Moving forward on building inspection and maintenance

Background

This document summarises the submissions we received during the public consultation on the building warrant of fitness regime and licensing of building inspection and maintenance work.

The submissions were responding to our discussion document released for public consultation in January 2007. Submissions closed on 16 March 2007.

We received 47 submissions. These will help us develop the building warrant of fitness regime and the requirements for building inspection and maintenance personnel.

The submissions summarised in this document do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Building and Housing or the Government. The submissions reflect a wide range of views from a broad cross-section of interest holders, including independent qualified persons (IQPs), territorial authorities, engineers, industry associations and building owners.

The Department of Building and Housing thanks all submitters for their contributions.

Executive summary of the submissions

The Department received 47 submissions. Below is a brief summary of key issues raised. A more detailed account can be read in the Moving forward on building inspection and maintenance - Summary of submissions [PDF 168 KB, 34 pages].

Almost all submitters who commented on compliance schedule accuracy, monitoring and enforcement, owner awareness, and registration policies and practices either believed there are current issues or suggested ways that these areas can be improved.
Various other areas were identified as having potential for improving the building warrant of fitness regime. These include education and guidance, changes to legislation (especially forms), recognition of integrated specified systems and changes in building warrant of fitness and compliance schedule procedures.
Most submitters agreed with the Department’s work programme to target areas identified as having the most potential for further improving the performance of the building warrant of fitness regime.
There was a strong preference for occupational-based IQP licensing over the specified system-based approach.
Most submitters believe there are levels of IQP competency and accountability issues in the sector.
There was a strong preference for a national registration and assessment system for IQPs with most submitters preferring option 3, a new IQP registration body.

Future progress

We will now analyse the submissions on the building warrant of fitness regime and the licensing of building inspection and maintenance personnel.

The analysis and details of the preferred option will be made available on our website when they are completed. We may carry out further consultation on the preferred option if it is significantly different from any of the options described in the March 2007 discussion document.