Repeat checks a costly extra for home builders

By WAYNE THOMPSON

Home builders and renovators are expected to face hundreds of dollars in extra consent fees as a result of councils having to review the work of deregistered Auckland company Approved Building Certifiers.

The firm holds about 5000 project files. Councils now have to complete the building certification process and say the extra work will cause delays in clearing consents and approvals.

Waitakere City Council regulatory manager Grant Gillard said it could take three or four days for inspections of building work. "Home-owners will have to pay for those re-inspections and that could add hundreds of dollars in fees."

North Shore City Council spokesman Stefan Naude said extra staff would have to be hired, although qualified staff were hard to get.

Manukau Mayor Sir Barry Curtis said the problem could soon hit every council in the country.

He said a mistake in the new Building Act would force all private certifiers to close early next year.

He had written to Prime Minister Helen Clark asking for a correction.

Private certifiers handled about a third of the 8000 building consents a year in Manukau City.

Sir Barry said the council would struggle to cope without private certifiers.