Our strategies

Strategy: Raise consumer knowledge and appreciation of housing, building and construction issues through access to quality information and advice

What we will do

The Department is committed to promoting greater awareness and understanding of housing and building issues among consumers.

We will improve access to information for consumers about their rights and obligations so:

• they can make informed decisions and undertake transactions with confidence
• those providing services in the building sector are better able to do their jobs.

Why we will do it

Intermediate Outcome

- A strong, well-performing sector with skilled building and housing professionals
- Confident building and home owners, tenants and users that value well-designed, well-built, warm, safe and healthy homes and buildings

These actions will:

• allow consumers and the sector to access the right information to make informed decisions
• reduce poor-quality construction, reduce disputes and lower transaction costs
• result in less government intervention (and its associated costs).

How we will do it

This strategy involves the Department working with stakeholders to develop information in the best form and delivered in the best way to ensure the sector and consumers understand their rights and obligations.

What we will deliver

Over the next 3 years we will:

• undertake public information and education initiatives to raise awareness and understanding of building and housing sector issues, leading to better informed consumer and practitioner behaviour
• provide information to better inform homeowners and prospective homeowners of weathertightness issues and how these can be addressed and remedied
• implement the Community Education and Liaison Strategy to promote an informed and confident rental market by educating and working with market participants (this will include implementing strategies to improve the quality of business and property management practices of landlords)
• conduct public awareness and information campaigns aimed at:
  • raising dam owners’ awareness of the dam safety regime
  • increasing awareness of the product certification scheme
  • increasing consumer awareness of energy efficiency, including providing practical information on how to make homes and buildings more energy efficient
• continue and evaluate a strategy to enhance consumer awareness and influence behaviour towards better informed decision-making when purchasing homes and other buildings.

How our outputs link to the strategy

Output Class	Output
Building Regulation and Control	Building and Construction Monitoring, Research and Evaluation Public Information and Education Building Regulation Advice and Guidance
Occupational Licensing	Develop and Implement Licensed Building Practitioner Scheme
Residential Tenancy Services	Residential Tenancy Advice and Guidance Residential Tenancy Public Information and Education
Weathertight Homes Resolution Service	Dispute Resolution