Council offers special building consent after floods

Following the recent heavy rains and flooding events in the District, the Council is offering a special building consent application package to owners of flood damaged houses to assist with the repairs. The package offer comprises:

• The issue of a building consent based on receipt of a simplified application form and a floor plan
• A one-off fee of $250.00
• The Council will provide a copy of the House Inspection Record Form that has been completed by the Council’s Building Control team during the response phase of the emergency
• One inspection to check the moisture content of the wall framing and any requirements relating to sheet bracing panels [Note: the Council expects your builder to monitor the moisture content of the wall framing and only call the Council to inspect once the moisture content has reduced to below 24%]
• One final inspection to sign off the work
• The issue of a code compliance certificate

“We realise and appreciate that properties are devastated and are faced with huge repair bills and we would to assist homeowners get back into the homes as soon as possible,” says the Council’s Chief Executive Diane Turner.

Ms Turner says the Building Act allows replacement of damaged wall linings with a comparable product without the need for a building consent. However, any building work requires a code of compliance certificate. It is the Council’s experience that repairs to flood damaged houses (without building consent) have resulted in problems issues arising for the homeowners when they wish to sale their properties in the future.

The main issue is the high level of uncertainty for purchasers resulting without a code compliance certificate being issued to validate the building work. A code compliance certificate is only issued when a building consent has been granted for the repair.