PLUMBERS LICENSING BOARD – MEDIA STATEMENT

A Lesmurdie landlord has been fined $2,000 after admitting to connecting a new water supply at a rental property without holding the required plumber’s licence.

Following a prosecution by the Plumbers Licensing Board, Nigel David Barnard pleaded guilty at Midland Magistrates Court to breaching WA’s Plumbers Licensing and Plumbing Standards Regulations 2000.

The Regulations aim to ensure that only licensed plumbers carry out water supply, sanitary and drainage plumbing work. Incorrect or uncertified plumbing work can cause property damage and compromise public health and safety.

According to information presented in court, Mr Barnard’s tenants and the City of Kalamunda had raised concerns about water quality at the rental property, which was supplied by a rain storage system.

In August 2021, Mr Barnard and another person were seen installing pipes and connecting the house to a mains water supply.

An investigation by Building and Energy on behalf of the Board revealed the installation involved regulated plumbing work, which must only be carried out by a licensed plumber. The work was also non-compliant with plumbing standards.

Building and Energy ordered Mr Barnard to arrange rectification of the work.

In court on 8 August 2022, Magistrate Mark Millington also ordered Mr Barnard to pay $592.30 in costs and noted that plumbing licensing requirements were in place to protect the public, who could be put at risk through unlicensed work.

Consumers are encouraged to check if a plumber is licensed by using the “licence search” function on the Building and Energy website (dmirs.wa.gov.au).

All major plumbing work requires certification and the owner must be given a copy of this within five working days of the work being completed.

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Media contact: BEmedia@demirs.wa.gov.au