Fair Trading Deputy Commissioner Steve Griffin today said a man working as an unlicensed plasterer has been ordered to pay $6,409 in fines and costs by Eden Local Court.

Mr Griffin said Steven Bateson of Blackburn in Victoria was working as an unlicensed plasterer at a residential building site in Merimbula NSW during August and September 2008.

“In fact Mr Bateson has never held a licence or certificate under the NSW Home Building Act,” he said.

“Mr Bateson ignored the laws that govern the NSW home building industry and has been issued with a hefty fine as a result.

“The licensing system exists so consumers and other traders can be confident they are dealing with tradespeople who have the qualifications and skills to undertake the work.”

Any person who carries out residential building work in NSW worth more than $1,000 in labour and materials must have a licence.

For specialist work, such as plumbing, electrical, air conditioning and refrigeration there is no threshold for labour and materials.

A trader’s credentials can be quickly and easily established by checking licence details with NSW Fair Trading and asking for references and contact details of recent customers.

Consumers can check the validity and currency of a trader’s licence online at the Fair Trading website or by calling 13 32 20.

Individuals carrying out unlicensed building work face fines of up to $22,000 and corporations face fines of up to $110,000.

Back to Media releases