Proxy plumbing businesses and directors fined and banned from building industry
Building Commission NSW has banned and issued fines totalling more than $120,000 to two plumbing businesses and their directors after finding they acted as proxies for a restricted business and used similar unlawful tactics such as overcharging and high-pressure sales tactics.
The bans and fines apply to Prestigious Plumbing Pty Ltd (241808C), Brofessionals Pty Ltd (375380C) as well as their directors Ghadeer Khalil (230434C) and Isaac Donald Ianuari (368874C).
In April, Building Commission NSW suspended the licences of Brofessionals, Prestigious Plumbing and their directors for 60 days, after receiving complaints from consumers who responded to internet search ads for ‘Dan’s Plumbing’, a trading name used by Australian Trades Pty Ltd.
Since December last year, Australian Trades (300418C) and its director Charbel Alha (190178C) have been prohibited from trading with the general public by order of the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT).
After an investigation and considering submissions from legal representatives for Prestigious Plumbing and Brofessionals, Building Commission NSW found they were taking referrals and acting as proxy companies for Australian Trades and then engaging in similar unlawful business practices, including:
- Issuing excessive quotes and grossly overcharging for plumbing services;
- Misrepresenting the urgency, nature or extent of work required to fix plumbing;
- Placing undue pressure on consumers to accept quotes;
- Failing to provide itemised invoices;
- Failing to provide written quotes to consumers prior to pressuring consumers to accept quotes; and
- In the case of Prestigious Plumbing, also using unlawful contract terms.
In light of the findings, Building Commission NSW has taken the following disciplinary action:
- Cancel the NSW contractor licences of Prestigious Plumbing, Brofessionals as well as their respective directors Ghadeer Khalil and Isaac Donald Ianuari;
- Permanently disqualify Prestigious Plumbing, Brofessionals, Ghadeer Khalil and Isaac Donald Ianuari from ever holding a relevant licence in NSW or being in control of a company that holds a relevant licence;
- Issue monetary penalties of $50,000 to both Prestigious Plumbing and Brofessionals; and
- Issue monetary penalties of $11,000 to both Ghadeer Khalil and Isaac Donald Ianuari.
Building Commission NSW disciplinary decisions can be appealed to NCAT.
In November 2025, Building Commission NSW cancelled the contractor licences of Australian Trades and its director, Charbel Alha, and permanently disqualified them from holding a licence.
The disciplinary action was based on findings that Australian Trades grossly overcharged for emergency plumbing work, used unlawful contract terms, harassed and coerced consumers, and used false and misleading advertising as well as fraudulent representations of work required.
During its investigation, Building Commission NSW found Australian Trades would repeatedly target elderly or vulnerable people using these unlawful business practices, with one 98-year-old man quoted more than $30,000 for plumbing work which was eventually fixed for only $550.
At the time Australian Trades, previously registered as Point Plumbing, had also registered trading names including: ‘Dan’s Plumbing’, ‘Dan’s Electrical’, and ‘Fergusons Plumbing Group’ among others.
Australian Trades sought review of the disciplinary decision via NCAT. In December 2025, NCAT stayed Building Commission NSW’s cancellation and disqualification, but restricted the business from contracting with the general public until a full hearing of the matter.
A full hearing of the matter is expected to take place towards the end of this year. Consumers affected by Australian Trades, Brofessionals, Prestigious Plumbing or other businesses can lodge a complaint via the Building Commission NSW website or call 13 27 00 for advice.
To check a contractor’s licence, please visit the Verify NSW website.
Quotes attributable to NSW Building Commissioner, James Sherrard:
“Our investigation into Brofessionals and Prestigious Plumbing uncovered a pattern of unconscionable conduct designed to mislead consumers about who they were dealing with, exposing them to unlawful business practices including inflated quotes and gross overcharging.”
“This enforcement action sends a clear message to the industry: if you engage in this type of misconduct or seek to act as a proxy for a restricted company, you will be found, investigated and might lose your licence as well as being exposed to serious monetary penalties.”
“This type of conduct has no place in the NSW building industry and Building Commission NSW will continue to stamp it out through enforcement action wherever we find it.”
“I encourage anyone who thinks they have fallen victim to these businesses or similar conduct to come forward and get in contact with Building Commission NSW, your complaints provide assistance in our investigations so we can make sure contractors are held accountable.”