Building supervisor fined $2.5k for bodged renovation

Six years ago, Insideout Building was contracted for a major renovation work on a residential property, including the demolition of part of a single-storey house and the construction of a second storey.

According to Building and Energy Western Australia, a lack of proper management and supervision, along with poor building practices, resulted in significant risks to the safety and durability of the renovated dwelling.

The state’s Building Services Board took disciplinary action against Busio for the issues with management and supervision. Meanwhile, the owners of the home have initiated separate court proceedings in relation to other aspects of the build.

Insideout Building entered external administration in January 2024.

Saj Abdoolakhan, Building Commissioner for Western Australia, warned companies that inadequate management will not be tolerated.

“A nominated supervisor’s responsibilities must be carried out actively and diligently to ensure building compliance and safety,” said Abdoolakhan.

“Although the home owners were able to access home indemnity insurance after the building contractor’s insolvency, this project has obviously had significant financial and emotional impacts.”

Busio is not the only building supervisor who has faced disciplinary action this year from Western Australia’s Building Services Board.

In July, the supervisor of a liquidated Perth construction company was fined $40,000 for negligence when supervising projects in Beckenham and North Coogee.

And in April, a Wellard man was fined $5,000 for falsely claiming eight years of experience as a site supervisor in Victoria.