Licensing update
Issue 17 - September 2010
Licensed Building Practitioners (LBP) scheme newsletter
In this issue we cover
If you have any questions or comments about the scheme, please email licensing@dbh.govt.nz
LBP fees: GST increase from 1 October
Goods and Services Tax (GST) is due to increase from 12.5% to 15% from 1 October 2010. This means the GST payable on all LBP fees, including the one-off LBP application and assessment fees, and the annual relicensing and Board levy fees, will increase from that time.
The new GST rate of 15% will apply to LBP fees that are received on or after 1 October 2010. Until 30 September, GST remains at 12.5%. You might want to get your form and payment in before the GST increase takes effect.
Do I have to get new application forms?
You can use the old application forms, but you need to pay the correct fees. Updated forms will be available from 1 October.
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Law changes build on LBP scheme
Planned amendments to the Building Act 2004 reinforce the importance of licensing building practitioners as central to improvements in the sector.
Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson has just announced a package of measures arising from a year long review of the Building Act.
“Without compromising quality and safety, these amendments will help drive a more efficient and productive sector that stands behind the quality of its work,” Mr Williamson says.
The proposed law changes will mean that building contractors will need a written contract with their clients for any residential work above $20,000. They will have to give clients more information about themselves, and their track record, before the contract is signed, and explain what, if any, financial back-up or insurance they have to cover the cost of fixing any faults.
The Minister says that the changes will help homeowners make informed choices, and drive demand for professional, licensed building contractors.
Longer term, the Government intends to introduce a ‘stepped’ approach to building consents and inspections. 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.
This will only be introduced after mid-2012, once the other improvements are in place to drive quality, including having a sound base of LBPs.
Under this proposed ‘stepped’ approach, certain low risk work, such as a stand-alone garage or a large rural shed, will get a consent more easily if it is done by a LBP.
For a simple, one-story house built using proven methods and products, consent would be quicker and fewer inspections required, with the local authority only focusing on the critical elements.
The Government is also extending the range of work exempt from needing a building consent under Schedule 1.
Further work is also being done on how the building consent system could be administered in a more consistent and efficient way.
Full details are available on the Building Act review section of this website.
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Skills maintenance
Like many building practitioners, you may have just taken the step of getting your LBP licence. Your licence brings many business and marketing advantages. But it also means staying on top of your game by keeping your skills and knowledge up-to-date. This is called skills maintenance.
LBPs must earn skills maintenance points and submit a record to the Registrar at least every two years. And if you submit your points yearly, you get a bonus point. You will need between 24 and 36 points over two years, depending on your licence class.
One hour of skills maintenance equals one point
You can choose the activities that best suit your needs and the requirements of your licence class. Your activities need to inform you about things such as changes to the Building Code, building materials, design technologies and good design and building practices. You’ll probably find you do many of these activities anyway...
Some examples:
- seminars, workshops, conferences, trade events
- reading publications, newsletters, magazines, journals
- site training, inductions.
Activities approved by the Registrar
To help with getting points, some activities, such as some courses and workshops, are pre-approved by the Registrar. Approved activities are not capped - meaning there’s no limit to the points you can claim, as long as the activities are relevant to your licence class.
Keep a record of your points
Keep a diary or electronic spreadsheet to record your points. Update it as you accumulate points. We can ask to see evidence of your skills maintenance, so keep your records, diary, receipts and other evidence that shows what you did.
Use your personal records or diary to update the Record of skills maintenance form.
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More qualifications recognised for LBP scheme
People with overseas qualifications may be eligible for the LBP qualified application process from 1 October 2010, if they have an NZQA report. The list of recognised New Zealand qualifications will also be extended to cover foundations workers. Additional Site and Carpentry qualifications will also be recognised.
If you have an overseas qualification or one of the newly recognised qualifications, you might want delay your application until 1 October when they become recognised. You can apply now but would need to use the standard process.
Overseas qualifications
You will need a New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) report confirming that the overseas qualification is equivalent to one recognised under the LBP scheme.
The NZQA report, called an International Qualification Assessment, must specifically name the equivalent qualification and its level for it to be acceptable under the LBP scheme.
If you have an overseas qualification but no NZQA report, contact the Qualifications Recognition Service directly. See New Zealand Qualifications Authority 
website for more information.
You can always use the standard application process if you choose not get a report. You may find this cheaper and more convenient.
Recognised qualifications for Foundations licence
Qualified foundations workers can use the streamlined application process to apply for their licence from 1 October 2010. Additional Site and Carpentry qualifications will also be recognised. The newly recognised qualifications are available online.
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More about the LBP scheme
More information about the LBP scheme is available online or contact us on 0800 60 60 50 or info@dbh.govt.nz
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