17 May 2005

Building Act killing off Kiwi home handyman

Dr Muriel Newman Tuesday, Press Releases - Other

The Labour Government’s Building Act is killing off the “do- it-yourself” home handyman and imposing unnecessary building regulations and costs, Deputy Leader and housing spokesman Dr Muriel Newman said today.

Dr Newman said since the Act came into force in December last year, she had received numerous complaints from home handymen and people working in the industry.

The Act means do-it-yourselfers, who are doing a bit more than the basics, have to be supervised by a registered builder. As a result the DIY home handyman is already becoming a relic of our past.

“It’s become increasingly clear the Building Act is driving up costs on the building industry,” Dr Newman said.

“The Act is expected to increase the cost of building a new home by 15-20% and people predict the cost of hiring a registered builder in some areas will double.

“People are already quitting the industry because it is becoming so bureaucratic, a situation which will exacerbate to a chronic shortage of registered builders.

“All of this has happened because the Government used concerns over leaky buildings - which affected less than one percent of New Zealand homes - as an excuse to regulate the whole building industry.

“ACT opposed the Building Act at the time it was introduced. It is just another example of big brother government unnecessarily regulating New Zealanders way of life.

“ACT will push to have the Building Act repealed after the election,” Dr Newman said.

ENDS

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