Self-certification gets the green light

The Government has given the green light to laws that will allow some builders sign off their own work

Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk said the decision to let “trusted builders” sign off their own work will result in homes being built more efficiently, while maintaining high standards.

“The Government is committed to making the building system more efficient and Cabinet has now agreed to an opt-in self-certification scheme, which will allow approved building firms, plumbers and drainlayers to sign off their own work.

“Kiwis should have confidence that their homes are built to a high standard. That’s why only proven professionals, who meet strict criteria, will be eligible for the scheme – and only for simple residential dwellings.”

Refinement required

The Government is yet to define what it means by “simple residential dwellings” and will rely, in part, on industry consultation to define it. Building Consent Authorities (BCAs) will still be required to provide a “nominal Consent” for entire simple homes, where trusted building professionals are self-certifying their work.

The self-certification scheme will be a voluntary, opt-in measure enabled by changes to the Building Act 2004 and the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act 2006. There will be two self-certification pathways available under the scheme:

• An opt-in self-certification scheme for house builders carrying out work on an entire simple residential dwelling (including design and construction).
• An opt-in self-certification scheme for plumbers and drainlayers carrying out work on a simple residential dwelling.

Penk added that he expected around 3,000 homes to be built each year [under the self-certification scheme], which will free up BCA resource for other, more complex, work.

“BCAs will be freed up to focus on high-risk, complex builds instead of being bogged down by simple homes,” he said.

Tightening inspection times

To further speed up the build process, Penk announced that BCAs will be required to complete 80% of building inspections within three days.

“Wait times sometimes stretch up to a week, having a knock-on effect which can add about $400 for every day a project is held up,” he said.

“Updated guidance will be issued to BCAs, outlining practical strategies to boost efficiency, reduce bottlenecks and help authorities better prioritise their workloads.

“BCAs’ success in meeting the target will be shown in quarterly performance data, giving the public greater transparency and encouraging improved performance.”

Master Builders on board

The change was welcomed by Master Builders Chief Executive Ankit Sharma.

“This is a smart, targeted reform,” he said. “It means low-risk, residential builds can progress more quickly when they’re in the hands of proven, trusted professionals, without compromising quality or consumer protection.

“Trusted builders and tradespeople, who consistently deliver high-quality homes, shouldn’t face the same level of red tape as those who don’t. At the same time, this frees up council resources to focus on more complex projects, where closer oversight is needed.”

Sharma added that the current inspection system “simply doesn’t work for how building sites operate” and welcomed the crackdown on inspection delays.

“Builders often require several inspections in quick succession but can’t book the next until the first is completed. This often leads to two or three-week delays that have serious consequences on the ability to plan for work, whilst also increasing costs, and frustration for clients who don’t understand why their build has suddenly stalled.

“Government’s commitment to complete 80% of inspections within three days is a positive step that will make a real difference on the ground and will be extremely well received by the sector,” Sharma said.