THOUGHTS ON PROPOSED CHANGES

Builders’ Business is a column by builders for builders. Its objective is to provide a forum, particularly for small business operators, in which to share knowledge, experience, tips and ideas

Q: How do you feel about changes to the LBP scheme proposed in MBIE’s building reforms?

Firm: Contemporary Homes 2010 Ltd

Principal: Paul Richards

Location: Nelson

Staff: 7

I think the proposed changes are good in the sense that I believe any attempt to tighten up regulations will benefit the industry. Bigger financial penalties for individuals and organisations are required to hold improper practices accountable.

It’s important to ensure that builders carrying out these jobs have the skills and competence standards to execute them.

Many of the ugly situations which have prompted better regulations are the result of a lack of situational understanding when faced with a problem on site. As a result, it’s good to see a push toward a tiered licensing system, but more emphasis on situational training for young apprentices and the likes would be helpful.

In this industry, every day is an opportunity to learn something new, so it would be nice if the final announcement incentivises more testing of onsite ability and less on reading comprehension.

Firm: Gray Brothers Builders Ltd

Principal: Mark Ward

Location: Dunedin

Staff: 14

The building reforms struggle to address the key problems currently facing the industry. The Licensed Building Practitioners scheme still has questions surrounding consistency, so it will be interesting to see whether the final reforms answer those questions and provide solutions.

As it currently stands, we can build a big project that’s controlled by an engineer and not have to provide a Record of Work. However, if we’re installing a window at someone’s house, that has tighter requirements involving a Record of Work.

I’ve always maintained that competence in this industry is proven by who is still in business and can show a positive portfolio of work and history of happy customers. Raising those expectations around competence should raise the bar of who fits that bill.

I believe more effort should be put into consumer education. We can’t protect the world from dodgy builders, so let’s lead people to making more informed choices.

Firm: HAMR Home Building Contractors

Principal: Richard Warwick

Location: Whitianga

Staff: 7

Raising competence standards and broadening the definition of RBW is a positive start. I needed a huge amount of paperwork to get my Site 2 licence early on, but the scheme now seems too relaxed, mitigating the value of site licences. The original concept of a Site licence should be implemented, as not everyone has the skills for complex builds.

Harsher penalties for those who break regulation will likely have benefits, but I don’t see it stopping such breaches from happening in the first place.

A competent LBP should be able to sign off some of the work that normally requires a building inspector. Currently, councils demand as much paperwork and as many inspections for small builds as they do on much bigger projects, leading to long lead times for inspections.

I see no reason why the behavioural competence standards shouldn’t go ahead. Setting an understood, universal standard in how we deal with clients seems like common sense.

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Email your answer with your full name, contact phone number, company name, number of full-time staff and the city or town in which you’re based to editor@pmundersconstruction.co.nz. All responses must be submitted by 25 August 2019. The answers to this question will be published in Under Construction October/November 2019.