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3.10.2025<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
Share on:<\/h4><\/i><\/a><\/span><\/i><\/a><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>I<\/span><\/strong>f you\u2019ve ever wondered what the difference is between a builder who has a qualification, licence or membership, you\u2019re not alone.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>Many homeowners are unsure about the benefits of hiring a tradie who has one, and what it means for their project.<\/p>\n
We\u2019re here to clear up the confusion by sharing a simple summary of what you need to know before hiring a builder no matter if they have one, none or all of the above.<\/p>\n<\/div>
<\/i><\/div>In this article, we\u2019ll cover:<\/h2><\/div><\/div>\n\n- Qualifications<\/li>\n
- The Building Act & Warranties<\/li>\n
- Licensed Building Practitioners (LBP)<\/li>\n
- What is Restricted Building Work (RBW)?<\/li>\n
- Hear from an LBP\u2019s point of view<\/li>\n
- Registered Master Builders Association (RMBA, or Master Builders)<\/li>\n
- New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
![](\"https:\/\/builderscrack.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/7-things-tradies-want-you-to-know-going-into-2022-2.jpg\" "\\"7")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>It’s worth noting that someone can be called a builder without any formal qualifications. It\u2019s good to understand why.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>Qualifications\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3><\/div>A builder with formal qualification (aka trade-qualified)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- Some may have gone through formal education like an apprenticeship, which is a mix of practical onsite and classroom learning (e.g. BCITO); or<\/li>\n
- Some may have a trade certificate, which focuses more on classroom-based theory and technical aspects (e.g. polytechnics or technical colleges).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
A builder without formal qualification (aka school of life)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- Others may not hold any formal qualifications from an apprenticeship or trade certificate. This is because they may have started their career by working as a labourer or hammerhand in the industry and gained knowledge through practical experience.<\/li>\n
- Some may have decades of hands-on experience and as result, they are competent builders who are highly skilled at their craft. Others may not be, so it\u2019s important to check previous work, ask about their experience and look at reviews from other homeowners.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/i><\/div>
Did you know?<\/h2><\/div><\/div>\nThe Licensed Building Practitioners scheme is competency based. This means competent builders and tradespeople with a good track record can have their skills and knowledge formally recognised and become an LBP, whether they are trade-qualified or not.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>![](\"https:\/\/builderscrack.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Granny_Flats_1200x8005.jpg\" "\\"Granny_Flats_(1200×800)5\\"")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>All building work in New Zealand, regardless of who performs it, must comply with the Building Code.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>The Building Act & Warranties<\/strong><\/h3><\/div>All building work in New Zealand, regardless of who performs it, must comply with the Building Code.<\/p>\n
Regardless of who you hire, or whether you are doing a small repair or a major renovation, residential building work is covered by what\u2019s called an implied warranty<\/u><\/a>, which is set out in the Building Act.<\/p>\nImplied warranties are automatic and cover different aspects of building work, from compliance with the Building Code, to good workmanship and timely completion of building work.<\/p>\n
This means any defective structural or weather-tightness work is covered for up to 10 years, regardless of whether you have a written contract or what the contract terms were.<\/p>\n
There is also a defect repair period of 12 months from the date your building work is complete.<\/p>\n
Visit Building Performance<\/u><\/a> to read more about various consumer protection measures.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>![](\"https:\/\/builderscrack.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Cladding-New-Build-New-Zealand.jpg\" "\\"Cladding")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>The Licensed Building Practitioners (LBPs) scheme is a New Zealand Government initiative.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>Licensed Building Practitioners (LBP)<\/strong><\/h3><\/div>The Licensed Building Practitioners (LBPs) scheme is a New Zealand Government initiative.<\/p>\n
It is an optional licence for builders, however, it is legally required by the Government for certain types of work.<\/p>\n
In a nutshell:<\/strong> LBPs are building practitioners who have been assessed as competent to carry out building work essential to the structure or weathertightness of residential buildings.<\/p>\nThis work is known as Restricted Building Work (RBW). A lot of major renovations will include RBW. A good rule of thumb: if the work requires a building consent, then it is RBW.<\/p>\n<\/div>
<\/i><\/div>Do i need a consent?<\/h2><\/div><\/div>\nThere is a tool that can help you answer the question: do I need a consent? Visit Can I Build It<\/u><\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n<\/strong><\/p>\nWhat is Restricted Building Work (RBW)?<\/strong><\/p><\/h3><\/div>Restricted Building Work is everything that involves or affects the following areas of the home:<\/p>\n
\n- Primary structures:<\/strong> for example, this work contributes to the resistance of vertical and horizontal loads (such as walls, foundations, floors and roofs).<\/li>\n
- Weathertightness:<\/strong> any work done to the outside of the building to protect it from the weather or elements.<\/li>\n
- Design of fire safety systems:<\/strong> this work involves elements intended to protect people and property from fire (e.g. escape routes) in multi-unit residential buildings.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Some examples of renovations that are restricted include:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- Structural additions, alterations, re-piling<\/li>\n
- Plumbing and drainage where an additional sanitary fixture is created<\/li>\n
- Installing a woodburner or air-conditioning system<\/li>\n
- Retaining walls higher than 1.5 metres<\/li>\n
- Fences or walls higher than 2.5 metres<\/li>\n
- Decks, platforms or bridges more than 1.5 metres above ground level<\/li>\n
- Sheds greater than 30 square metres in floor area<\/li>\n
- Some earthworks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Offences relating to licensing:<\/b><\/p>\n\n- It is an offence for someone to call themselves an LBP if they are not licensed<\/li>\n
- It is an offence to knowingly engage an unlicensed person to carry out or supervise RBW.<\/li>\n
- It is an offence for an unlicensed person to carry out or supervise RBW, with fines up to $50,000.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
I<\/span><\/strong>f you\u2019ve ever wondered what the difference is between a builder who has a qualification, licence or membership, you\u2019re not alone.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div> Many homeowners are unsure about the benefits of hiring a tradie who has one, and what it means for their project.<\/p>\n We\u2019re here to clear up the confusion by sharing a simple summary of what you need to know before hiring a builder no matter if they have one, none or all of the above.<\/p>\n<\/div> It’s worth noting that someone can be called a builder without any formal qualifications. It\u2019s good to understand why.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div> A builder with formal qualification (aka trade-qualified)<\/strong><\/p>\n A builder without formal qualification (aka school of life)<\/strong><\/p>\n The Licensed Building Practitioners scheme is competency based. This means competent builders and tradespeople with a good track record can have their skills and knowledge formally recognised and become an LBP, whether they are trade-qualified or not.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> All building work in New Zealand, regardless of who performs it, must comply with the Building Code.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div> All building work in New Zealand, regardless of who performs it, must comply with the Building Code.<\/p>\n Regardless of who you hire, or whether you are doing a small repair or a major renovation, residential building work is covered by what\u2019s called an implied warranty<\/u><\/a>, which is set out in the Building Act.<\/p>\n Implied warranties are automatic and cover different aspects of building work, from compliance with the Building Code, to good workmanship and timely completion of building work.<\/p>\n This means any defective structural or weather-tightness work is covered for up to 10 years, regardless of whether you have a written contract or what the contract terms were.<\/p>\n There is also a defect repair period of 12 months from the date your building work is complete.<\/p>\n Visit Building Performance<\/u><\/a> to read more about various consumer protection measures.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> The Licensed Building Practitioners (LBPs) scheme is a New Zealand Government initiative.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div> The Licensed Building Practitioners (LBPs) scheme is a New Zealand Government initiative.<\/p>\n It is an optional licence for builders, however, it is legally required by the Government for certain types of work.<\/p>\n In a nutshell:<\/strong> LBPs are building practitioners who have been assessed as competent to carry out building work essential to the structure or weathertightness of residential buildings.<\/p>\n This work is known as Restricted Building Work (RBW). A lot of major renovations will include RBW. A good rule of thumb: if the work requires a building consent, then it is RBW.<\/p>\n<\/div> There is a tool that can help you answer the question: do I need a consent? Visit Can I Build It<\/u><\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> What is Restricted Building Work (RBW)?<\/strong><\/p><\/h3><\/div> Restricted Building Work is everything that involves or affects the following areas of the home:<\/p>\n Some examples of renovations that are restricted include:<\/strong><\/p>\n Offences relating to licensing:<\/b><\/p>\nIn this article, we\u2019ll cover:<\/h2><\/div>
\n
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Qualifications\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3><\/div>
\n
\n
Did you know?<\/h2><\/div>
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>The Building Act & Warranties<\/strong><\/h3><\/div>
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Licensed Building Practitioners (LBP)<\/strong><\/h3><\/div>
Do i need a consent?<\/h2><\/div>
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n\n
\n
\n
![](\"https:\/\/builderscrack.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Winter_Maintenance1200x8001.jpg\" "\\"Winter_Maintenance(1200×800)1\\"")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>![](\"https:\/\/builderscrack.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Tony-Home-Alterations.jpg\" "\\"Tony")
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