Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Building Act 2004

Building - Special provisions for dangerous, affected, and insanitary buildings - Interpretation and application

123: Meaning of insanitary building

You could also call this:

“A building that is unsafe to live in because it's dirty, damp, or doesn't have clean water or proper toilets.”

This law explains what makes a building ‘insanitary’. You might hear people say a building is insanitary when it’s not clean or safe to live in. The law says a building is insanitary if:

It’s gross or might make you sick because of where it is, how it was built, or because it’s really run down.

It lets too much water or dampness in, which can make the building or buildings next to it wet inside.

It doesn’t have enough good, clean water for you to use.

It doesn’t have enough toilets or bathrooms for the people using the building.

Remember, if a building has any of these problems, it’s considered insanitary under this law.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM306898.

Topics:
Housing and property > Home safety and repairs
Health and wellbeing > Food and water safety
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“This explains what buildings are considered likely to collapse in an earthquake.”

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123A: Application of this subpart to parts of buildings, or

“This rule explains how the law about unsafe buildings can be used for just part of a building, not the whole thing.”

Part 2 Building
Special provisions for dangerous, affected, and insanitary buildings: Interpretation and application

123Meaning of insanitary building

  1. A building is insanitary for the purposes of this Act if the building—

  2. is offensive or likely to be injurious to health because—
    1. of how it is situated or constructed; or
      1. it is in a state of disrepair; or
      2. has insufficient or defective provisions against moisture penetration so as to cause dampness in the building or in any adjoining building; or
        1. does not have a supply of potable water that is adequate for its intended use; or
          1. does not have sanitary facilities that are adequate for its intended use.

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