VBA increases enforcement of plumbing offences

Despite repeated warnings to practitioners in the past, the VBA continues to see these types of non-compliance.

The ramp up of infringement notices - which can be enforced in court if fines are not paid - is anticipated to reduce detriment faced by consumers. This will also allow the VBA to focus its resources in proactive inspections, enforcement, and targeted harm-reduction activities.

To avoid fines of up to $826.10 for each offence, plumbers should remember to:

• where plumbing work requires a plumbing certificate, lodge the compliance certificates with the VBA and also issue a copy to their customers within five days of completion of the work.
• reschedule their plumbing inspection if they cannot attend their appointment with a VBA inspector or their work is not complete.

And remember, you must issue customers with compliance certificates within 5 days of completing certifiable work even in cases of dispute with the customer.