North Canterbury News: September 19, 2019
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
BUILDING &RENOVATING<br />
38 The <strong>North</strong> <strong>Canterbury</strong> <strong>News</strong>, <strong>September</strong> <strong>19</strong>, 20<strong>19</strong><br />
M ATTHEWS<br />
ROOFING LTD<br />
Advertising feature<br />
Not all work needs aconsent,<br />
but it pays to check first<br />
By DAVID HILL<br />
Phone 03 313 7144<br />
027 432 1534<br />
Fax 03 313 2144<br />
rgrantelectrical@gmail.com<br />
PO Box 69, Rangiora<br />
www.rgrantelectrical.co.nz<br />
Gavin’s<br />
Gavin’s<br />
Joinery<br />
Joinery<br />
●<br />
KITCHENS<br />
KITCHENS<br />
II<br />
I<br />
T<br />
C<br />
H<br />
E<br />
S<br />
●<br />
STAIRS<br />
T<br />
AI<br />
A<br />
II IR<br />
I<br />
R<br />
S<br />
●<br />
JOINERY<br />
●<br />
WINDOWS<br />
II<br />
I<br />
N<br />
O<br />
W<br />
WS<br />
S<br />
Gavin Cattermole Proprietor<br />
MOB: 0274 593 832 FAX: 03 314 2346<br />
240 Carters Road (Cnr Grays Rd),<br />
Amberley, Nth <strong>Canterbury</strong><br />
•gavinsjoinery@xtra.co.nz •a/h 03 314 2345<br />
2170316<br />
PO Box54, Kaiapoi<br />
Mobile 027 245 8140<br />
Fax327 3581<br />
Emailj_amatthews@xtra.co.nz<br />
SPECIALISTS IN LONGRUN COLOURSTEEL<br />
ROOFING AND GUTTERING SYSTEMS<br />
Allan Pethig<br />
For all your electrical needs.<br />
Residential &Commercial<br />
2074449<br />
Navigating through the<br />
consentingprocesscan seem<br />
likeanightmare.<br />
But the Waimakariri<br />
District Council’sbuilding<br />
unitmanager, WarrenTaylor,<br />
saysitdoesn’t needtobethat<br />
way.<br />
He saysnot all building<br />
workrequires aconsent, but it<br />
has to comply withthe<br />
building code.<br />
He recommends people<br />
seekadvice before embarking<br />
on anymajor renovation or<br />
building work.<br />
Schedule 1ofthe Building<br />
Act defineswhenaconsent is<br />
and is notrequired.<br />
For example, general<br />
repairs, maintenance and<br />
replacementwork doesnot<br />
normally require aconsent.<br />
But any workthat<br />
completelyorsubstantially<br />
replacesastructureorcould<br />
impact on abuilding’s<br />
structural integrityorsafety in<br />
afire willrequire aconsent.<br />
‘‘The biggest one is the<br />
repairorreplacementofany<br />
componentthat hasfailedto<br />
satisfythe provisionsofthe<br />
building code for durability,’’<br />
Mr Taylorsays.<br />
‘‘That could meanthe<br />
cladding fornot complying<br />
withthe external moisture<br />
requirements, andinsome<br />
cases it’s notOKtosimply<br />
replace it.’’<br />
Alterationsinside an<br />
existing house are normally<br />
exempt, includingtaking out<br />
an internal wall, provided it<br />
doesn’tcompromise the<br />
structural integrityofthe<br />
Seek advice ... Waimakariri District Council building unit manager Warren Taylor advises people to<br />
seek advice before undertaking major renovation or building work.<br />
PHOTO: DAVID HILL<br />
building.<br />
Whendoing alterations to a<br />
kitchen or bathroom, ‘‘the<br />
basic ruleofthumb is if you’re<br />
not changing the number of<br />
fixtures, youwon’trequire a<br />
consent’’, Mr Taylorsays.<br />
‘‘Ifyou are changing<br />
locations of those fixtures or<br />
replacing awaterheater,its<br />
OK as longasit’s witha<br />
licensed electrician or<br />
plumberortradesperson.’’<br />
Closing in averandadoes<br />
not require aconsent, nor do<br />
Do your homework ... Not all building work requires aconsent,<br />
but it has to comply with the building code.<br />
PHOTO:FILE<br />
carports under 20 square<br />
metresand most single storey<br />
nonhabitable outbuildings<br />
provided theyare under10<br />
square metres. Detailsofwhat<br />
does and does not requirea<br />
consent are readilyavailable<br />
online.<br />
Anynew building which is<br />
more than 10 square metres<br />
will require aconsent, ‘‘but<br />
anyonecan apply foran<br />
exemption’’, Mr Taylorsays.<br />
Asecure, lockable cover<br />
over asmall, heated pool or<br />
spapoolcan alsobeinstalled,<br />
insteadofapool fence,<br />
withoutaconsent.<br />
Tiny houses haveraised<br />
some questions recentlyand<br />
thecouncilhas soughtlegal<br />
adviceonhow to apply the<br />
legislation.<br />
‘‘Some people have sought<br />
to define atiny house on a<br />
trailer as ‘a building on<br />
wheels’,but theregulators<br />
have said it is abuilding under<br />
theBuildingAct.<br />
‘‘If it has atoilet,akitchen,a<br />
bathroom andrunning water,<br />
then it is habitable.’’<br />
Anotherissue whichhas<br />
caughtanumberofpeople out<br />
in <strong>North</strong><strong>Canterbury</strong> is where<br />
abarn hasbeen convertedinto<br />
ahouse withoutaconsent.<br />
‘‘Theymight havebeen<br />
consentedfor the barn,but the<br />
conversion to ahouse was not<br />
consentedand then it has<br />
beenonsold.’’<br />
If individuals do find<br />
themselves in atricky<br />
situation,MrTaylor says<br />
‘‘there areprovisionsfor<br />
people to ask, ‘I don’t comply,<br />
whatcan Ido?’.’’<br />
‘‘You can apply for awaiver<br />
or an alterationunder the<br />
building code;for example,<br />
you can changethe durability<br />
clause the life of ahouse<br />
shouldnormallybe50years,<br />
but foratiny houseyou might<br />
say ‘I onlyexpect to have it for<br />
25 years’.’’<br />
There is also the<br />
‘‘CertificateofAcceptance’’<br />
(COA) which is a‘‘pseudo<br />
building consent’’,hesays.<br />
Whenbuying ahouse,legal<br />
advice is essentialand Mr<br />
Tayloralsoadvisesapplying<br />
for the LIM reportand<br />
commissioning abuilding<br />
reportbeforethe saleis<br />
completed.<br />
NOW COVERING HURUNUI<br />
AND KAIKOURA AREA<br />
<strong>19</strong>46236<br />
2205462<br />
BG BEAVEN BUILDERS LTD<br />
Licensed Building Practitioner<br />
Ph 03 315 6346 M027 433 1340 East Street, Rotherham<br />
www.hurunuibuilders.co.nz Email wbeaven@amuri.net
Change language