Vital documentation used to justify the opening of a swanky hotel in Sydney's inner west has been found by a court to be fraudulent.

The NSW Land and Environment Court has ruled a disqualified building certifier unwittingly had essential paperwork passed off as his own after council officers questioned why the Marsden Hotel in Burwood was operating in January without authorisation.

The Marsden Hotel in Burwood opened to fanfare in December. Credit:The Marsden Hotel

According to agreed facts, a person working for building owner CVA Apartments sent Burwood Council officers an interim occupation certificate purportedly signed by certifier Valerio Lilli on January 15 after the business was ordered to stop trading without authorisation.

Two days later, after twice emailing Mr Lilli, a council officer received an email purporting to be from him and with the certificate attached.