Frequently asked questions

This section answers frequently asked questions relating to the Licensed Building Practitioner Scheme. They are organised in the following categories.

The Licensed Building Practitioner Scheme

• What is the Licensed Building Practitioner Scheme?
• Why was licensing introduced?
• Who administers licensing?
• How does licensing benefit building practitioners?
• How does licensing benefit consumers?
• Will consumers have options for redress?

Licensing

• Is licensing compulsory?
• How many people will be licensed?
• How does a tradesperson become licensed?
• Does a tradesperson have to be qualified to become licensed?
• How much does it cost to become licensed?
• Will licensing add to building costs and, if so, to what extent?
• Isn’t licensing just more bureaucracy?
• Are there any similar licensing schemes in New Zealand?
• Why is licensing taking so long to implement?
• How do independent qualified persons (IQPs) fit in with licensing?
• Do licensed building practitioners need professional indemnity insurance?
• How will licensed building practitioners sign off on their jobs?

Councils and licensing

• Don’t councils already check that building work is being done properly?
• Do councils have a role in licensing?

Restricted building work

• What is restricted building work?
• Why wait until 2012 for restricted building work to apply?
• What happens between now and March 2012 in terms of restricted building work?
• Why won’t restricted building work apply to all buildings?
• Does the exclusion of big buildings mean people won’t need to be licensed to work on them?
• Why isn’t all work needing a consent defined as restricted building work?
• Will there be penalties for an unlicensed person doing restricted work?
• Why should a building practitioner become licensed now, when restricted building work won’t apply until March 2012?
• Won’t it simply cost them money to renew their licensing annually?

DIY - Do It Yourself 

• What work can a DIYer do, when restricted building work applies?
• Is there any effect on DIYers between now and March 2012?
• How will DIYers get an exemption from restricted building work requirements?
• Why does a DIYer have to declare that they did restricted building work?
• Is any liability attached to the exemption?
• Would it be an offence to sign an incorrect declaration?
• Can a DIYer employ tradespeople to help them out?
• Can a DIYer employ family and friends?
• Couldn’t builders pretend to be DIYers to get around licensing requirements?
• Will a DIYer be able to get more than one exemption?
• How will restricted building work affect a DIY landlord?
• Will rents go up if landlords have to employ builders to do the same work they could do cheaper?