A Perth registered builder has had to pay almost $83,000 in penalties and has also received a caution for unauthorised work and building defects at a Swanbourne property.

At its August 2019 meeting, the Building Services Board found that Theodoros Sartzidis (BP/BC12815) had been negligent under WA’s building registration laws after he carried out work that differed from approved plans and without a valid building permit.

The Board resolved to issue a caution after taking into consideration that Mr Sartzidis was prosecuted and convicted over the building permit issue in 2015, when he was fined more than $9,000 including costs at the Perth Magistrates Court.

Mr Sartzidis was also ordered to pay $74,000 in rectification and legal costs to the property owner in 2016 after a workmanship complaint with Building and Energy concluded in the State Administrative Tribunal.

The $800,000 Swanbourne project began in 2012 with a contract for Mr Sartzidis to demolish an existing dwelling and build a new two-storey house.

A building permit issued by the City of Nedlands was valid until July 2014, but Mr Sartzidis continued to work at the site after it expired. The City issued a stop-work order and identified 10 areas of unauthorised work including retaining walls, paving and skylights.

Another builder completed the project and the City has since granted retrospective approval for the unauthorised work.

“All registered builders must meet their obligations and responsibilities, including ensuring a valid building permit is in place at all times during the project and that any changes to the plans have been authorised,” Building and Energy A/Executive Director Saj Abdoolakhan said.

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Media contact: Sarah Roberts – 0466 409 828 (media queries only) or CPmedia@demirs.wa.gov.au

Notes: Building and Energy (a division within the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety) was formed in January 2018 by the amalgamation of the Building Commission and EnergySafety.

BC and BP numbers refer to registration as a building contractor or building practitioner. The registers of building service providers are available at commerce.wa.gov.au/buildersearch