127: The inspector is not your safety net: LBPs must own their work

Understanding roles in the building process

The owner

• is responsible for obtaining any necessary consents, approvals, and certificates before and after building work.

The LBP

• must ensure that all building work complies with the building consent and the associated plans and specifications
• should always confirm that a building consent has been issued (if required) before starting work
• must ensure that that work is carried out or supervised in accordance with the requirements of Building Act.

Building Consent Authority (BCA) Inspectors 

• are responsible for checking that:
  • Building consent applications comply with the Building Code
  • building work has been carried out in accordance with the issued consent.

Common missteps

The Building Practitioners Board have seen cases where LBPs assumed that if a BCA inspector didn’t raise an issue, the work must be compliant. This assumption is incorrect.

For example, an LBP might install a structural element incorrectly, believing that any problem will be picked up by the BCA during the inspection. If the inspector doesn’t notice the error the mistake remains. The LBP is still responsible, and this incorrect work can lead to disciplinary action.

Board decisions reflect the risk

In several Board decisions, LBPs were found to have failed in their duties by relying on BCA inspections to validate their work. The Board has consistently ruled that the absence of a correction notice, or failed inspection does not absolve the LBP of responsibility.

Why this matters

Relying on inspectors to catch mistakes undermines the integrity of the building process. It can result in:

• non-compliant work being built and certified
• increased risk of building failures or defects
• loss of public confidence in the LBP scheme
• disciplinary action, including suspension or cancellation of licence.

Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE) guidance makes it clear: LBPs must take proactive responsibility for the correctness of the work, not wait for someone else to point out what’s wrong.

Best practice: Be your own inspector

To avoid complaints and uphold professional standards, LBPs should:

• review work thoroughly before inspections
• use checklists and internal QA processes
• train staff and subcontractors to understand compliance requirements
• document decisions and supervision activities
• treat inspections as confirmation, not discovery.

MBIE encourages LBPs to adopt a mindset of “build it right the first time”, not “build it and see if the inspector finds anything.” This approach protects the homeowner, you as the LBP, and the integrity of the building system.

Conclusion

The BCA inspector is not your safety net. LBPs must understand that inspections are limited and cannot be relied upon to catch every mistake. The responsibility for compliance lies squarely with the practitioner.

MBIE’s message is clear: own your work. Know the consent. Check it yourself. Because when things go wrong, it’s not the inspector who answers to the Board, it’s you.

Quiz

1. Who is responsible for ensuring restricted building work is carried out or supervised in accordance with the requirements of the Building Act?
   

   1. The homeowner

   2.  The Building Consent Authority (BCA) inspector

   3. The Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP)

   4. The project manager

2. What is the primary purpose of a BCA inspection during construction?

   1. To check every detail of the build for compliance

   2. To act as a quality control service for the LBP

   3. To verify that key stages of work align with the consented documents

   4. To supervise the LBP’s work on site

3. What is the best approach for LBPs to avoid complaints and ensure compliance?
   

   1. Wait for the BCA to identify any problems

   2. Focus only on the parts of the build they personally complete

   3. Use internal quality checks and treat inspections as confirmation 

   4. Rely on subcontractors to manage compliance