More stringent requirements for building consents and inspections

Council will be increasing the number of inspections and work it carries out in relation to the issuing of building consents in response to the Department of Building and Housing (DBH) accreditation requirements.

As a result of the additional work required by Council, building consent costs will increase by 5 per cent from 1 November 2007

The increase was confirmed at an extraordinary Council meeting last night [Wednesday, 26 September 2007].

Council is required by legislation to be accredited with the DBH as a Building Consent Authority by 30 June 2008 in order to continue offering building consent services. DHB has appointed International Accreditation New Zealand (IANZ) to conduct nationwide assessment of Territorial Authorities for accreditation. As a result of these assessments, IANZ is requiring a higher standard of documentation and provision of information for building consent applications. In order to meet this requirement, Council will be implementing a number of changes with regard to building consent applications.

Council’s Building Control manager Phil Saunders says that Council takes a user-pays approach to its building consent services.

“Council has increased the size of its building consent operations in order to meet DBH’s accreditation requirements and has subsequently had to increase its fees and charges in order to fund these additional resources.

Mr Saunders says that Council is aware that the changes in accreditation requirements will present significant challenges for the local building industry and Council is committed to assisting the industry in meeting those.”

“Council is increasing its staff in the area of building consents services and building inspection to ensure our local industry is supported and well-informed as these changes take effect. We are also supporting our local industry by establishing an industry response team and working collaboratively with other Territorial Authorities to assist their accreditation process.”