Flood victims urged to use licensed builders
The NSW Government is urging flood-affected residents to only engage licensed contractors, as the clean-up and rebuild phase continues across the Northern Rivers region.
The warning follows a spate of serious complaints against building company Atomic 6 and its Director Andrew Lennox, who left homeowners ripped off by dodgy or incomplete work after the devastating Black Summer bushfires.
NSW Fair Trading Minister Eleni Petinos confirmed that Atomic 6’s contract license has been immediately cancelled.
“I can confirm that Atomic 6 has had its license cancelled and I’m issuing a warning to residents across the state not to deal with this company or Mr Lennox under any circumstance,” Ms Petinos said.
Atomic 6 has been the subject of serious complaints about defective, incomplete and poor building work conducted without NSW Home Building Compensation Fund insurance.
The license cancellation means that Atomic 6 cannot advertise, contract for, or conduct any residential building work for which a license is required in NSW.
Ms Petinos said an investigation launched by NSW Fair Trading had identified numerous consumers on the South Coast who had made payments to Atomic 6 for contracted work that had not been completed, had been sub-standard or non-compliant.
“In one case the construction was so poor that the local council issued a demolition order on the dwelling,” Ms Petinos said.
“Another case saw a couple pay Atomic 6 a deposit plus additional payments over a 10-month period only to have minimal works carried out.
“Instead of doing what he was paid to do and build peoples’ homes, there is evidence that Mr Lennox was using money paid by customers for personal expenses.”
NSW Fair Trading reminds consumers to always check that a contractor is licensed to carry out work they’re paid to do. They can do this at www.onegov.nsw.gov.au/publicregister/#/publicregister/categories.
NSW Fair Trading is working closely with Resilience NSW to support consumers affected by Atomic 6.
Anyone with complaints about Atomic 6 is encouraged to contact NSW Fair Trading on 13 32 20 or online at www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/help-centre/online-tools/make-a-complaint.