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BUILDING CONNECTION
SUMMER 2016
WILL THE REAL REGISTERED
BUILDER PLEASE STAND UP!
I
t is probably well known in the industry that building
practitioners in Australia must be registered to carry out
certain work. Of course, there are exceptions, as there
always are but we will discuss these exceptions later.
Registration occurs with the Building Practitioners Board
and if you are not registered as a builder and you do carry
out certain work, you risk prosecution in the Magistrates
Court. This is because of the fact that it is an offence to do
building work as defined if not registered. If you do so, you
could be subject to a large fine, be reprimanded, have to
undergo further training and if in time registered, could be
subject to conditions on your ‘ticket’.
Other categories of building industry professionals such
as building surveyors and inspectors, among others, also
need to be registered.
You would also not be permitted to say that you are
a registered builder when in fact you are not. If your
registration is suspended for some reason, you are in effect
not registered.
As stated, the ‘certain work’ is where the work exceeds
a certain value in dollar terms, that is, $5000 currently in
Victoria. The exceptions where registration is not required
are where the works are (only):
a. plastering;
b. tiling (wall and floor);
c. electrical work;glazing;
d. insulating
e. painting;
f. plumbing, gas fitting or draining;
g. installation of floor coverings;
h. attachment of external fittings such as awnings, security
screens and balustrades;
PAUL COTT
DISCUSSES THE ISSUE OF UNREGISTERED BUILDERS CARRYING OUT WORKS AND THE
CONSEQUENCES OF DOING SO.
LEGAL MATTERS
PAUL COTT