A Perth landscaper has been ordered to pay $3,071 in fines and costs for home building contract offences, including accepting a deposit almost 10 times the maximum allowed.
Following prosecution by Building and Energy, Rory Mayo-Hopkins entered a written guilty plea prior to sentencing at Midland Magistrates Court on 15 May 2025.
The court heard Mr Mayo-Hopkins was trading as RMH Paving & Synthetic Lawn in 2024 when he was engaged to carry out paving and lawn work, valued at $8,900, at a property in The Vines.
The homeowner paid $5,470 – 61 per cent of the total contract price – in advance, but Mr Mayo-Hopkins never carried out any work.
The Home Building Contracts Act 1991 sets a maximum deposit of 6.5 per cent before residential building work valued at $7,500 or more is commenced. The law also requires the building service provider to give the homeowner a prescribed notice outlining their contractual rights, which Mr Mayo-Hopkins did not do.
Magistrate Mark Millington noted Mr Mayo-Hopkins no longer works in landscaping and ordered him to pay a $1,500 fine for the excessive deposit, a $1,000 fine for the missing notice and $571 in costs.
Last year, Building and Energy also issued a home building work contract remedy order for Mr Mayo-Hopkins to refund the homeowner’s deposit.
Building Commissioner Peter Stewart encouraged consumers and building service providers to be aware of their protections and obligations when entering contracts.
“The 6.5 per cent deposit limit protects consumers by minimising their potential financial losses if the work is incomplete or defective,” Mr Stewart said.
“It is also important to have the correct contractual documents in the event of issues with a home building project, such as in this case.”
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Media contact: BEmedia@demirs.wa.gov.au
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