Tradespeople - they're licenced for a reason

At some stage all homeowners will need to engage a tradesperson of some kind. When that time comes it is important to be sure that you are not only engaging the right tradesperson, but a licenced one.

A study by the NSW government revealed that most people believe the tradespeople they employ should be licensed to conduct the work, but most never take the time check if the trades-person is licensed.

The office of Fair Trading receive thousands of complaints annually about unlicensed tradespeople conducting work, advertising and accepting payment for jobs that they are not legally allowed to complete. Any tradesperson who conducts work without a trade license is breaking the law.

So, if conducting work without a trade license is illegal, why do most people fail to ask for licensing information or check if a tradesperson is licensed?

If someone knowingly engages a unlicenced tradesperson at their home and something goes wrong, then their are legal complications, and any insurance company is unlikely to support claims made. It is very hard to understand why anyone would want to not only knowingly break the law, but even worse, put themselves, their families and their property at risk.

Tradespeople are licenced for a reason. For Plumbers it takes a minimum of 5 years for them to become qualified. For electricians it is at least 4 years. During this time they go through both practical learning and theory. They gain genuine on the job experience working alongside other experienced tradespeople. Tradespeople are trained how to manage risks to ensure that their customers are never in danger. 

It is an important consideration for the next time you need work done around the home. Ensure the person completing the job is trained, qualified and has a licence number the next time you hire a trades-person.  Ensure you request their license number and then check it online. Make sure you have the right tradesperson doing the right thing for you, your family, and your property.