Plumbing practitioners breaking the rules and individuals impersonating plumbers have been penalised and reprimanded by the Victorian Building Authority (VBA).

The VBA’s recent plumbing inquiry orders have dealt out more than $40,000 worth of penalties to practitioners and amateur tradespeople for various breaches of legislation and regulation.

A total of six people have been penalised $44,855.79 for the offending, which included conducting plumbing work without a registration or licence, carrying out gasfitting and mechanical services when not licensed to do so, carrying out drainage work and gasfitting that did not comply with the Building Act and Regulations, failing to book an inspection for sanitary drainage and lodging a Compliance Certificate which contained a misstatement of fact.

The offending occurred at sites across Victoria, including in Kew, Epping, Dallas, Burnside Heights, Truganina, Wheelers Hill, and Drouin.

The VBA’s Executive Director of Regulatory Operations David Brockman said most plumbing work had to be done by a qualified professional.

“Plumbing work is vital and carries with it safety risks if the person does not know what they are doing, which is why it’s important you only engage a registered or licensed professional.”

“Anyone found to be working without qualification, or not abiding by the Building Act and Regulations, will face the consequences,” Mr Brockman said.

The VBA regulates, educates and engages in its role as building and plumbing regulator to promote a quality, safe and vibrant plumbing industry.

A compliance certificate is a form of evidence that proves specific plumbing work has been carried out or certified by a licensed practitioner and certifies that the work has been carried out properly.

The VBA has an online consumer resource portal with information for anyone who is experiencing issues with builders or plumbers.

Victorians can visit vba.vic.gov.au/check to make sure their builder or plumber is registered or licensed.