How do I complain about a builder in NZ?
Short answer
It depends on the problem. For poor workmanship or conduct by a Licensed Building Practitioner, complain to the LBP Board on its official form. For a payment or contract dispute, the Disputes Tribunal handles claims up to $60,000 (the District Court above that). You can also complain to MBIE if a builder didn't give you a required contract or disclosure for work of $30,000 or more.
Key facts
- Workmanship or conduct by an LBP → the LBP Board (official form)
- Payment or contract dispute → Disputes Tribunal, up to $60,000
- Claims over $60,000 → District Court
- Missing contract or disclosure for $30k+ work → complain to MBIE
- The LBP Board can't decide payment or contractual disputes
Workmanship or conduct → the LBP Board
If the issue is the quality of restricted building work or the practitioner's conduct, you can complain to the LBP Board. The complaint must be on the approved form and relate to the 'grounds for discipline' in the Building Act. Note the Board can't deal with payment or contractual disputes.
Money or contract dispute → Disputes Tribunal
For payment, contract or quality-of-work disputes about money, the Disputes Tribunal hears claims up to $60,000. For larger claims, or to enforce a decision, you go to the District Court. The Building Disputes Tribunal also offers private adjudication and mediation.
Missing contract or disclosure → MBIE
You can complain to MBIE if your builder didn't provide a required written contract, disclosure statement or checklist for work costing $30,000 or more including GST.
Better still — check before you hire
Many disputes are with builders who already had warning signs in the public record — past court action, liquidations or a director linked to failed companies. Checking before you sign is far cheaper than any complaint process afterwards.
Knowing the rules is half the job. The other half is knowing who you're hiring — check any NZ builder's court action, insolvency history, director track record and AI risk score in 30 seconds.
Related questions
Sources: LBP (lbp.govt.nz) — making a complaint; Building Performance (building.govt.nz) — resolving problems; Disputes Tribunal NZ. General information for NZ homeowners, not legal advice — building rules change and vary by council, so confirm critical details on the official source before acting. Last updated 2026-05.