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Unlicensed Qld builder fined $8k over dodgy work
A dodgy Queensland builder has been fined $8,000 and ordered to pay additional compensation after carrying out work on a home without a licence.
A Queensland man has been fined $8,000 and ordered to pay compensation after undertaking building work without an appropriate licence on the Sunshine Coast.
Ricky Ayden Potter, sole trader of his business, R&A Mini Earthworks, was convicted and fined in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court last month.
The charge related to the installation of a retaining wall and fence, and associated landscaping and drainage at a Sippy Downs residence, between April and October 2023.
According to The Courier Mail, prosecutor Evelyn Clark said the $90,000 Potter quoted for the work was significant, and the work wasn’t all carried out.
The property owner complained to the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) about Potter’s work, with an investigation confirming some of it was defective and he had misquoted the costs.
Potter was convicted of one count of conducting building work while unlicensed.
In addition to the $8,000 fine, he was ordered to pay $758 in compensation to the home owner for the rectification of the drainage.
CEO and commissioner, Angelo Lambrinos, said the case served as a timely reminder for consumers to always engage licensed tradies, regardless of the size of the project.
“Owners should check if an individual is licensed, review their compliance history, understand allowable maximum deposits, and ensure a written, dated and signed contract is in place before work begins,” he said.
Lambrinos also urged home owners to understand the protections in place, like the QBCC’s Queensland Home Warranty Scheme (QHWS), a compulsory government protection for owners undertaking specific, eligible residential building, and renovation work.
“Cover under the QHWS is mandatory for all residential construction work performed in Queensland valued more than $3,300,” he said.
“This is a safety net that protects consumers from losses if a licensed contractor fails to finish work, fix defects, or if the build is affected by subsidence issues.”
Lambrinos said that of the 900,000 QHWS policies that were active at any point in time, less than 2 per cent resulted in a claim in any one year, indicating a high level of compliance.
“We know that most licensees take real pride in their work and want to do the right thing, and this shows in the numbers,” he said.
“However, even one case of deliberate or repeat non-compliance is one too many, which is why the QBCC will unapologetically enforce the law where someone knowingly or repeatedly does the wrong thing.”
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