$3,000 fine reinforces message

Media release | 26 July 2016

$3,000 fine reinforces message

Today’s prosecution in the Hastings District Court reinforces the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board’s message to landlords and property managers last week, to make sure that they only use authorised tradespeople.

Home handyman, Dennis Rosser was found guilty and sentenced to pay a $3,000 fine, $113 in solicitor’s fees and $130 in court costs, for conducting restricted sanitary plumbing work without authorisation.

“Restricted plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying work conducted by anyone, including home handyman service providers, who don’t hold a current licence from the Board is illegal. Unauthorised people are not only putting public health and safety at risk ­– they may also be invalidating homeowner insurance policies”, says Martin Sawyers, Chief Executive for the Board.

A Hastings landlady (the complainant in the case), engaged Mr Rosser to repair a leaking hot water cylinder at her property.

The restricted sanitary plumbing work undertaken in relation to the leaking hot water cylinder included replacing a 20mm gate valve and installing a crox tee.

The complainant became concerned sometime after the repairs when unusually high electricity invoices were received.

This made her suspect that the hot water cylinder continued to leak, and subsequently she engaged another contractor (who was properly qualified).
It was discovered that the work was defective, causing hot water to leak under the house and leaving the area saturated.

“This is one of many cases addressed by the Board where the complainant had simply assumed that the person engaged was legally authorised to do the work”, Martin continued.

“Tradespeople are required to carry a current authorisation card – and homeowners and property managers should ask to sight it to protect themselves from any health and safety or insurance risk”.

You can check to see if a person is authorised by searching the online public register at www.pgdb.co.nz or by phoning 0800 743 262. If a homeowner believes that work has been done by someone who is not authorised, or has concerns about the competency of a tradesperson, they should notify the Board.

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