• Almost $250,000 in fines, compensation and costs
• No builder registration for carport work in Cottesloe and Mount Pleasant
• Ignored official orders to rectify work in Alexander Heights and Mount Hawthorn

A Perth tradesman and his company have been ordered to pay almost $250,000 in fines, compensation and costs after four property owners were left with unauthorised, defective or incomplete building work.

Building and Energy prosecuted The Carport Co Pty Ltd and sole director Alan Benjamin Dickson for carrying out building work in Cottesloe and Mount Pleasant without the required builder registration and failing to rectify issues at properties in Alexander Heights and Mount Hawthorn.

In Perth Magistrates Court on 19 June 2023, Mr Dickson and the company were found guilty of several offences under WA’s builder registration laws.

The court was told Mr Dickson, on behalf of The Carport Co, replaced the roof of the Cottesloe house and carried out other building work with a total value of $32,000. At the Mount Pleasant property, he completed a $35,860 project to build a new carport and wall after demolishing an older structure.

In WA, only a registered building contractor can undertake building work valued at more than $20,000 and requiring a building permit, which was the case for the Cottesloe and Mount Pleasant projects.

Neither The Carport Co nor Mr Dickson held the required builder registration. For this offence at both properties, the company was fined $25,000 while Mr Dickson was fined $5,000 and ordered to pay $38,500 compensation to the Mount Pleasant owners.

The court also heard The Carport Co received official orders to rectify carport work at two other properties. Issues at the Alexander Heights house included incorrect dimensions and locations of piers, beams and footings plus non-compliant reinforcement rods. Hardly any work had been carried out at the Mount Hawthorn site.

Although The Carport Co did some further work at Alexander Heights, it failed to comply with the remedy order. No work occurred at Mount Hawthorn.

For these offences at both properties, the company was fined $100,000. Mr Dickson was fined $10,000 and ordered to pay compensation of $34,817 to the Alexander Heights owners and $25,000 to the Mount Hawthorn owners.

Building and Energy Acting Executive Director Nabil Yazdani said the significant penalties highlighted the unacceptable conduct of the company and its director.

“They have shown blatant disregard for their clients and the safety and quality of their work, even when they had the opportunity to rectify it,” Mr Yazdani said.

“They also tried to circumvent the registration process, which aims to ensure the builder has the appropriate qualifications and experience to deliver safe and compliant work, as well as access to home indemnity insurance.

“The community rightly expects building work to be carried out correctly and lawfully.

“To find out if your building or renovation project requires a building permit and a registered builder, speak to your local government.”

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