A builder from south Sydney has been sentenced to eight months home detention after using fake home warranty insurance to win two building contracts, Minister for Better Regulation Matt Kean said.
Sandeep Kumar, 56, was charged with making false and misleading statements on insurance applications, and using false documents for financial gain.
Kumar was sentenced in Parramatta Local Court. The court was told he provided fraudulent home warranty insurance certificates to customers in Minto and Prestons in 2015 to retain his building contracts.
Mr Kean said Kumar underinsured the work for both properties, one by $120,000 and the other by $72,000, and when questioned by the owners provided falsified certificates for each house.
“This sort of shonky behaviour is simply not on. Any builder thinking of rorting their customers should think again.” Mr Kean said.
“These home owners trusted Kumar with arguably their most significant investment, their family home, and he blatantly took advantage of that trust.
“My focus is putting consumers first and that should be the focus of tradies as well.”
The mandatory Home Warranty Insurance Scheme provides a safety net for homeowners if a builder can’t complete the work or fix defects due to insolvency, death, disappearance or licence suspension.
Kumar has the right to lodge an appeal.
