Brendan Peter Roberts was sentenced in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday for $65,000 of construction work on a home in Bond St, Kyabram, from late 2017 to early 2018.
The home had water leaking down an interior wall and a downlight in the first heavy rains after renovations finished in February 2018.
Magistrate Mary-Anne MacCallum said such action put the construction industry "at risk" and a $5000 fine and conviction was needed to provide deterrence to other builders.
She said Roberts, who had been a builder for seven years, should have known better than to complete works he was unlicensed to do, and do major works without a permit.
“Consumers often put large sums of money or big investments like houses at risk, and they need to have that trust,” Ms MacCallum said.
“(Actions like these) undermine the whole regulatory industry."
Magistrate MacCallum said she took Roberts’ early guilty plea and remorse into account in the sentencing, and said the fine could have been as high as $8000.
Roberts worked on the laundry and kitchen of the home before installing an aviary and spa in the backyard, and replaced a verandah with an additional room.
He completed roofing on the renovations, defined as stormwater work, which Roberts is not permitted to do.
In an earlier hearing, Roberts’ solicitor Polly Symons said he had "incurred the costs personally" to rectify the situation and ensure the building was safe.
“It's changed my client's way of doing business and will ensure nothing like this ever happens again,” she said.
Note: This article was amended on November 23 to correct a misquote of magistrate Mary-Anne MacCallum.
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