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All systems go
The building contract is signed, the building consent is applied and obtained, a construction timetable established and you press GO.
Now its time to apply for your building consent. It is the owners responsibility to ensure that building consent is applied for and granted before building work takes place and that the house is built in accordance to the specification on the plans. Once a building contract is signed, and you have a building consent, the project can start straight away (your consent will lapse if you don't start work within 12 months).
You must not start work before obtaining a building consent, if you do not comply you will be committing an offence under the Buildings Act and will be liable for a substantial fine.
Consent fees and delays. Consents should be processed within 20 days however if the documents you submit do not include sufficient details, the building authority can request further information resulting in delays. Any amendments to the drawings or specifications made after lodging the consent must be notified to the council.
If notified while the consent is still being processed there may be no additional fee. If the changes are made after consent then an amendment to the consent needs to be lodged and will incurr a fee. Contact your local council for further details.
Establish a building contract with your designer, project manager or builder under their governing body. This will reduce your risk should things go wrong and provide a base to which you can seek arbitration should disputes arise and reach a stalemate.
Step 10 The building shell
