Fair Trading launches legal action against portable building provider

• The Office of Fair Trading has launched legal action against Christopher Terrance Edards and his company Chace Roofing Sheds and Patios Pty Ltd for alleged breaches of Australian Consumer Law.
• The marketplace regulator alleges Mr Edards and his company left a number of Queenslanders out of pocket, taking more than $1.3 million from consumers for portable buildings that were not provided.

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has launched legal action against a Toowoomba-based portable building provider, who allegedly took more than $1.3 million from Queenslanders for tiny homes, cabins and granny flats that were never provided.

Christopher Terrance Edards and his company Chace Roofing Sheds and Patios Pty Ltd appeared in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on 19 August 2024 and will face a total of 38 charges for failure to supply under Australian Consumer Law.

The charges relate to complaints made by 19 consumers who each allegedly paid between $20,000 to $217,000 to Mr Edards and his company for portable buildings they didn’t receive.

OFT alleges the offending took place between August 2021 and October 2023 and impacted Queenslanders from Beenleigh to Mackay and as far west as Longreach.

OFT will seek consumer redress, penalties and costs.

The matter was adjourned and will be heard for a second mention on 25 November 2024 at Toowoomba Magistrates Court.

The legal action comes after OFT took the unusual and serious step of publicly warning Queenslanders about Mr Edards and his companies in January this year.

Quotes attributable to the Commissioner for Fair Trading, Victoria Thomson:

“The allegations against Christopher Terrance Edards and his company Chace Roofing Sheds and Patios Pty Ltd are very serious.

“Throughout our investigation, we’ve heard from several consumers across our state who invested a significant amount of money with Mr Edards and were allegedly left with nothing to show for it.

“This trader’s alleged conduct shows a clear disregard for our laws and has significantly impacted customers who have been left in the lurch.

“That is why we’re not hesitating to apply the full force of the law with these court proceedings.

“Queenslanders who haven’t received products or services that they have paid for, and have been unable to resolve the issue with the trader, are encouraged to lodge a complaint with the Office of Fair Trading.”

–ENDS–