A builder who continued working while unlicensed has been fined and ordered to pay reparations to a homeowner.
Richard Barry Dodd, 57, worked as a builder in Auckland after his license was suspended, an investigation by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) found.
He carried out a renovation project in Auckland while claiming to be a Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP).
“The LBP scheme ensures consumers can be confident that they are hiring properly trained professionals to carry out or supervise restricted building work,” MBIE national manager of occupational regulation Duncan Connor said in a statement.
“I urge anyone engaging a builder to first look them up on the LBP public register.”
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During an inspection by Auckland Council, Dodd stated he was an LBP and provided a Record of Work that stated he had a licence.
Dodd was fined $5279 in Kaitaia District Court for carrying out restricted building work while unlicensed and providing oral and written information that was false or misleading.
He was ordered to pay $5880 to the homeowner for reparations and emotional harm.
“MBIE will not hesitate to prosecute individuals that breach the Act, and practitioners seeking to carry out restricted building work should do their due diligence and make sure they are properly licensed before commencing the work,” Connor said.