Hiring a tradie involves trust in their skill and integrity. You’re inviting them into your home or business, handing over your hard‑earned money and expecting the work to be completed as agreed. In most cases, that trust is honoured.
But recently our team at Consumer Protection has seen an increase in complaints about tradies who take deposits and then fail to start, or complete, the work.
These cases can be deeply distressing as often people have put aside money for repairs, long-planned improvements or their dream renovations. When the work doesn’t start – or stops partway through – the harm extends beyond financial loss; it can also cause a significant emotional toll.
It can also undermine confidence in honest operators and attracts serious consequences for those involved.
Recently, we prosecuted a cabinetmaker who failed to carry out agreed work and kept a rangehood, after accepting large deposits from two consumers. Charles Patrick Kimber, trading as CK Kitchens and Interiors, was ordered by the Perth Magistrates Court to pay more than $15,000 in fines and compensation.
In other cases, landscapers Kylie Sommer and Scott Sommer were fined over $5,000 each for taking upfront deposits from three customers and failing to complete the work.
Another landscaper, Evan John Fowler, was also fined for wrongly accepting payment and failing to supply services within a reasonable time.
These matters serve as a warning to tradies: accepting payment and failing to deliver goods or services is a serious breach of the law and offenders will be prosecuted
It’s equally important for consumers to do their homework and understand what the law allows and what it does not.
For home building work valued at more than $7,500, tradies can only lawfully charge a maximum 6.5 percent deposit before work begins. Any additional payments must be genuine progress payments for work already completed or materials already supplied.
Here’s a simple checklist consumers can follow:
• Ask for recommendations from people you trust.
• Get written quotes that clearly set out the scope of work, timelines and payment stages.
• If you’re hiring an electrician, gas fitter, builder, painter or plumber, check they’re licensed
• Only pay a minimal deposit, of no more than 10 per cent, and ensure the receipt or invoice includes the business’s details.
Paying more upfront increases your risk as a consumer if the business fails to deliver or goes broke.
For added security, pay with a credit card, which offers the advantage of a chargeback if the services aren’t provided as agreed.
If a tradie needs to cancel a job after taking a deposit without providing any goods or services, they are required to return that deposit in full. If they need to increase the quote after they’ve accepted a deposit, you are allowed to back out of the agreement and get your full deposit back.
If you need further information or advice, contact Consumer Protection on 1300 30 40 54 or email consumer@lgirs.wa.gov.au