HIA has heard recently from a number of HIA member builders who have either been visited or had their display units inspected by WELS inspectors in relation to registration and labelling requirements of WELS products.
Many across the industry may not realise that failing to comply with these obligations under the WELS scheme could mean they face harsh penalties. These can include infringement notices for up to $1300 for an individual or $6300 for a corporation for each unregistered, unlabelled or incorrectly WELS-labelled product.
Builders have reported some confusion on how and when the labelling requirements apply to display homes. When is a home considered at the ‘point of sale’? Or at what point is someone actually making the choice on the fixture or fitting when the house they will be pur-chasing is not yet built?
With the ability to also buy appliances, and plumbing fittings and fixtures online, it’s equally important to know what to look for to ensure that these purchased products meet statutory requirements.
HIA has since undertaken a number of awareness-raising activities to help members better understand their obligations. The Association has been in consultation with the WELS team to gain a better understanding of where non-compliances are being cited and to work through issues of interpretation/application, in particular for display homes.