Sydney builder fined $470k for unlicensed work
A Sydney builder has been fined $473,000 following over 40 breaches, including unlicensed work, excessive deposits, and work undertaken without insurance.
The Building Commission NSW has found a Sydney builder guilty of more than 40 breaches after he carried out construction work without a licence or insurance.
Sole trader Anthony Abi-Merhi, who operates Triscapes, has been fined $470,000 for performing unlicensed work, requesting excessive deposits, and failing to provide Home Building Compensation Fund insurance for four customers in 2022.
During the investigation, Building Commission NSW found that Abi-Merhi quoted one customer $99,500 for a job, when the final bill cost the consumer $142,000.
The state commission also found the builder guilty of 27 offences of carrying out landscaping work and demanding or requesting payment without insurance.
NSW Minister for Building Anoulack Chanthivong said the Building Commission NSW inspectors ensure that the construction industry follows state standards.
“This serious $470,000 fine for unlicensed building work sends a clear message to builders – the Minns government is serious about eradicating cowboys and shonks from the NSW home construction industry,” Chanthivong said.
In NSW, builders require a licence or certificate for any residential building work, including construction, repairs, renovating or revamping a property valued at more than $5,000 in labour and materials.
For projects over $5,000, the maximum deposit cannot exceed 10 per cent of the labour and material cost.
Builders must also have Home Building Compensation Fund Insurance for construction projects exceeding $20,000, which they must obtain before accepting deposits or starting work.
Chanthivong said consumers need to do their due diligence before engaging with traders.
“Consumers should only engage a contractor once they have researched their credentials, including by looking them up on the Verify Licence website, to make sure their licence is valid and whether the licence has any conditions or regulatory issues attached to it.
“You can also check user ratings online from other consumers who have used the trader, and make sure you use the handy Contract Checklist page on the Fair Trading website before signing a contract and paying any money,” Chanthivong concluded.