Building Practitioner held to account for poor workmanship

11 May 2015

Licensed Building Practitioner held to account for poor workmanship

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has welcomed a decision by the Building Practitioners Board (the Board) to take action against Napier Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP) Yordan Michael Militch.

The Board heard how in July 2013 Mr Militch performed negligent and/or incompetent work; carried out or supervised work that did not comply with a building consent; and failed to provide a record of work on completion of restricted building work.

Paul Hobbs, MBIE’s Registrar of Building Practitioner Licensing says it was concerning that Mr Militch did not show or demonstrate the competencies or skills expected or required of a person licensed as a carpenter.

“The work undertaken by Mr Militch was not complicated. He had clear instructions available on how it was to be carried out. However, despite the approved building consent plans being available on site he did not carry out foundation work and other related building work in accordance with the plans.”

“The LBP scheme has been designed to raise standards across the building sector and consumer confidence in the quality of work carried out. It is thus a risk to the scheme’s integrity that someone working under the banner of the scheme has been shown up for performing a sub-standard job.”

Mr Hobbs expects that upcoming changes to the LBP skills maintenance scheme will make ongoing professional development more meaningful and relevant for LBPs, whilst ensuring they remain professionally competent and up-to-date with technical and regulatory changes occurring in the industry, which will in turn reduce the risk of a similar situation arising in the future.

“Ongoing professional development to allow LBPs to maintain pace with best practice together with the Board’s monitoring of LBP performance should combine to give consumers confidence LBPs are qualified and accountable for the quality of their work.”

Mr Militch’s licence has been cancelled and he cannot to be re-licensed for a period of not less than two years. His name has also been removed from the LBP register and he has been ordered to pay costs.

The number of complaints made to the Board since 2012 have gradually increased year-on-year. However, these relate to a very small proportion of the 24,000 LBPs plying their trade across the country. Consumers can have confidence that in the event of difficulty when employing an LBP that their complaints are promptly and professionally heard by the Board.

A guide to making a complaint about an LBP is available from the LBP website: www.lbp.govt.nz.

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