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Wales could go it alone on builder licensing scheme

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  1. We should not be too quick to invent reasons why this won’t work; it has not been studied and until it has we should reserve judgement! Voluntary guidelines will never produce the required results e.g. press complaints commission, Financial Services etc. There are plenty of ways this could be made to work including 1) Works under the purview of building control (building control do not need to be impartial – they need to ensure works are carried out according to regulations, so a registration scheme would support this) will require a registered builder to be added to the application prior to approval 2) Works carried out on properties will require proof that a registered building carried out the work, during the sale process 3) Insurance companies to refuse buildings insurance of properties where works have been carried out by unregistered builders, or invalidate the insurance if this is established at a later date, 4) Property owners to be legally responsible for the consequences of failed work in the event of serious injuries. I am sure that a dozen more control methods could be devised requiring little additional work. An engineer has to be licensed, so should the contractors who implement the design. A registration scheme is not a knee jerk reaction, it is long overdue.

  2. To be honest, clients will always mostly look at the cost of a project,and set everything else aside. Registration and Licensing of contractors and building companies will not work. Building control cannot be involved in the licensing process as they must remain impartial.
    Qualifying an industry and making those accredited who work in it would be a brilliant achievement. Construction is always price driven by clients who want top quality project delivered at rock bottom price. Taxation of construction has driven down quality and lead to clients seeking the cheapest option.

  3. Registration of builders is long overdue. Today alone I’ve seen 2 roofers doing repairs on pitched roofs with no scaffolding. I’ve seen a kitchen fitter cutting up worktop in the back of a transit van (full of chemicals and other combustibles) with trailing leads all over the pavement and schoolchildren walking through the middle of it. The Welsh government should be applauded for this. The sooner we drive the cowboys out of business, the better the industry will be (and hopefully improve it’s terrible reputation).

  4. Building control officers can check the validity of a builder’s registration on site at commencement of works once licensing system for builders have been agreed by the industry. This will prevent problems arising from the start and help to raise the standards of workmanship. Government may after few years based on satisfactory data allow for more works under the Building Regulations to be exempt by builders who would also provide warranties etc. All builders should be registered for the category of works that they wish to do.

  5. This is a typical knee jerk reaction and one the Wesh assembly should not consider. This would create a paperwork excercise and no doubt jobs for the boys without delivering the correct results.

    Whatever system is in place you will always have the occassional building work that slips through the net. To create another layer of uneccessary beaucracy is illogical, as we have enough of this in the Building Industry at present

  6. Cardiff is magnificent.

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