Cutting red tape while at the same time making builders more accountable may seem contradictory aims. But that is the intention of Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson.
Cutting red tape while at the same time making builders more accountable may seem contradictory aims. But that is the intention of Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson.
While removing small jobs like building a car port or veranda from requiring building consents, the new amendments to the Building Act 2004 will require mandatory written contracts for all work over $20,000, setting out expectations, warranties and remedies, and how any disputes will be resolved. The changes will also require tradespeople to explain what, if any, financial back-up or insurance they have to remedy any faults.
These changes are intended to provide greater consumer protection but may also affect work opportunities for the thousands of tradesfolk whose “capital” is little more than a van and a tool box.
The Registered Master Builders Federation has greeted the proposals with caution and says the devil will be in the detail.
“To move to self certification of building work or risk based fast tracking of building consents with few inspections, relies on the capability within the construction industry. This will take time to develop so we are unlikely to see a significant immediate reduction in cost and time until capability is addressed,” according to the Federation’s chief executive Warwick Quinn.
The “capability” of the industry includes other reforms to improve quality, including the licensing of building practitioners after mid-2012.
Another significant proposal is a move towards a “global” consent regime.
"Under this stepped approach, the amount of checking and inspection will be directly aligned to the complexity and risk of the work, and the skills and capability of the people doing the work," Mr Williamson says.
"For example, when building a stand-alone garage, the only check that may be required is that the work is being done by a licensed building practitioner. For building a simple, one-storey house using proven methods and products, it would be quicker to get consent and would require fewer inspections with the local authority only focusing on the critical elements."
The changes to the Act will be phased in over time. Some of the incentives to be introduced to Parliament this year include:
*explicitly stating that builders and designers are accountable for meeting Building Code requirements;
*Mandatory written contracts for work above $20,000;
*Financial back-up or insurance to remedy any faults.
Mr Williamson says the changes are part of the Government’s Better Building Blueprint, to make it easier and cheaper for New Zealanders to build good quality homes and buildings.
At the same time, he expects the changes will lead to fewer disputes and see most arguments sorted out quickly and relatively cheaply.
However the Homeowners and Buyers Association says the measures don’t go anywhere near far enough and it wants to see a fidelity fund set up.
The planned changes to the Building Act are the result of a year-long review, which attracted more than 380 written submissions.
