NSW Fair Trading Minister, Linda Burney, today said the recent heavy fine imposed on a Newcastle man for numerous breaches of the Home Building Act should serve as a warning to all unlicensed tradespeople.     

Ms Burney said Newcastle Local Court convicted Mr Glenn William Lawrence for carrying out unlicensed residential building work, unlicensed contracting of residential building work, failing to provide home warranty insurance and receiving an excessive deposit for work. 

“Mr Lawrence was ordered to pay a total of $21,000 in fines and costs,” Ms Burney said. 

“The court heard a number of examples where Mr Lawrence had breached home building laws and where work had been left defective, incomplete, unsafe and in some cases homes left inhabitable.

“Mr Lawrence had previously received warning letters and penalty notices for breaches of the Home Building Act but it seems he chooses to learn his lessons the hard way. 

“Fair Trading has zero tolerance for unlicensed activity and failing to provide consumers insurance protection. They must abide by the laws put in place to protect consumers.

“If you think you can get away with ignoring the law and your responsibilities to consumers, think again,” Ms Burney said. 

“Consumers should always ask for licence details and check those details before signing any contract with a builder.”

Checking if a builder or tradesperson is licensed is as easy as performinga licence check on this website.

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