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Qld property owners warned after shoddy builder fined $15k
Queensland property owners have been urged to be vigilant after a dodgy tradie was fined for the second time in 13 months for unlicensed building work.
A builder has been fined $15,000 for unlawfully carrying out building work at a Brisbane property and failing to provide a written contract.
Sapati Michael Faraimo’s case was heard in Beenleigh Magistrates Court on 19 November 2025, for charges related to work done at a property in Daisy Hill in 2022.
The Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC), which brought the case to court, said Faraimo was previously convicted and fined $10,000 on 30 October 2024, for unlawful building work in 2021.
QBCC CEO and Commissioner Angelo Lambrinos said the QBCC was committed to a fair approach to compliance, but warned the watchdog would not hesitate to take strong action against breaches of the law.
“I will unapologetically take all appropriate legislative action when someone is repeatedly or knowingly doing the wrong thing,” Lambrinos said.
He said that the QBCC had a responsibility to act to protect homeowners and uphold industry standards, as well as to champion the reputation of hard-working professionals.
“Protecting the integrity of the industry takes a united effort. We rely on homeowners to speak up and licensed professionals to share their on -the-ground intelligence,” he said.
“When something feels wrong or is wrong, tell us – your information helps us take decisive action against unlicensed operators who undermine trust and fairness”.
Lambrinos said that homeowners need to check whether an individual is licensed, review their compliance history, understand the allowable maximum deposits, and ensure that a written, dated, and signed contract is in place before work begins.
The watchdog said owners can use the QBCC’s Home Owner Hub to avoid common pitfalls and understand their protections, while builders can use the QBCC’s Digital Licence on their phone to enable owners to check their credentials.