Source : Perth Now news
A host of tradies have been named and shamed by South Australia’s consumer watchdog in a crackdown on shoddy workmanship.
SA’s Consumer and Business Services has dished out more than $200,000 in fines to builders, plumbers, gasfitters and electricians this year alone after setting up a new dedicated team to target the building industry.
And the watchdog has published a list of those hit by enforcement action as part of the operation, including a builder who was also recently subject to a public warning notice.
Last week, CBS published a warning about home renovator Jase Henry, 38, after the watchdog received 13 complaints about his work.
And Mr Henry has now become one of eight names publicly released by the CBS after being fined $25,000 for advertising himself as a licensed contractor despite not having a licence.
Mr Henry’s lawyers told The Advertiser that he refused to comment on the CBS list.
CBS said enforcement action had been taken against the following tradies:
• Khorshed Alam, 49 of Seacliff Park – expiations totalling $75,000, after allegedly claiming to be an “owner builder” of two properties in Salisbury and one in Elizabeth East. He was expiated for three counts of operating without a licence and three counts of performing building work without Builders Indemnity Insurance.
• Jase Henry, 38 of Klemzig trading as SOS Home Renovations – expiations totalling $25,000 after allegedly holding himself out as a licensed building work contractor when he was not appropriately licensed – expiations for five counts of operating without a licence. Investigations are continuing into other potential breaches.
• Anu Anand, 44 of Findon trading as The Décor Planet SA – expiations totalling $5000 for allegedly operating without a licence.
• Ras Pro Pty Ltd, whose director is Hassan Ayoub, 25, of Hope Valley – expiations totalling $5000 for allegedly advertising for building work without a licence.
• Mohammed Konneh, 29, of Parafield Gardens, trading as MFK Roofing – expiations totalling $5000 for allegedly advertising for building work without a licence following complaints of incomplete and poor-quality work.
• Michael Wheeler, 38 of Port Noarlunga trading as Maintena Property Maintenance – expiation totalling $5000 for allegedly operating without a licence.
• Brady Lachlan Moldenhauer, 24 of Gawler South – expiations totalling $10000 for allegedly failing to attend two compulsory conciliation conferences.
• Toby Brett Maple-Harradine, 31 of Aldinga Beach – expiations totalling $5000 for allegedly failing to attend a compulsory conciliation conference.
It’s not suggested in the CBS notice that either Mr Moldenhauer or Mr Maple-Harradine were unlicensed.
One of the traders, Mr Konneh, told The Advertiser that he had recently arrived from Brisbane but was asked to take down his website after working on up to six jobs that paid between $25,000 and $30,000.
He said he would contact CBS about his warning.
The others all did not respond to requests for comment.
“For most people, building a home is your biggest investment, and we are acting to protect South Australians,” Consumer and Business Affairs Minister Michael Brown said.
“Most tradies do the right thing, but we accept no excuses for unlicensed work, missing indemnity insurance or leaving homeowners stranded.
“We refuse to tolerate this behaviour. Our dedicated compliance team is actively cracking down on these rogue operators.”
