Using licensed practitioners

It’s important when carrying out maintenance or renovations to use licensed practitioners, where required. Hiring licensed builders, electricians, plumbers, gas fitters and drain layer helps make sure the work is done correctly, adheres to safety standards, and meets legal requirements. Using unlicensed tradespersons may affect your insurance and could end up being more expensive if work needs fixing later. It could also mean you are in breach of your legal obligations.

Checking a practitioner is licensed

When engaging licensed practitioners, an easy way to confirm they are qualified and competent to perform the work is to see their professional ID card. That way you’ll know they are qualified and competent to perform the work, and that it will meet the relevant trade standards.

Licensed building practitioners

If you’re planning building work on your property, the required work will need to be assessed. A Licensed Building Practitioner’s (LBP) will determine if the work required is Restricted Building Work (RBW) or not. This means work that is critical to making a home structurally sound and weathertight. If the work is RWB, it needs to be designed by a Licensed Building Practitioner, the work also needs to be supervised or completed by an LBP to meet legal requirements.

For more information on RBW and LBP’s(external link) — Building Performance website

Are they licensed?(external link) — Licensed Building Practitioners website

Electrical workers

Landlords are prohibited from doing any fixed wiring work including fitting of power points on properties that they are renting out. It’s important to use a licensed electrician for safety and to meet legal requirements.

About licences(external link) — Electrical Workers Registration Board website

For information about certain electrical work that an owner occupier can do please visit:

Doing your own electrical work(external link) — Worksafe website

Plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers

In New Zealand, sanitary plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying work is restricted and can only be carried out by tradespeople who are registered and licensed to do so.  Engaging unlicensed practitioners can void your insurance, compromise home safety, and increase the likelihood of leaks and costs from ongoing issues.

Hiring a tradie(external link) — Plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers board website

Useful links

• Hiring a builder or tradesperson(external link) — Consumer protection website
• Planning a renovation(external link) — Consumer protection website
• Checking if you need consents(external link) — Building Performance website
• Getting electrical work done(external link) — Worksafe website