The Tauranga City Council perceives a new building scheme as a positive step for the construction industry.

The Licensed Building Practitioner Scheme is a licensing scheme to help ensure people in the industry are competent and accountable.

It is hoped this will make sure homes and buildings are designed and built right in the first instance.

TCC acting building manager Brian Swale says this is a good thing.

'The LBP scheme will provide more reassurance for everyone involved in building work –homeowners, industry professionals, and council – that work is being carried out right first time.”

The scheme was developed by the Department of Building and Housing with input from the building industry.

The licensing process began in 2009.

From March 1, certain types of restricted building work (a list is available on www.dbh.govt.nz) must be carried out or supervised by Licensed Building Practitioners (LBP).

Brian says it's important people apply for consents before they begin any works.

'It's important to remember that from March 1, if you apply for building consent for restricted building work, and you don't have an LBP doing or supervising the work, your application will not be accepted.

'Please ensure you check whether the work you want done is on the list of restricted building work at the start of your building and consent process.”

As a general rule – if residential building work is structural, or if it affects the weather tightness of the building, the work may be ‘restricted building work'.

Brian says this means people must employ an LBP to design and carry out, or supervise, that work.

For people engaging building professionals, they will need to check if the work they're planning is listed as restricted building work.

If it is, they will need to engage an LBP to do or supervise the work.

LBPs are listed on a public online register on www.dbh.govt.nz