Suspended Building Practitioner Fined $10,000 for Forgery and Unlicensed Work

Alexandra, 13 October 202

Background

A Central Otago designer, Lucy Walsh, has been fined $10,000 for working on restricted building projects while her licence was suspended and for forging official documents. Her Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP) licence had been suspended since 30 September 2021 for not meeting licensing conditions.

How the Issue Was Found

Despite the suspension, Walsh continued doing restricted work without the required supervision. She also submitted false paperwork when applying for a building consent. Walsh first declared herself as licensed and later used her employer’s LBP number and electronic signature without permission. The Central Otago District Council discovered the forgery during a consent review and contacted her employer, who confirmed they had not authorised her to use their details.

Court Decision

Judge Dominic Flatley called Walsh’s actions a serious breach of professional trust. The Court considered community detention but decided that a significant fine was the most appropriate penalty.

Official Comment

Duncan Connor, Registrar of Licensed Building Practitioners, said the case shows why it is vital for practitioners to maintain a valid licence.

“There was a clear breach of professional trust when another LBP’s identity was used to support a false certificate,” Mr Connor said. “Practitioners must keep their licence current, and consumers should always check the LBP Public Register before hiring anyone.”

Reminder for Homeowners

The Licensed Building Practitioners scheme, managed by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), was created to protect homeowners and ensure that only qualified professionals carry out or supervise restricted building work. Homeowners are encouraged to always verify a builder’s licence before hiring. Working without a valid LBP licence can result in fines of up to $20,000.

Media contact: media@mbie.govt.nz | 021 854 017
Check licence details: LBP Public Register on kete.mbie.govt.nz