defects walk-through, clean builder’s dust and residue from top to bottom, photograph any marks, and book removalists with clear access details for the new estate.
When can you start moving into a new build in Victoria?
You can move in once your building surveyor has issued the occupancy permit and the builder has handed over the keys. Keys alone aren’t enough.
The Victorian Government’s planning and building permits guide explains that the occupancy permit confirms the building is fit to live in. The Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC, formerly the VBA) says occupying a new building before the permit is issued is an offence under the Building Act 1993. Your building permit states whether you need an occupancy permit or a certificate of final inspection.
Consumer Affairs Victoria explains when building work counts as complete and when the final payment falls due. This is general information only. Check your building contract and ask your building surveyor about your own home.
How long after handover can you move in?
You can move in on handover day if the occupancy permit is issued and you have the keys. If possible, leave 2–5 days to clean and photograph defects in an empty house.
Bare floors are faster to clean, and marks are easier to spot before furniture covers them. If your lease ends on handover day, book the move for later that day or the next morning, and plan your rental move-out in Victoria around it.
Builder’s clean before moving in: what it covers and what it misses
A builder’s clean is usually a basic handover clean, not a move-in clean. It won’t remove every trace of dust, and what’s included varies by builder, so check your contract.
| Task | Usually in a builder’s clean? | Do it yourself before the furniture arrives? |
|---|---|---|
| Rubble and rubbish removed | Usually | Yes: check the garage and yard |
| Protective film off windows and appliances | Sometimes | Yes: it gets harder to remove over time |
| Paint spots and grout haze | Sometimes, the obvious ones | Yes |
| Inside cupboards and drawers | Often missed | Yes |
| Light fittings and vents | Often missed | Yes: dust falls onto everything below |
| Window and door tracks | Often missed | Yes: grit wears the rollers |
| Floors vacuumed and mopped | Usually a once-over | Yes, last |
How to clean builder’s dust in a new house before the move
Clean from the top down and do the floors last. Builder’s dust is fine and settles again, so vacuum with a fine-dust filter, wipe with damp microfibre, and do a light dust-off about a week after moving in.
- Vents, exhaust fans, ceilings and cornices: soft brush attachment on the vacuum
- Light fittings and ceiling fans: turn the power off at the switch, then wipe
- Tops of doors, frames and built-in robes
- Window sills and tracks: vacuum the grit, then wipe
- Inside cabinetry, then benchtops and skirting boards
- Floors last: vacuum thoroughly, then mop hard floors with a barely damp mop
Open the windows while you work, and change the vacuum bag or filter afterwards.
What should you photograph before the furniture goes in?
Photograph every defect, room by room, before the removalists arrive. Once a wardrobe covers a wall dent, it’s harder to prove the mark was there before you moved in.
Check walls and ceilings (cracks, dents, paint runs), floors (scratches, lifting boards, carpet seams), benchtops (chips, silicone gaps), doors and windows (do they close and lock?) and wet areas (grout, drainage, taps). Keep dated photos and put all correspondence with your builder in writing. Consumer Affairs Victoria explains building problems after settlement, including statutory warranties and how to resolve disputes. Domestic Building Dispute Resolution Victoria (DBDRV) is now part of the BPC, which runs the dispute resolution service.
New build house moving: costs and booking around handover
Book a provisional date when the builder gives you a handover window, and confirm it once the occupancy permit is issued. A weekday move costs less than a Saturday.
Move Near Me charges by the hour at the team rate, with a 2-hour minimum plus a fixed 30-minute call-out, billed in 15-minute blocks. Prices exclude GST.
Example A: 2-bed from Reservoir to Wollert, Wednesday 18 November 2026. Two movers and a 4.5 t truck at $105/hour. Our quote form estimates 4.5–6 billable hours including the call-out. The beds are taken apart and reassembled.
| Item | Calculation | Cost (ex GST) |
|---|---|---|
| Removalists and truck (incl. 30-min call-out) | 4.5–6 hrs × $105 | $472.50–$630 |
| Disassembly and reassembly | 2 × $25 | $50 |
| Total ex GST | $522.50–$680 | |
| Total inc GST | $574.75–$748 |
Example B: 3-bed from Glen Waverley to Clyde North, Saturday 14 November 2026. Three movers and an 8 t truck at $180/hour ($105 base + $45 third mover + $20 larger truck + $10 Saturday). Our quote form estimates 4.75–6.25 billable hours including the call-out. The new driveway isn’t finished, so the truck parks more than 25 m from the door.
| Item | Calculation | Cost (ex GST) |
|---|---|---|
| Removalists and truck (incl. 30-min call-out) | 4.75–6.25 hrs × $180 | $855–$1,125 |
| Long carry (more than 25 m) | 1 × $30 | $30 |
| Disassembly and reassembly | 3 × $25 | $75 |
| Total ex GST | $960–$1,230 | |
| Total inc GST | $1,056–$1,353 |
Moving the same 3-bed on a weekday drops the team rate to $170/hour, so the total becomes $912.50–$1,167.50 ex GST. For a full breakdown of every rate, see how much removalists cost in Melbourne.
Moving into a new estate in Melbourne: access, mud and floors
New estates are harder to reach than established streets, so give the crew directions, a parking plan and floor details before the day.
- Send a dropped pin and a photo of the street sign: new streets in Tarneit, Mickleham or Clyde North may not show up on GPS apps yet
- Mention an unfinished crossover or driveway: if the truck can’t park close, a $30 long carry fee applies
- Warn about building activity: skips and tradie utes can block the street
- Protect new floors: drop sheets at muddy entries, runners over new timber, hybrid or carpet
- Watch fresh paint: new door frames and corners mark easily
- List flat-pack beds and wardrobes that need taking apart and putting back together ($25 per item)
- Clear packaging waste: we can take away cardboard and wrapping from $90 per load
Our house removals Melbourne service covers growth areas such as Point Cook, Fraser Rise, Mernda and Officer.
How do you set up utilities, nbn and bins in a new build?
Start before handover, because nbn and bins depend on the developer or council.
nbn: nbn’s new developments FAQ says timing depends on the developer’s application and it can’t guarantee timeframes. Ask your developer for the estimated “Ready for Service” date.
Electricity, gas and water: arrange accounts and any new connections early, and ask your builder which meters are installed.
Council bins: the rules differ by council.
| Council | What the council’s website says |
|---|---|
| Hume (Mickleham, Craigieburn, Kalkallo) | Its new home bin order form asks you to upload the occupancy certificate |
| Wyndham (Tarneit, Truganina, Manor Lakes) | The bin request page says bins are delivered once the property is occupied |
| Casey (Clyde North, Cranbourne East, Botanic Ridge) | Check with the council on its bins page |
For everything else, use our moving house checklist for Melbourne.
FAQ
Q: Can I move into my new build before the occupancy permit is issued? No. If your building permit requires an occupancy permit, the Building and Plumbing Commission (formerly the VBA) says occupying the new building before it’s issued is an offence under the Building Act 1993. Check your building permit and ask your building surveyor if you’re unsure.
Q: Is a builder’s clean enough before moving in? Usually not. A builder’s clean is often a basic handover clean that leaves fine dust in vents, cupboards and window tracks. Do your own top-to-bottom clean before the furniture arrives.
Q: Why does builder’s dust keep coming back? Fine dust settles in vents and on high surfaces, then falls again over the following days. Vacuum with a fine-dust filter, wipe with damp microfibre, and do a light dust-off about a week after moving in.
Q: Does an unfinished driveway cost extra on moving day? Only if the truck has to park more than 25 m from the door. Move Near Me then adds a $30 long carry fee, so mention an unfinished crossover or driveway when you book.
Q: When will my council deliver bins to a new build? It depends on the council. Hume’s new home bin order form asks for the occupancy certificate, while Wyndham says bins are delivered once the property is occupied.
Handover date set? Get an instant moving estimate, and if you’d like help unpacking into your new home, see our packing services Melbourne.