Propping up homebuilding

PRACTITIONER LICENSING

* Licensed practitioners needed for new buildings, major alterations and change of use (eg, office to apartment, garage to sleepout).

* Those undertaking or supervising critical design and building work will need a licence.

* National standards of competence to be met (registered architects and engineers will automatically qualify); 28,000 people expected to apply.

* 13 licence classes covering building design, site supervision, trades (eg, carpentry, roofing) and specialties (eg, concrete structure).

* Design lead and site leads must certify that work is completed to building consent or code requirements and be personally liable.

* Licensed practitioners will be listed on electronic register.

* Licences optional from November 2007, compulsory from November 2011.


CONSENT AUTHORITY REGISTRATION

* Councils and private bodies to be registered as building-consent authorities.

* Must meet prescribed standards to be accredited.


PRODUCT CERTIFICATION

* Accredited agencies to certify building products as complying with the building code.

* Product certificates will contain detailed information on how the product must be used.

* Scheme is not compulsory.


UNIT TITLES ACT

* Changes so that apartment/multiple-unit owners in "common property" disputes can repair homes.


EARLIER CHANGES

* Return to treated timber for external framing and floorplates.

* Cavity ventilation system for monolithic cladding.


LEAKY HOME CLAIMS

* Streamlined weathertight homes service.

* More comprehensive assessments.

* Repairs to cover all potential weathertightness issues.

* Case managers to help claimants.

* Small claims fast-tracked.

* Time limits on mediation.

* Class actions for multi-units.

* Pilot loans scheme for worst cases.

* Guarantees for bank loans.