Self-certification: The details so far
January 15, 2025

In October, the Government announced it was moving towards self-certification for certain work to streamline the consenting process. This has created a lot of media interest, with a lot of different opinions floating around, but at this stage there’s not a lot of detail as to what it will actually mean in practice. So, what do we know so far?

It’s clear the current consenting approach needs to change. The sector has been seeking reform for years. In the 2024 State of the Sector survey by Registered Master Builders, 71 percent of members had experienced consenting delays that impacted project delivery and increased costs for homeowners.

The Government has announced a range of moves to try to take some of the pressure off the consenting system. In July it announced plans to make virtual inspections the default across the country. It’s already consulting on the number of consenting authorities, and now it’s looking at how the consenting process can be streamlined for low-risk properties built by accredited builders.

Registered Master Builders says requiring each new home to be inspected and signed off separately creates unnecessary strain on productivity by requiring the same standards for low-risk residential builds by well-established, proven builders, as for high-risk projects.

Moving to a more streamlined process means low-risk homes can be built more efficiently, freeing up resources for more complex builds. BCITO also emphasises that self-certification rewards high performance, encouraging more builders to train and achieve trade certification, which could lift standards across the industry.

Registered Master Builders CEO Ankit Sharma agrees: “This scheme rewards trusted, accredited and reliable builders, and fosters higher standards across the sector by incentivising quality work. While there are many builders who consistently deliver high-quality homes and sail through the current process, it still takes time. Unfortunately, there are also some who use consenting as a substitute for quality control. This is not efficient,” he says.

“We are strong advocates for a system where reliable, trusted builders are rewarded for their professionalism. We also believe self-certification will create an environment where others will elevate their standards.”

The Government will consult industry members on exactly how the process will be managed. Details are expected to be announced early this year. With the right practical framework, self-certification has the potential to benefit the industry as whole.