Plumber fined, suspended after repeated failures

Shameer Khan was fined $16,522 by the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) for employing an unregistered plumber to undertake drainage and water supply work, and for failing to lodge plans and a compliance certificate with the relevant authorities as required under the Building Act 1993.

The VBA’s Director of Compliance and Enforcement, David Brockman, said it was important for plumbers to make sure employee plumbers are appropriately registered or licensed to carry out the class of work assigned to them.

“Consumers need to be able to count on plumbers to do the right thing, and most plumbers do,” he said.

“Plumbers who use unregistered or unlicensed employees and don’t provide compliance certificates for their work are letting the plumbing industry down and undermine consumer trust,” Mr Brockman said.

Mr Khan did not provide sanitary drain plans for below ground drainage work to City West Water before lodging a compliance certificate.

Having been fined $634.28 in 2018, then again fined $8,261 for similar breaches in 2019, Mr Khan was this month fined $16,522 and had his plumbing licence suspended in all classes for 12 months.

In making the decision, the inquiry panel took into consideration the repetitiveness of the conduct over the years.

“Mistakes do happen, but when someone repeatedly breaches the law action must be taken to protect the plumbing industry and consumers,” Mr Brockman said.

Mr Khan can apply to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) for review of the decision.

Victorians wanting to engage a builder or plumber can visit vba.vic.gov.au/find

The VBA has an online consumer resource portal with information for anyone who is experiencing issues with builders or plumbers.