6 July 2018

Unlicensed builder prosecuted for carrying out restricted building work

A Whangarei man has been prosecuted for doing work that should have been carried out by a Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP) with carpentry and roofing licenses.

Mr Daniel Reynolds was sentenced in the Whangarei District Court and ordered to pay a fine of $2,000 for his work on a residential property that he was unqualified to undertake, despite him assuring the homeowner otherwise.

Mr Reynolds was also ordered to pay the homeowners $1,000 as emotional harm reparation and court costs of $130.

Investigations Team Leader Simon Thomas says, “Mr Reynolds is not an LBP and was not licensed to carry-out the extensive work that related to the structure and weathertightness of the Whangarei home.

“Mr Reynolds accepted he was not licensed or supervised while he carried out the work, but thought the job was not classed as restricted building work, nor did it require building consent. He conveyed this to the homeowners and, as they had no knowledge in this area, they trusted his judgement.

“LBPs and unlicensed tradespeople alike, all need to be aware of what work is within their limits, because if not, this can be detrimental to the consumer and the tradesperson themselves, as we’ve seen in this case.

The restricted building work involved building a new floor structure across an empty stairwell, removing an internal staircase and applying a waterproofing membrane system to a veranda.

“If you want to do restricted building work, you must be a Licensed Building Practitioner, or be supervised by one.

“The bottom line is that tradespeople need to be aware of what they’re qualified to carry-out, and what consents are needed for the work. Breaches of the Building Act 2004 are taken seriously and we will prosecute when required.

“We encourage consumers to visit the public register of LBPs, and more information about restricted building work and why you must use LBPs for some residential building projects can be found on building.govt.nz.

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