Communities recovering from the impacts of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred are being reminded to stay vigilant when it comes to arranging repairs or building work with tradespeople.
With a significant number of homes damaged during the weather event landlords and homeowners are being warned against accepting unsolicited offers of repairs from people who may be posing as builders or other tradespeople.
Service NSW offers a free licence check tool to verify a tradesperson's credentials before hiring, while the myHome Planner tool can be used to identify key planning controls which may impact a site, such as flood-prone areas, bushfire risk, and heritage orders.
Before engaging a tradesperson, customers should:
- Check their licence via the Service NSW website.
- Ask for references and examples of previous work.
- Complete the step by step process outlined on the NSW Building Commission website.
- Clarify what is and isn't included in the contract.
- Confirm whether subcontractors will be involved in the project.
- Check for additional insurance beyond the mandatory Home Building Compensation (HBC) Scheme.
- Understand what compensation may be available if construction delays lead to extra costs such as additional rent or mortgage repayments.
Since 1 July 2024, Building Commission NSW has received almost 400 reports of alleged unlicensed or unregistered trade work.
After catastrophic events such as cyclones, floods, and other natural disasters, it is even more important to be vigilant and ensure the people completing work on your home are appropriately licensed, and that Home Building Compensation cover is purchased for work worth more than $20,000.
To complete the step by step process outlined on the NSW Building Commission visit here: https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/building-commission/current-and-future-homeowners/building-and-renovating-resources/step-by-step-guide-to-choosing-right-tradesperson-or-builder.
If consumers have concerns with the building contract being offered or the quality of work being performed, they are encouraged to lodge a complaint with Building Commission NSW via https://hbc.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/forms/20490.
Consumers can check a builder or tradesperson licence on the Service NSW website here: https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/check-a-builder-or-tradesperson-licence.
Use step-by-step guides to plan and build a home with myHome Planner: https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/myhome-planner.
Check when Home Building Compensation insurance is required for residential building works here: https://www.sira.nsw.gov.au/home-building-compensation/home-building-compensation-for-homeowners.
Renters whose homes have been damaged should report repairs to their landlord or property manager as soon as possible.
There are two types of repairs: urgent and non-urgent.
- Urgent repairs - include gas leaks, dangerous electrical faults, burst water services, blocked toilets, serious structural damage from flooding, storms, or fire, and essential appliance failures such as stoves, ovens, heaters, or hot water systems.
- Non-urgent repairs - are those that do not pose an immediate risk but still need to be fixed.
Tenants should contact their landlord or real estate agent about anything needing repair.
Landlords and agents have an obligation to carry out urgent repairs promptly.
If urgent repairs are required and the landlord or agent cannot be reached, tenants may arrange repairs themselves using an approved or preferred tradesperson listed in their tenancy agreement and claim reimbursement up to $1,000.
If a landlord fails to carry out urgent repairs, tenants should keep records of all communications and receipts and if the issue remains unsolved, lodge a complaint with NSW Fair Trading here: https://www.cas.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/icmspublicweb/forms/Tenancy.html
More information on rental repairs is available here: https://www.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-construction/renting-a-place-to-live/getting-repairs-done.
For more information about help after flooding, visit the NSW Fair Trading website: https://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/resource-library/publications/natural-disasters.
Quotes to be attributed to Minister for Building Anoulack Chanthivong:
"Disasters can bring out the best in our communities, but unfortunately also attract those looking to take advantage of vulnerable people, so renters and homeowners must stay alert to unlicensed tradespeople and scams.
"We don't want to see people already dealing with a natural disaster left further out of pocket by dodgy operators, so remember to always check a tradesperson's licence and credentials before engaging their services.
"If you're a tenant of a rental property which sustained damage and it requires urgent attention, remember that urgent repairs are just that - urgent - and should be treated as such by your agent and landlord."
