Establishing if permits are legal
Sally asks:
(updated on Wednesday, February 01st 2012)
Our Experts Answer:
It is always best practice to obtain a property disk or file from the Council when undertaking due diligence upon a property. The property file will usually contain all documentation regarding the site from historic building and drainage permits through to resource and subdivision consents.
If the Council does not have a record of the built form upon the site and how they are used then potentially part of the built form and its use has not been legally established upon the site. The Council files are not always 100% accurate and when you are dealing with more historic established uses then it may be prudent to check the archives (often held within local library and see if rates have been charged and in what manner).
If you are still unsure then it is best to consult with a planning consultant who could review the situation in depth. A planning consultant can often save time and money by being conversant with the planning law and district plan rules. Existing use right are a very tricky subject and often Council’s will interpret them differently.
Hamish Firth of Mt Hobson Group manages the Resource Consent application process and provides initial pre purchase advice to investors and developers. www.mhg.co.nz
Most Read
| Unity First Home Buyer special | 3.99 |
| SBS FirstHome Combo | 3.99 |
| TSB Special | 4.39 |
| Co-operative Bank - First Home Special | 4.39 |
| ICBC | 4.39 |
| SBS Bank Special | 4.49 |
| Unity Special | 4.49 |
| ANZ Special | 4.49 |
| Westpac Special | 4.49 |
| Kiwibank Special | 4.49 |
| Co-operative Bank - Owner Occ | 4.49 |
| ICBC | 4.59 |
| ANZ Special | 4.69 |
| TSB Special | 4.69 |
| BNZ - Std | 4.69 |
| Wairarapa Building Society | 4.79 |
| Nelson Building Society | 4.87 |
| Westpac Special | 4.89 |
| Co-operative Bank - Owner Occ | 4.89 |
| Kiwibank Special | 4.89 |
| SBS Bank Special | 4.89 |
| Unity Special | 4.89 |
| ICBC | 5.19 |
| Westpac Special | 5.29 |
| TSB Special | 5.29 |
| BNZ - Std | 5.29 |
| SBS Bank Special | 5.69 |
| Co-operative Bank - Owner Occ | 5.69 |
| Kainga Ora | 5.69 |
| ASB Bank | 5.69 |
| AIA - Go Home Loans | 5.69 |
| Kiwibank Special | 5.79 |
| Westpac | 5.89 |
| SBS FirstHome Combo | 3.29 |
| AIA - Back My Build | 3.34 |
| SBS Construction lending for FHB | 3.74 |
| CFML 321 Loans | 3.95 |
| Co-operative Bank - Owner Occ | 4.99 |
| Co-operative Bank - Standard | 4.99 |
| Heartland Bank - Online | 5.30 |
| ICBC | 5.39 |
| Kiwibank - Offset | 5.65 |
| Kiwibank | 5.75 |
| Unity Standard | 5.79 |


