Flood-affected Victorians warned to check practitioner registration
The Victorian Building Authority (VBA) has warned consumers to check for any builder or plumber advertising services in the wake of emergency events. Unregistered practitioners are unfortunately posing as licenced workers in central and northern parts of Victoria.
VBA’s state building surveyor Andrew Cialini says that it was unfortunately common for unscrupulous operators to take advantage of a crisis and offer services when they aren’t qualified to do so.
“We encourage all Victorians to check whether a practitioner they are hiring is registered and licensed to carry out the services they are offering,” he says.
“In Victoria, building practitioners must be registered with the VBA to perform certain kinds of work, so do your research and ask for some key information upfront, so there are no shocks later on.”
He adds that consumers should be wary of anyone offering their building or plumbing services via online marketplaces and apps.
“With the rise of online apps and websites where anyone can advertise their services without qualifications, it’s important to always check the credentials of anyone you hire,” Andrew explains.
“You can check whether the builder or plumber you’re looking to use is registered with the VBA and whether they’ve faced any disciplinary action.”
While some work around a property can be done yourself, if a job requires two or more of these trade skills, or if you want to undertake any other task that exceeds the $10,000 limit, you must hire a registered practitioner.
Victorians can visit vba.vic.gov.au/check to make sure their builder or plumber is registered or licensed.