Proposed changes to the LBP scheme

Last updated: 12 October 2020

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment administers the Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP) scheme, and would like feedback on a package of possible changes to the scheme.

Consultation: CLOSED

Submissions due: 26 October 2020, 11pm

Background

The LBP scheme makes an important contribution to safe and durable buildings and aims to encourage competent building practitioners to build homes right the first time.

The scheme has not been reviewed since its introduction in 2007, and has not kept pace with changes in the building sector. We believe that the scheme currently lacks the right tools to manage poorly performing practitioners, which in turn means it does not manage the health, safety and economic risks presented to building owners by substandard work.

The proposals in this package include:

The introduction of a code of ethics
Changes to licensing administration process for LBPs and the boards role in complaints and discipline.

Your feedback will help MBIE strengthen the LBP scheme – a stronger LBP scheme means builders have the right skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours to do quality building work right the first time and increase public confidence in the scheme.

Due to the current situation with COVID-19 we’ll be running this consultation for eight weeks instead of the standard six.

If you have any questions please contact building@mbie.govt.nz

Consultation webinars and resources

We have run some 30 minute webinars to provide more information on the proposed changes to the scheme – you can watch the recordings at the links below.

We have also put together the questions and answers that were raised during both webinars.