NSW Fair Trading has issued a warning to consumers not to deal with an unlicensed builder.
NSW Fair Trading Commissioner Rose Webb said the department had received complaints about Tevita Tiliti Ungounga not finishing work.
Ms Webb said Mr Ungounga demands cash upfront to undertake major residential building works, concreting or structural landscaping, and leaves work unfinished.
"There are also concerns that work done by Mr Ungounga may be structurally unsafe," Ms Webb said.
"He may be seeking work in metropolitan Sydney, including the Kellyville and Castle Hill areas."
Mr Ungounga has never held a contractor licence authorising him to do residential building work but has previously completed work under the name T.T. Construction (an unregistered business name) and T & T Sandstone Construction Pty Ltd (a deregistered company).
NSW Fair Trading issued a public warning about Mr Ungounga in October 2018 after a court-ordered him to pay more than $56,000 in fines and costs for doing residential building work he was not authorised to do, including building a new home for $350,000.
NSW Fair Trading offers an online tool to check if a contractor or tradesperson is qualified and/or licensed to do a job.
The licence check will tell you the licence holder's name, licence number/s, categories and expiry dates as well as details of what type of licence or certificate is held, and its current status; details of any cancellation or suspension under the Home Building Act 1989; details of any conditions endorsed on the licence; details of public warnings issued regarding the holder, formal cautions, penalty infringement notices and any instances of non-compliance with a related tribunal order; and the results of any prosecution against the holder under the Act.
NSW Fair Trading said a licence was required for any residential building work valued at more than $5000 (including GST) in labour and materials, or all specialist work, regardless of its cost.
This includes electrical wiring, plumbing, drainage, gasfitting work, air-conditioning and refrigeration work (except plug-in appliances).
Anyone who had problems with Mr Ungounga or has information about his activities should contact NSW Fair Trading on 13 32 20.
Details: To learn more about the online tool click here.
