Builders reluctant to become licensed because of paperwork

Less than five per cent of the expected number of builders have chosen to become licensed since voluntary licensing was introduced by the Government in November 2007.

Despite the Licensed Builder Practitioner Scheme’s attempt to raise building standards it has been reluctantly adopted because of its voluntary nature and the large amount of red tape.

One builder says the large amount of paperwork involved has made many builders reluctant to become licensed.

A Department of Building and Housing spokesperson says the department anticipates about 20,000 practitioners will become licensed.

“Around 900 people have applied to be licensed, and around 800 of these are [now] licensed.”

Home Owners and Buyers Association president John Gray says he is concerned and disappointed with the building community’s slow response to licensing.

“They’ve [builders] been reluctant to get licensed.

“I say it’s something they need to get on and get done and something they should be proud of.”

When the Minister for Building and Housing Maurice Williamson announced the scheme’s latest details, in a press conference on August 27, he said builders had not been motivated to become licensed.

J Cole Builders boss John Cole says he believes this reluctance is as result of the large amount of paperwork involved.

“If you’re good at writing resumes and answering those types of questions you can easily do it.

“Most of us [builders] have invested in our practical skills.”

Cole says the licensing application form has been sitting on his desk collecting dust for the last two years.

The costs involved with becoming licensed have also discouraged Cole from taking the next step.

He says he will need to become licensed four classes, including carpentry, site one and both design one and two.

“I’m looking at $1200 to $1500. And then there’s a yearly subscription after that.”

Registered Master Builders chief executive Warwick Quinn says he is in support of the scheme.

However he says the Department of Building and Housing should streamline the number of licensing classes available to encourage greater interest.

“The more complex the system is the more chance it has of falling over.

“If people like me can’t understand it what hope does it have with members of the public?”

Cole agrees and says the Department should have a meeting with builders and explain the application process.

If this does not happen Cole says the majority of licensing applications will be from practitioners with strong writing skills.

A public submissions consultation period was held from late August to early October this year, inviting comments on the licensing process.

A Department of Building and Housing spokesperson says the consultation period generated 64 responses.

“A more streamlined set of processes is expected to be introduced in the New Year.”

Quinn says members of the Registered Master Builders federation have been told to wait to become licensed till after details of the consultation period are announced.

Currently, there are 13 licensing classes available: carpentry, three site and design classes, external plastering, bricklaying and blocklaying, roofing, concrete structure and steel structure.