Auckland man fined $4500 for misleading homeowners

Media release | 16 September 2016

Auckland man fined $4500 for misleading homeowners

Homeowners are being warned today not to fall into the trap of using anyone who does not hold a current authorisation to conduct sanity plumbing or gasfitting work.

Today in the Auckland District Court, Loganathan Chetty, was sentenced by Judge Eivers to a $4,500 fine for carrying out restricted plumbing work and gasfitting work without authorisation.

Sanitary plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying are regulated industries in New Zealand, and it is illegal to do this restricted work unless authorised by the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (PGDB).

The matter was reported to the Board by the homeowners when it was discovered a certificate of compliance was required for the hot water system installed, which could not be produced by Mr Chetty as he was not currently authorised.

Martin Sawyers, Chief Executive for the PGDB said: “It is important for homeowners to know that plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying work undertaken by unauthorised tradespeople, not only risks their family’s health and safety–but may also invalidate their insurance policy.”

“To stay safe and avoid the risk it takes one simple action – ask to sight a licence card. It states the tradespersons credentials and the type of work they are authorised to carry out.”

Consumers can request the guidance information pamphlet “the right steps to take” from the Boards website at www.pgdb.co.nz/consumer or by giving them a call on 0800 743 262.

You can check to see if a person is authorised by searching the online public register at www.pgdb.co.nz or by phoning the Board. 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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