The Government is hoping to change the law in an effort to make it easier to build granny flats and similar structures.
The move – proposed in a new discussion document open to submissions today – would mean law changes to make it easier to build structures of up to 60 square metres.
It proposes that those dwellings can be built in rural and residential zones without a building or resource consent, so long as they meet certain criteria, aimed at reducing the risk of structural failure, fire and its spread, weathertightness failure and insanitary conditions.
It would require the dwelling to be built by “trusted workers”, to a “simple straightforward design”, and be notified to councils.
It was announced by acting Prime Minister Winston Peters following a Cabinet meeting today, alongside Housing and RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop.
Peters is acting Prime Minister while Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is on a trade-focused trip to Japan.
The announcement is a policy signalled under the National – New Zealand First coalition agreement.
Peters said making it easier to build granny flats would make it more affordable for families to live the way that suited them best.
“Over a quarter of households that do not own their home spend more than 40% of their income on housing. High housing costs have a greater impact on Māori, Pasifika, and people with disabilities, as well as seniors – so unlocking the space in the backyards of family members opens the door to new ways of living.”
He said granny flats were a great option for seniors but they were also “increasingly popular” with other families.
Examples were those who wanted homes where their university-age children could live at home but maintain some privacy and independence, or families who want to provide extra support to a loved one, he said.
Bishop said the announcement fit within the Government’s wider package of work to “streamline” the building consent system and address the housing crisis through its ‘Going for Housing Growth’ agenda.
He said the Government would today publish a discussion document with proposed changes to the Building Act and the resource management system “so we can get the details right”.
“Our proposed legislative amendments include coordinated changes across the building and resource management systems.
“Many district plans already allow granny flats without resource consent, but there’s a lack of consistency and different standards across the country. We’re proposing a National Environmental Standard (NES) to require all councils to permit a granny flat on sites in rural and residential zones without resource consent. An NES means changes can come into force quickly.
The discussion document proposed that a new schedule is added to the Building Act 2004 to provide for simple standalone houses up to 60m2 in size.
The building system proposals in the discussion document included the conditions and criteria for these homes to be exempt from a building consent; assessment of the associated short and long-term benefits, costs and risks; sufficiency of occupational licensing requirements to ensure all building work will meet the building code; potential barriers to the uptake of the proposed exemption; time and money savings compared to the status quo; and additional or alternative ideas to the proposed options.
Bishop said removing “regulatory red tape” would not only speed up the build process, but was also estimated to save up to $6500 in the standard building and resource consenting fees per build alone.
“Not to mention all the savings in time and resource,” he said.
“There will be safeguards to ensure these granny flats continue to meet New Zealanders’ expectations for building performance and quality, and appropriately manage environmental effects. We want these to be safe, healthy and durable homes.
“We want to hear from everyone who has constructive suggestions that will help us ensure we get the policy right.”
Final policy decisions would be made later this year, with the legislative changes expected to be in place from mid-2025.
The discussion document can be found here.
