Past complaint decisions

Summaries of past complaint decisions by the Board.

Displaying 20 of 1597 results

Langi [2022] BPB CB26040 – Substantive Decision

  • Complaint number: CB26040
  • LBP number: BP133668
  • Region: Omitted
  • Licence class: Carpentry
  • Decision date: 5 April 2023
  • Penalty: 318(1)f Pay fine 318(4) Pay costs
  • Disciplinary grounds: 317(1) da Failed to supply certificate / record of work 317(1) b Negligent or incompetent work - not upheld 317(1) d Work not compliant with building consent - not upheld
  • Summary: [1] The homeowners made a complaint about the workmanship on their new two-storey dwelling. A Council site inspection report set out the instances of unsatisfactory building work and building work which was not in accordance with the building consent. After determining the Respondent’s role on this project, the question for the Board was whether the Respondent’s supervision of the building work was negligent or incompetent. This required a determination of two issues – had the Respondent departed from an acceptable standard, and, if so, was that departure serious enough to warrant a disciplinary finding.

    [2] The further issue before the Board was whether the work the Respondent supervised had been carried out in a manner contrary to the building consent. To determine this issue, the Board has only to find that building work departed from the building consent and does not have to consider if that departure was deliberate or negligent. However, the seriousness of the conduct under investigation does have to be taken into account.

    [3] In addition, the Respondent did not provide a record of work to the Complainant or the Territorial Authority. The Respondent ceased work on the project before its completion, but he did not consider that his restricted building work was complete as he expected to return to the site. There were also outstanding money issues. The question for the Board was whether the Respondent had failed to provide a record of work on the completion of restricted building work. There were two issues that had to be determined. Firstly, was the Respondent’s restricted building work complete, and, secondly, if it was, did the non-payment of his invoices constitute a good reason not to provide the records of work.

    [4] The Board investigated the issues and decided that the Respondent had been negligent in his supervision of the building work and that the building work was not in accordance with the building consent. The Board also found that the Respondent’s restricted building work was complete and that non-payment was not a good reason to withhold his record of work.

    [5] The Board decided that the Respondent would be fined $3,000 and ordered to pay costs of $2,500.
Download PDF (261 KB) : Langi [2022] BPB CB26040 – Substantive Decision

Manahi [2022] BPB CB26002, CB26003, CB26004 and CB26005 – Penalty Decision

  • Complaint number: CB26002, CB26003, CB26004, and CB26005
  • LBP number: BP132078
  • Region: Northland
  • Licence class: Carpentry
  • Decision date: 23 March 2023
  • Penalty: 318(1)f Pay fine 318(4) Pay costs
  • Disciplinary grounds: 317(1) da Failed to supply certificate / record of work
  • Summary: The Complainant, a main contractor, contracted the Respondent to carry out building work on 4 new houses. The work started but, as a result of a contractual dispute, did not finish. The Complainant then sought records of work from the Respondent. The Respondent refused on the basis that his restricted building work was not complete and he had not been paid all that he was owed.

    The question for the Board was whether the Respondent had failed to provide a record of work on the completion of restricted building work. There were 2 issues that had to be determined. Firstly, was the Respondent’s restricted building work complete, and, secondly, if it was, did the non-payment of his invoices constitute a good reason not to provide the records of work.

    The Board found that the Respondent’s restricted building work was complete and that non-payment was not a good reason to withhold the records of work. The Board decided that the Respondent would be fined $500 and ordered to pay costs of $500. The orders were reduced on the basis that there were significant mitigating factors.
Download PDF (244 KB) : Manahi [2022] BPB CB26002, CB26003, CB26004 and CB26005 – Penalty Decision

Liu [2022] BPB CB25966 – Penalty/Final Decision

  • Complaint number: CB25966
  • LBP number: BP132003
  • Region: Auckland
  • Licence class: Brick and Blocklaying, Foundations
  • Decision date: 21 March 2023
  • Penalty: 318(1)f Pay fine 318(4) Pay costs
  • Disciplinary grounds: 317(1) da Failed to supply certificate / record of work
  • Summary: [1] The Respondent supervised foundations work on two blocks of units. He also contracted to complete blockwork. The blockwork was supervised by another Licensed Building Practitioner. The issues before the Board were whether the building work that was supervised by Respondent had been carried out in a negligent or incompetent manner or in a manner that was contrary to the building work. Also, at issue was whether a record of work had been provided on completion of restricted building work.
    [2] This decision sets out that whilst there were quality and compliance issues with the foundations, those issues were not serious enough for the Board to make a disciplinary finding. It also notes that the Respondent’s restricted building work was complete and that a record of work had not been provided.
    [3] The Board decided, with respect to the failure to provide a record of work, that the Respondent would be fined $1,000 and ordered to pay costs of $1,500. The penalty was reduced on the basis that there were mitigating factors. The costs were reduced on the basis that the Respondent was partially successful in his defence of the charges.
Download PDF (326 KB) : Liu [2022] BPB CB25966 – Penalty/Final Decision