The Building Commissioner is reminding WA consumers that only registered painting contractors can legally carry out paid painting work valued at $1,000 or more.
The message follows Building and Energy's prosecution of a Mandurah tradesman who was fined $3,500 and ordered to pay more than $500 in costs for working without the required painter registration, which he had not held for six years.
Jamie Robbin Weston was sentenced at Rockingham Magistrates Court on 14 June 2024 after entering written guilty pleas to two offences under the Building Services (Registration) Act 2011.
The court was told Mr Weston carried out two painting jobs, valued at $2,200 and $6,550 respectively, at a Port Kennedy property in 2021. Mr Weston was previously a registered painter, but this registration expired in 2015.
Building Commissioner Saj Abdoolakhan encouraged homeowners to check a painter's registration card or carry out a licence search at demirs.wa.gov.au or via the Service WA app when choosing someone for painting jobs valued at $1,000 or more.
"Registration aims to protect consumers by ensuring a painter has the appropriate qualifications and experience to take on the project, as well as being a fit and proper person," Mr Abdoolakhan said.
"In this case, the person was previously registered and aware of the rules and regulations. These offences put consumers at risk and are unfair to those painters who have worked hard to obtain and maintain their registration."