CRIMINAL penalties for non-permitted buildings!

[Rob Tucker]

Carol is making a very valid point. Home building rarely if ever affects only the initial home builder. Codes originated from a need to protect the occupants (tenants or owners) and future occupants. It is a fact that many people will build as cheaply as possible if free to do so and unfortunately that means safety is often a casualty of the profit motive.

Interestingly a lot of people think the "building code" is telling them how to build their home... the codes actually are telling the the lowest standard of construction allowed by law.