Home safety and repairs
This page contains different parts of laws about Home safety and repairs, within the topic of Housing and property.
Related Plain Language Law
Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002
People in charge can give you instructions to keep you safe during an emergency
91: Power to give directions
Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002
People in charge can give you instructions to keep you safe during an emergency
94N: Power to give directions
Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002
Telling people about important directions during emergencies
94NA: Notice requirements
Local Government Act 2002
The Minister takes care of places without local councils, except for some special areas
22: Minister is territorial authority in certain cases
Local Government Act 2002
Councils can create local rules to manage their community
146: Specific bylaw-making powers of territorial authorities
Local Government Act 2002
Rules about buildings must follow the Building Act 2004
152: Effect of Building Act 2004 on bylaws
Local Government Act 2002
When there's an emergency, the council can enter your property without asking first
173: Power of entry in cases of emergency
Local Government Act 2002
Council rules for getting rid of fire dangers have changed
183: Removal of fire hazards
Local Government Act 2002
Council can step in and do property work if owners or renters don't
186: Local authority may execute works if owner or occupier defaults
Local Government Act 2002
Councils can ask you to pay money when you build or connect to services
198: Power to require contributions for developments
Local Government Act 2002
When and why you might have to pay extra money to the council for building or changing your property
199: Basis on which development contributions may be required
Local Government Act 2002
What the council can do if you don't pay for your building project
208: Powers of territorial authority if development contributions not paid or made
Local Government Act 2002
Rules about changing fences, structures, and plants still work with other building laws
222: Provisions of Resource Management Act 1991 and Building Act 2004 continue to apply
Local Government Act 2002
How fences changed by removal orders work with the Fencing Act
223: Relationship with Fencing Act 1978
Local Government Act 2002
Breaking rules about water meters can get you in trouble
227: Offences relating to water meters
Local Government Act 2002
Rules about when you might need to pay extra money to your local council for building or connecting to services
290: Development contributions
Local Government Act 2002
What a council can do after someone else decides about a building fee
199M: Residual powers of territorial authority relating to development contribution objection decision
Local Government Act 2002
What happens when you disagree with a fee the council wants you to pay for building stuff
199P: Interim effect of development contribution objection
Local Government Act 2002
How to fire people who help decide about building fees
199G: Removal of development contributions commissioners
Local Government Act 2002
Rules for asking the council to review building fees must be in their policy
202A: Reconsideration process to be in development contributions policy
Income Tax Act 2007
Old rules about insurance money for earthquake-damaged property in Canterbury
EZ 23D: Insurance for Canterbury earthquake damage of property: limit on depreciation recovery income
Income Tax Act 2007
Tax-free accommodation for Christchurch earthquake recovery workers
CZ 29: Accommodation expenditure: Canterbury earthquake relief
Income Tax Act 2007
How to handle insurance payouts for Canterbury earthquake-damaged property
EZ 70: Insurance for Canterbury earthquake damage of property: treatment as disposal and reacquisition
Income Tax Act 2007
Limits on taxable income from insurance payouts for Canterbury earthquake-damaged property
EZ 71: Insurance for Canterbury earthquake damage of property: limit on depreciation recovery income
Income Tax Act 2007
Rules for replacing earthquake-damaged property using insurance money
EZ 23BC: Property acquired after depreciable property affected by Hurunui/Kaikōura earthquakes
Income Tax Act 2007
Limits on tax for insurance payouts from Hurunui/Kaikōura earthquake property damage
EZ 79: Insurance for Hurunui/Kaikōura earthquake damage of property: limit on depreciation recovery income
Income Tax Act 2007
Replacing flood-damaged property with insurance money: tax implications
EZ 23BE: Property acquired after depreciable property affected by North Island flooding events
Income Tax Act 2007
Choose when to report insurance payouts and costs for North Island flood-damaged property in your taxes
EZ 86: Insurance for North Island flooding event damage causing disposal: optional timing rule for income, deductions
Income Tax Act 2007
Optional delay for reporting flood insurance and repair costs until 2027-28
EZ 87: Insurance for repairs of North Island flooding event damage: optional timing rule for income, deductions
Fencing Act 1978
This section tells us the name of the law and when it started being used
1: Short Title and commencement
Fencing Act 1978
This law allows people to make their own fence agreements
4: Act not to interfere with agreements
Fencing Act 1978
How to make sure fencing agreements stay with the land when it's sold
5: Fencing covenants and agreements registrable
Fencing Act 1978
Fencing agreements registered with the government end after 12 years
6: Registration of fencing covenants to expire after 12 years
Fencing Act 1978
How to make a promise about fences when buying land
7: Creation of fencing covenants
Fencing Act 1978
You need permission or a court order to build a fence on someone else's land
8: Fence not to encroach without consent or court order
Fencing Act 1978
Neighbours must split the cost of building a fence between their properties
9: Adjoining occupiers to share cost of fencing
Fencing Act 1978
Pool owners pay for extra fencing needed to keep pools safe
9A: Contributions where Building Act 2004 requires pool to have means of restricting access
Fencing Act 1978
You must tell your neighbour before starting fence work they might have to help pay for
10: Notice to do work to be given
Fencing Act 1978
How to disagree with someone's fence plan and suggest your own ideas
11: Objections to proposed fence
Fencing Act 1978
What happens when you and your neighbour have different ideas about fence work
13: Where notices vary
Fencing Act 1978
Rules for doing work on a fence with your neighbour
14: Provision for doing work
Fencing Act 1978
When someone moves house, the fence agreement with their neighbour becomes invalid
15: Effect of change of occupier
Fencing Act 1978
When a fence needs urgent fixing, you can do it and ask your neighbour to pay half
16: Contribution where immediate work required
Fencing Act 1978
If you break a fence while living on the land, you have to pay to fix it
17: Liability for damage caused by occupier
Fencing Act 1978
When you use someone else's fence, you might have to pay for it
18: Person taking advantage of fence
Fencing Act 1978
Rules for sharing fence costs when your neighbour wasn't originally responsible
19: Fence erected when occupier of adjoining land exempt from liability therefor
Fencing Act 1978
When a fence can't go on the exact property line, a court can decide where to put it
21: Give and take fence
Fencing Act 1978
Rules for dealing with fence disputes in court
23: Proceedings to be in accordance with District Court Act 2016
Fencing Act 1978
The court's power to make decisions about fence-related issues
24: Jurisdiction of the court
Fencing Act 1978
Disputes Tribunal can help with fence problems up to $30,000
24A: Jurisdiction of Disputes Tribunal
Fencing Act 1978
You can join and defend yourself in a fence dispute even if you weren't originally involved
25: Power to come in and defend proceedings
Fencing Act 1978
You can ask to go on your neighbour's land to build or fix a fence
26: Right of persons constructing fences to enter on adjoining land
Fencing Act 1978
This part explains how the new fencing rules replace old ones but don't mess up unfinished fencing matters
28: Repeals and savings
Fencing Act 1978
Examples of paperwork for telling neighbours about fence plans
Schedule 1: Forms
Fencing Act 1978
Examples of different fence types you might see
Schedule 2: Specimen types of fence
Fencing Act 1978
List of old laws that were cancelled when the Fencing Act 1978 was made
Schedule 3: Enactments repealed
Resource Management Act 1991
Time paused when more details are needed for building or heritage plans
198AB: Excluded time periods relating to provision of further information
Resource Management Act 1991
Rules about handling special requests for quick decisions on building projects have been removed.
360G: Regulations relating to fast-track applications
Resource Management Act 1991
Stopping the clock when you don't pay fees for your building permission request
88H: Excluded time periods relating to non-payment of administrative charges
Resource Management Act 1991
New rules for building houses apply when you ask to build, even if old rules are still in place
77M: Effect of incorporation of MDRS in district plan on new applications for resource consents and on some existing designations
Resource Management Act 1991
Rules for building houses in a way that's good for everyone and our neighborhoods
Schedule 3A: MDRS to be incorporated by specified territorial authorities
Electricity Act 1992
This section about exemptions was removed from the law in 2008
62H: Grounds and terms and conditions of exemption
Electricity Act 1992
Entering someone's property without notice during electrical emergencies
23C: Notice in emergencies
Electricity Act 1992
Rules for doing your own electrical wiring at home
79: Exemption for domestic electrical wiring work
Electricity Act 1992
Rules for fixing your own home appliances safely
80: Exemption for maintenance of domestic appliances
Electricity Act 1992
Inspectors can enter buildings to check electrical work for safety
83: Power of entry
Electricity Act 1992
Special certificate needed for electrical work in building projects
179: Certificate of compliance where prescribed electrical work covered by building consent
Corrections Act 2004
Rules to Keep Prisoners Safe
202: Regulations relating to safe custody of prisoners
Building Act 2004
The council must explain in writing why they won't give you a building certificate.
95A: Refusal to issue code compliance certificate
Building Act 2004
If the council says no to your building certificate request, they must tell you why in writing.
99A: Refusal of application for certificate of acceptance
Building Act 2004
The local council must give building owners a special paper about safety rules within 5 working days.
104A: Territorial authority must issue statement in relation to compliance schedule
Building Act 2004
This part of the law explains which rules apply to different types of dams.
133A: Dams to which subpart 7 provisions apply
Building Act 2004
Trusted dam owners don't need to get a yearly safety check for their dams.
150A: Annual dam compliance certificate requirements not to apply to accredited dam owner
Building Act 2004
Explains how dams are classified as risky in big earthquakes or floods based on their size and chance of breaking
153A: Meaning of earthquake-prone dam and flood-prone dam
Building Act 2004
A group that checks building permits can charge money for looking at how well permit offices do their job.
249A: Fees for audits
Building Act 2004
This law explains how much money dam owners might need to pay for safety checks on their dams.
257A: Fees for audits
Building Act 2004
A special group can ask for money when they check if another group is doing a good job with building products.
262A: Fees for audits
Building Act 2004
Licensing building practitioners helps check and record their skills, and allows them to do or watch over special building jobs.
282A: Purposes of licensing building practitioners
Building Act 2004
The boss must check if the rules about approving building plans are working well
402A: Chief executive must review regulations made under section 402(1)(kb)
Building Act 2004
A special approval shows that building plans follow the rules, but you still need permission to build.
30A: National multiple-use approval establishes compliance with building code
Building Act 2004
To get approval for using the same building design many times, you need to send a special form with all the right information to the building boss.
30B: How to apply for national multiple-use approval
Building Act 2004
Rules for special building designs that need expert approval before they can be used in many places
30C: Applications for national multiple-use approval relating to design work that is restricted building work
Building Act 2004
The boss must quickly decide if a request for a national building plan is okay to look at further.
30D: Chief executive must decide whether to accept, for processing, application for national multiple-use approval
Building Act 2004
How the boss decides if a building plan can be used lots of times
30E: Processing application for national multiple-use approval
Building Act 2004
Rules for when the boss can give permission to use building plans more than once
30F: Issue of national multiple-use approval
Building Act 2004
The government can say no to approving a building plan for many places and must explain why.
30G: Refusal to issue national multiple-use approval
Building Act 2004
The boss can stop or cancel a special building approval if there's a good reason, but they must be fair about it.
30H: Suspension or revocation of national multiple-use approval
Building Act 2004
Small changes to building plans can be made without filling out special forms
45A: Minor variations to building consents
Building Act 2004
Making small changes to approved building plans is allowed, but big changes need a new approval.
45B: Changes to plans and specifications that have national multiple-use approval
Building Act 2004
Building Act 2004
This explains when different parts of the law start to work.
2: Commencement
Building Act 2004
This law explains why we have rules for building things, to keep people safe and healthy when using buildings.
3: Purposes
Building Act 2004
This section explains the rules people must follow when making decisions about buildings to keep everyone safe and happy.
4: Principles to be applied in performing functions or duties, or exercising powers, under this Act
Building Act 2004
This section explains what the different parts of the Building Act are about and how they work together.
5: Overview
Building Act 2004
The government must follow this law, with a few special exceptions.
6: Act binds the Crown
Building Act 2004
Building Act 2004
A building is any structure, including things attached to it, that people or animals can use or live in.
8: Building: what it means and includes
Building Act 2004
Things that are not counted as buildings under the law, like power poles, cranes, boats, and scaffolding.
9: Building: what it does not include
Building Act 2004
Building Act 2004
The chief executive's job is to oversee and enforce building rules in New Zealand.
11: Role of chief executive
Building Act 2004
This explains what building officials and local councils do to make sure buildings are safe and follow the rules.
12: Role of building consent authority and territorial authority
Building Act 2004
A regional authority manages and oversees everything to do with dams, including safety and building rules.
13: Role of regional authority
Building Act 2004
Different authorities have special jobs when it comes to buildings with dams
14: Roles of building consent authorities, territorial authorities, and regional authorities in relation to dams
Building Act 2004
Building rules help keep you safe. They ensure buildings are strong and secure. You can find these rules online. Building work needs consent from authorities. They check if the work meets safety standards. You must follow the rules when building. Some buildings are risky, like those near faults. Authorities check these buildings to keep you safe. They can stop you using a building if it's not safe. Pool owners must keep their pools safe. They need to restrict access to pools. This helps prevent accidents. Dam owners must also follow rules. They need to keep their dams safe and secure. This helps prevent accidents and keeps you safe. Authorities can enter buildings to check safety. They can also give notices to fix problems. You must comply with these notices to keep you safe. Building rules are important for your safety. They help prevent accidents and keep you secure. You should know about these rules to stay safe.
Building Act 2004
Building Act 2004
This part explains the rules for building work, including safety, permits, and inspections.
15: Outline of this Part
Building Act 2004
Building Act 2004
The building code explains what buildings need to do and how well they need to work.
16: Building code: purpose
Building Act 2004
Any construction or building changes must follow the rules in the building code, even if you don't need special permission.
17: All building work must comply with building code
Building Act 2004
The law says you only need to follow the building code rules, not any extra or stricter rules, when doing building work.
18: Building work not required to achieve performance criteria additional to or more restrictive than building code
Building Act 2004
The building authority must accept different ways to show that a building follows the rules.
19: How compliance with building code is established
Building Act 2004
Rules can say there's only one way to follow building rules, like using special products or methods.
20: Regulations may specify that there is only 1 means of complying with building code
Building Act 2004
Rules tell you how to build safely, but if there are no rules, you can choose how to follow the building code.
21: What happens if regulations specifying that there is only 1 means of complying with building code are made or not made
Building Act 2004
The head building person can make special rules that help people follow the building rules properly.
22: Acceptable solution or verification method for use in establishing compliance with building code
Building Act 2004
Using an approved plan is one way, but not the only way, to follow building rules.
23: Effect of acceptable solution or verification method
Building Act 2004
The person in charge can change or remove the rules for building things whenever they want.
24: Chief executive may amend or revoke acceptable solution or verification method
Building Act 2004
What an acceptable solution or verification method must include to be valid under the law
25: Content of acceptable solution or verification method
Building Act 2004
The government must put building rules on their website for everyone to see and keep them up to date.
25A: Acceptable solutions and verification methods to be available on Ministry's Internet site
Building Act 2004
The boss of building safety can tell everyone to be careful about or stop using certain building things if they might not be safe.
26: Chief executive may issue warning about, or ban use of, building products or building methods
Building Act 2004
You can get in big trouble if you use banned building stuff.
27: Offence to use building product or building method in breach of ban under section 26
Building Act 2004
Building officials can't approve certain building activities if it breaks rules about banned things
28: Limits on certain powers of building consent authority in cases involving bans under section 26
Building Act 2004
Rules for making sure building methods and materials are safe and allowed
Building Act 2004
Rules for making or changing building rules, warnings, and bans to keep people safe
29: Procedural requirements for acceptable solutions, verification methods, warnings, and bans
Building Act 2004
Rules for quickly making, changing, or stopping building rules in emergencies
30: Procedural requirements for urgent acceptable solutions, verification methods, warnings, and bans
Building Act 2004
Building Act 2004
The building authority must ask for and share important project information when someone wants to build something.
31: Building consent authority must apply for project information memorandum
Building Act 2004
People thinking about building can ask for important information before they start
32: Owner may apply for project information memorandum
Building Act 2004
This explains what you need to include when asking for information about your building project.
33: Content of application
Building Act 2004
Rules for when and how quickly the local council must give you important building project information
34: Issue of project information memorandum
Building Act 2004
What you need to know before you start building: information about your project
35: Content of project information memorandum
Building Act 2004
The city council can tell you that you might need to pay money to help build things in your area before they approve your building project.
36: Territorial authority may issue development contribution notice
Building Act 2004
Council must give you a certificate if you need special permission for your building work
37: Territorial authority must issue certificate if resource consent required
Building Act 2004
The city council must share information they receive with the people who originally gave it to them.
38: Territorial authority must give copy of project information memorandum in certain circumstances
Building Act 2004
The local council must tell the heritage group if someone wants to build near an important historical place.
39: Territorial authority must advise Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga in certain circumstances
Building Act 2004
You must get permission before you build anything, or you could be punished.
40: Building work not to be carried out without consent
Building Act 2004
Sometimes you don't need permission to build or change things
41: Building consent not required in certain cases
Building Act 2004
You need to ask for a special paper if you do building work in an emergency without getting permission first
42: Owner must apply for certificate of acceptance if building work carried out urgently
Building Act 2004
You don't need permission for most energy work, but some special cases still need approval.
43: Building consent not required for energy work
Building Act 2004
You need to ask for permission before you start building something new or changing your house
44: When to apply for building consent
Building Act 2004
You need to fill out a special form and provide plans and other important information to ask for permission to build something.
45: How to apply for building consent
Building Act 2004
Some building plans must be shared with firefighters to keep everyone safe.
46: Copy of certain applications for building consent must be provided to Fire and Emergency New Zealand
Building Act 2004
Firefighters can give safety tips when someone wants to build or change a building
47: Fire and Emergency New Zealand may give advice on applications under section 46
Building Act 2004
How the government decides if you can build something within a set time
48: Processing application for building consent
Building Act 2004
The rules for when the building people say you can build something.
49: Grant of building consent
Charitable Trusts Act 1957
Recreational facilities for the community can be charitable if they help people
61A: Trusts for recreational and similar purposes
Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012
Inspectors must report building problems to the council under the Building Act 2004 rules
279: Building Act 2004
Social Security Act 2018
Special rule lets you get winter energy payment while away from NZ for up to 28 days
220: Special absence rule: winter energy payment
Residential Tenancies Act 1986
Rules about smoke alarms in rental homes can be made by the government to keep people safe
138A: Regulations in respect of smoke alarms
Residential Tenancies Act 1986
Rules about making homes healthy and safe for people to live in
138B: Healthy homes standards
Residential Tenancies Act 1986
Rules about harmful things in houses and how to clean them up
138C: Regulations in respect of contaminants and contaminated premises
Residential Tenancies Act 1986
The boss can create plans to check if homes meet health rules
123CA: Programmes of inspections to monitor and assess compliance with healthy homes standards
About this project
What is this project?
How do we do this?
Why is the law written like it is?
Should we use AI for this?
Is this information the actual law?
You can talk to Community Law or Citizen's Advice Bureau about your rights.
Remember that AI can make mistakes, and just reading the law isn't enough to understand how it could be used in court.