Landlords are you compliant?

19 July 2016

Landlords are you compliant?

Now more than ever landlords and property managers need to make sure they only use authorised tradespeople.

The construction sector’s regulator the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (PGDB), has been educating consumers (homeowners and tenants), about protecting their insurance and their health and safety – by checking the credentials of tradespeople.

Why? Restricted plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying work conducted by anyone, including home handyman service providers, who don’t hold a current licence from the Board, are not only putting public health and safety at risk ­– but may also be invalidating homeowner insurance policies.

Chief Executive for the PGDB, Martin Sawyers said; “The new mobile app R.A.C (report-a-cowboy), is doing its job. Reports are coming through, and the investigations team are taking immediate action”.

One report highlighted hot water cylinder repairs that put the homeowner in the position of harbouring a potential ticking time bomb.

Another, a report from a concerned tenant highlighting unlawful work conducted at their home through services organised by a property management company.

The PGDB has concerns that this may just be the tip of the iceberg.

“Tradespeople need to carry a current authorisation card – and I strongly urge consumers and property managers to ask to sight it to protect themselves from any health and safety or insurance risk”, Martin continued.

“If there is any concern at all that work may have been done by someone who is not authorised at a property, or there is concern about the competency of tradespeople, let us know”.

You can check to see if a person is authorised by searching the online public register at www.pgdb.co.nz.

To make a report; the R.A.C app is available free through the App Store and Google Play or from the Board’s website at www.pgdb.co.nz/app. Or, phone 0800 743 262.

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