NOT EXEMPT FROM DOUBT

Builders’ Business is a column by builders for builders. Its objective is to provide a forum, particularly for small business operators, in which to share knowledge, experience, tips and ideas

Q: What do you think of the recent building consent exemptions?

 

Firm: Hamr Home Building Contractors

Interviewee: Richard Warwick

Role: Managing Director

Location: Whitianga

Staff: 10

I think the fact that homeowners will be able to build their own 30m2 sleepout is going to be an absolute nightmare. The reason is they just don’t have the knowledge of the Building Code.

We had a meeting to discuss the consent changes with Thames-Coromandel District Council and a lot of builders here think the same – a build like that needs an LBP behind it.

It’s easy for me to imagine neighbours watching someone build a shonky sleepout next door and being concerned. I wouldn’t blame someone for calling the Council in that situation.

I’m told there will be more guidance coming out early 2021, so I’ll certainly be looking out for that.

Having said this, I think there will be some people who will use a suitably qualified person to carry out their build. In this case, having one less piece of red tape is a good thing. If the homeowner is building a kitset designed by an engineer, that may also work out OK.

But what do homeowners know about high wind zones? Do they know if they’re in one, and if so, what this means in terms of their sleepout? That’s just one example. Overall, there seems to me to be a lot of risk in this exemption.

Firm: SLC Builders

Interviewee: Cory Carroll

Role: Director

Location: Wellington

Staff:  7

While I think that less red tape will save people time, and this is a good thing, the consumer needs to be aware that they can’t be putting up buildings willy-nilly – they will need to meet the Building Code and that will mean that either professionals will need to do the work or at least be providing oversight in the background.

I can see that those of us in the industry will need to help to educate people that, while such a build no longer needs a consent, it does still need to be built in a professional manner, to Code and to a high quality.

I’d be a little worried some naïve customers may not realise what’s required and might be tempted to take shortcuts. How often will Restricted Building Work be a part of these 30m2 sleepouts? I haven’t looked into this aspect, but I hope someone has.

 

Firm: Home Trends Builders

Interviewee: Peter de Gouw

Role: Director

Location: Christchurch

Staff:  13

I have a lot of concerns about the 30m2 sleepout exemption. I think there will be a fair few shortcuts taken. I don’t think homeowners will know the town planning requirements around distances to boundaries, site coverage and fire ratings. LBPs are familiar with all this, but most homeowners will not be.

I can see why the Government has sought to lower the level of prescription, by removing the need for a consent here, and I agree with the aim. There is a lot of red tape in dealing with councils, which adds a significant amount of time and money to building a home. A lot of it really doesn’t need to happen. It’s just an unnecessary cost for builders and for homeowners. But this exemption has not been thought through. If there was a requirement to be built by an LBP, this would make sense and some builders might get some more work on this basis.

As it is, once the problems start, maybe in 12 months or more, I expect we might see a closing of this loophole. Will buildings that are not up to Code need to knocked down? We’ll see…