THE BACHELOR BULKS UP Look what pies and beer did to Jordan Mauger P20, 21 P37 GOT THE TRAVEL BUG? Dine where the celebrities eat in Los Angeles Thinking of Selling? We only charge 1% You will save thousands Call Debra Hakaraia 0275 620 420 Thursday, July14, 2016 Post-quake homes: Why they cost so much • By Gabrielle Stuart SINCE THE earthquakes, the cost of building new homes in Canterbury has risen by nearly 40 per cent. Subdivisions have multiplied, with almost 15,000 new homes in Christchurch consented since January 2011, together worth more than $4.6 billion. Average costs of the new build increase in dollar terms are not held. But in the past five years, the average home in Christchurch city has risen by more than $120,000. Statistics NZ surveys builders about the cost of construction materials, labour and total build prices, to calculate the cost of building. Its latest figures show the price of new homes in Canterbury, not including land, has risen by 39.7 per cent since the beginning of 2011, a lot faster than the 26.4 per cent rise in Auckland. Although the cost of materials and labour has risen, they haven’t risen nearly enough to account for the hike. Canterbury Registered Master Builders president Alastair Miles said a lot of the increase was in extra health and safety and compliance costs. A rule change in 2012 means scaffolding and safety netting must be used for even small, single-storey homes, which he said usually added about $5000-$15,000 per home, and could add delays. “All the emphasis on health and safety is a good thing, but it inflicts The cost of new homes has gone up 40 per cent since the earthquakes. Here’s where the money may be going: Wages: Up 27 per cent since 2011 Materials: Up about 5 per cent GRAPHIC: GABRIELLE STUART a lot of extra cost on construction,” he said. The rules around foundations were also stricter, which he said could cost about $5000-$10,000 for a house on good land, and anywhere up to $100,000 on badly earthquake-damaged land. The boom in work had meant there was a lot more demand for good workers, which had pushed up the cost of labour substantially almost overnight, he said. According to Statistics New Zealand, wages in the construction industry in Canterbury have gone up more than 25 per cent since 2011. The planning costs had also gone up, as Mr Miles said the process of putting plans through the city council had once cost about $1000, but could now cost about $5000. •Turn to page 4 Consenting: About $4000 extra cost Scaffolding: $5000- $15,000 extra for a small, single-storey house Foundations: An extra $5000- $10,000 for a house on stable land SPORT, P42 CHATHAM CUP’S ONE-SIDED FOOTBALL MATCH-UP starnews.co.nz Rise Up Christchurch BEDDING THECRUSADERS’PREFERRED BEDDING DESTINATION Harvey Norman Bedding in Association with King Koil and SleepMaker are proud to be theOfficial and Exclusive Bedding Partner to the Crusaders! SHOP IN STORE AND ONLINE SHOP with CONFIDENCE. MOORHOUSE AVE Cnr. Moorhouse Ave. &Colombo St. (03) 367 7500 HORNBY 10-14Chappie Place (03) 344 8100 318733_CFB
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