A Rivervale builder has been fined $1,000 for misleading conduct after understating a project’s value by two-thirds on insurance documents and a building permit application.

Matteo Daqui (BC/BP 9459) was contracted to provide roofing, renovation and painting services at a Leeming home in June 2018. The final account for all the work was $106,718.

However, an investigation by Building and Energy revealed that Mr Daqui listed the value of the project as $35,000 when he applied for a home indemnity insurance policy and the relevant building permit from the City of Melville. This reduced the levy fees and insurance premiums by more than $900 when compared to those for the full contract price.

At its August 2019 meeting, the Building Service Board found Mr Daqui breached the Building Services (Registration) Act 2011 by misleading the City of Melville and the insurer when he understated the contract value.

“I welcome the Board’s decision to issue a fine,” Building and Energy A/Executive Director Saj Abdoolakhan said.

“While the breach did not put the consumer at any additional risk in this case, it is imperative that building service providers operate within the law and with honesty and integrity, including declaring the full scope of works in a building permit application.”

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Media contact: Sarah Roberts – 0466 409 828 (media queries only) or CPmedia@dmirs.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