Victorians who are beginning the process of rebuilding or repairing homes damaged by the recent flooding in Central and Northern parts of the state need to watch out for unregistered practitioners.

The Victorian Building Authority (VBA) warns consumers to check that any builder or plumber advertising services in the wake of the emergency events is registered and/or licensed.

The VBA’s state building surveyor Andrew Cialini says that it was unfortunately common for unscrupulous operators to take advantage of a crisis and offer services when they aren’t qualified to do so.

“We encourage all Victorians to check whether a practitioner they are hiring is registered and or licensed to carry out the services they are offering,” he says.

“In Victoria, building practitioners must be registered with the VBA to perform certain kinds of work, so do your research and ask for some key information up front, so there are no shocks later on.”

Andrew adds that consumers should be wary of anyone offering their building or plumbing services via online marketplaces and through apps.

“With the rise of online apps and websites where anyone can advertise their services without qualifications, it’s important to always check the credentials of anyone you hire,” he explains.

“You can check whether the builder or plumber you’re looking to use is registered with the VBA and whether they’ve faced any disciplinary action. We want consumers to be in a position to make informed decisions especially where it may impact their safety and wellbeing.”

While some work around a property can be done yourself, if a job requires two or more of these trade skills, or if you want to undertake any other task that exceeds the $10,000 limit, you must hire a registered practitioner.