The consent process for home builders.

As anyone who has had to deal with the consent process will tell you, the wheels of bureaucracy have a tendency to turn very, very slowly. As builders, architects and homeowners, there is little we can do to speed up the process, aside from ensuring that our paperwork is in order. We should also be prepared to answer the required questions and action any changes the second that dreaded email arrives in our inbox. Rest assured, it’s all part of the process, and angrily-worded emails or repeated queries to your local council office are unlikely to work in your favour!

Your builder or architect will – hopefully- be pretty au fait with the consent process, but if you’re doing it yourself you can start by downloading an application form from your Council’s website, or if you’d prefer you can pick up a hard copy in person. It’s a good idea to ask your Council for a PIM (Project Information Memorandum) before you lodge your application. This will identify any hazards specific to your building site, and whether or not a Resource Consent will be required.

The consent form can seem pretty overwhelming at first glance, and realistically, the average layman will not be qualified to answer the majority of the questions on it, so you will be working closely with your architect and builder in order to ensure that you have all the information you need and that the requisite documentation is in order.

To further complicate matters, different councils will have different requirements, so make sure you’ve done your homework before lodging your application and deposit fee (the cost of this fee will vary, depending on the size of the building).

Once you have lodged your application, your Council has 20 working days to process it. If there are any questions arising from your application, this 20-day process starts over again, so we can’t emphasise how important it is to have your ducks in a row from the beginning. A poorly-worded consent application that is short on information could potentially delay the laying of your foundations for a very long time.

Once your consent is issued you have 12 months in which to begin your build. If you need longer than this, you can apply for an extension.

Your will need to arrange to have your local Building Inspector check your building compliance at various stages throughout the construction process. This is a condition of your consent, and the regularity of these inspections is decided by the Council during the processing of your application. For the average residential build, the inspection process will usually take around an hour.

Need help with your Consent application? The council has a number of resources to help you navigate your way through the process, or you can pay to hire a consent specialist. Either way, lodging a Building Consent is not a job for the faint hearted, and first timers are almost guaranteed to delay their build should they try to go it alone!

Mark and the team at Pearson Built are experts in the Council consent process, and we will work closely with you and your designer right from conception through to the final walk-through. So talk to us today on 027 505 5995 to discuss your building plans then let us take care of the paperwork so you can spend more time on the fun stuff!

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