Builder fined for shoddy work

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 685, 6 May 1997, Page 12

Builder fined for shoddy work

The reserved sentence of a Waimarino builder who was taken to court for building work done without the proper consents has been released. Judge Lovegrove fined V incent Ronald Osborne $1000 on each of four charges and $500 on a direction non-compliance charges brought by the Ruapehu District Council, with $95 court costs and $75 solicitors costs on each charge. The fines were to be paid to the RDC. Osborne was charged with the unauthorised construction of dormer windows causing an encroachment; installing internal linings over "over-wet timber"; constructing ceiling framing at incorrect centres; incorrectly fixing waU bracing. The direction non-compliance concerned timber moisture and ceiling framing.

Judge Lovegrove said the non-compli- , ances would have led to adverse effects on the quality and value of the building "of an initially latent kind", with safety not an issue. He said that, if unchecked, the non-com-pliances would be likely to have "caused considerable inconvenience and pecuniary loss to any later purchaser of the building". 'The builder should have known better," said Judge Lovegrove. He said he accepted that there were commurtications problems between the council and Osborne when inspections were at issue. Osborne undertook to rectify a number of items when he appeared in court, but "submissions ... suggested further difficulties were encountered" in his deaiings with the council.