REFORMS COMING TO LBP SCHEME

Consultation closed around the Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP) scheme

As part of the second phase of the Building System Legislative Reform Programme (the Reform Programme), the government is in the process of determining changes to the LBP scheme with the aim of improving accountability, efficiency and fairness. LBP submissions regarding supervision, licence classes and competency requirements were collected April to June this year.

In its discussion document released early 2021, MBIE sought feedback with the following questions:

• We want to know if supervision is working as originally intended and what we can do to improve it?
• Do the current licence classes reflect what needs to be regulated in the building industry? Does the current class structure need changing to recognise experience?
• Should the competencies for entry into the scheme be lifted, should there be more emphasis on formal education and training and how well are the assessment and skills maintenance processes working?

According to MBIE, updating the LBP scheme will mean builders and designers have the right skills, knowledge, and experience to do quality building work and increase consumer confidence in the scheme.

Bringing scheme up to speed

In the discussion document, Minister for Building and Construction, Poto Williams, noted the LBP scheme was introduced in 2007 to help address gaps in the performance-based regulatory system that were exposed during the leaky homes crisis.

“The scheme has not been reviewed as a whole since it was introduced and has not kept up with all the changes in the building sector,” said Williams.

“The LBP workforce and the wider building system has continued to evolve and become more specialised, and demands on builders have increased. I would therefore like to use this opportunity to test issues that have been brought up over the past 15 years with those who know the scheme best. These issues have been informed by those in the industry and building consent authorities through previous consultation, as well as those who manage the scheme itself.”

Strengthening the LBP scheme is part of the second phase of the government’s Building System Legislative Reform Programme (the Reform Programme), and this is the second consultation with LBPs in the past year. The first consultation gathered feedback from LBPs regarding the introduction of a code of ethics, changes to the licensing administration process for LBPs and changes to the Board’s role in complaints and discipline.

MBIE said in its discussion document that stakeholders raised concerns that the scheme has low entry requirements during another 2019 consultation. This sentiment was echoed in last issue’s Builders’ Business section, available online.

Next, MBIE will analyse the feedback received and use it to prepare advice to the Minister for Building and Construction on options to improve the LBP scheme. These options may include recommending changes to the licence classes and structure, and/or changes to the minimum standards to enter the scheme and continue to be licensed.

The results of the consultation and intended next steps will be covered in upcoming issues of Under Construction.