A surprise NSW Fair Trading compliance operation in Sydney’s south west and north west has revealed widespread industry support for a crackdown on residential home building sites.
Operation Router, which took place in late November, involved Fair Trading auditing 187 sites and 225 contractor licenses and certificates to check traders and builders were operating in accordance with the NSW Home Building Act (HBA).
NSW Fair Trading Commissioner Rose Webb said the compliance team visited home building sites in 21 suburbs including Leppington, Cobbitty, Oran Park, Schofields, Riverstone and Box Hill.
"I’m pleased to see that the results indicated a generally high level of compliance, consistent with the results obtained during previous operations in comparable suburbs," Ms Webb said.
"Traders and builders remarked that they were pleased to see Fair Trading undertaking the operation and that licences were being regulated and checked, as they suffer a disadvantage when competitors use unlicensed workers."
Ms Webb noted that despite the high level of compliance, five penalty notices will be issued for breaches of the NSW Home Building Act, for unlicensed contracting and unqualified electrical wiring work, amounting to $6,500 in total.
"It’s clear that some traders need to better understand their obligations under the law, and as such in addition to these fines nine education letters will be issued to warn traders who committed minor breaches," Ms Webb said.
Ms Webb urged customers to check the licences of tradesmen who are completing work on their homes.
"By visiting the NSW Fair Trading website or by calling us you can search for information on NSW traders, including their licence details and any past disciplinary action," Ms Webb said.
"It helps people needing work done to make an informed choice, and help honest, hard-working tradies get the business they deserve," Ms Webb said.
