Relocating Buildings

If you are planning to move a building to a new site, you will need a Building Consent and in some cases a Resource Consent.  For more information about the process of relocating a building see the Relocated Building Information Guide in the 'related documents' section.

Purchasing a second hand house for removal

Prior to taking ownership of a second hand house that you intend to move to another site, Council recommends you engage a suitable qualified person (i.e. A Member of the NZ Institute of Building Surveyors or a Licensed Building Practitioner - carpenter or design category).

They will provide a comprehensive and detailed report on the building’s condition.  This must cover the structural condition of the building at the time of removal from the site, its weathertight status, any new building work proposed, and reinstatement or remedial work required.  Council has a Relocated Building Report template that applicants should use, available in the 'related documents' section at the bottom of this page.

This report will be required by Council at Building Consent application time. Once you have decided to go ahead with the project, Council recommends you engage a designer to draw up the appropriate plans and specifications.

Note: The relocated building is not to be placed onto the proposed destination site until the required consents have been approved and the balance of any fees paid.

Do I need Resource Consent?

In some locations or zones relocating a building does not require Resource Consent provided that certain District Plan standards are met.  However there are a number of zones where a Resource Consent is required to relocate a building.

Council’s guide on relocated buildings provides information on whether you will need a Resource Consent to relocate your house. The guide is available in the 'related documents' section on this page. Alternatively a Council planner can advise whether a Resource Consent will be needed to relocate your house; phone Council on +64 6 871 5000 to talk to a planner.

A Resource Consent is a separate process from the Building Consent and without it you will not be able to relocate your house.

Resource Consent considerations

If a Resource Consent is required, there are a number of matters to be considered:

• The number of unfinished buildings on a site at any one time and the impacts (including cumulative impacts) that may have on the amenity and character of the neighbourhood;
• The suitability of the building for reuse;
• The appearance of the building once restored, and whether it is compatible with existing buildings in the surrounding area in terms of scale, character, style and era (i.e. Council will require the exterior of the building to be reinstated in a manner that will ensure the building integrates with the existing amenity of the surrounding area);
• The exterior materials used and their condition and quality;
• The specific work required to bring the building up to an acceptable standard;
• The time required for the reinstatement work on the building to be undertaken;
• Whether the amenity of the streetscape will be maintained including the prevailing site development characteristics of the street (i.e. setback of the building from the street, landscaping of the front yard area);
• Whether conditions on the Resource Consent are necessary to ensure the completion of the reinstatement work to an acceptable standards (e.g. a performance bond).

Bond

In some instances, Council will require the payment of a bond to cover the cost of upgrading the building should the applicant default (i.e. if the applicant moves the building but fails to restore it). A bond is essentially a promise to do certain work or to pay a sum of money if the work is not carried out.

Two forms of bond are currently used for relocated buildings. The first is a cash bond, which means Council holds a sum of money deposited by the applicant. The second is a bank bond, which is a legal agreement between the applicant, the applicant's bank and Council.

In either case, this means that if the work required by Council to bring the building to an acceptable standard is satisfactorily completed within a certain time the cash bond is refunded or the bank bond is cancelled. If the work is not completed within the timeframe, Council may use the bonded sum to complete the work.

Please note that both types of bond require legal documents and may take some time to organise. You should allow for this when planning your project.

Bond value

The value of the bond is based on a conservative estimate of the cost of restoring the exterior of the building, plus 50 per cent. The applicant should submit the cost estimate for both labour and materials to Council as part of the application.

Information required with consent applications

To enable Council to process an application to relocate a dwelling within Hastings district we require the following information at the time of lodging applications for both building and resource consents:

• A completed Building Consent application form and PlanSmart Checklist; see the Apply for a Building Consent page.
  
• A completed Relocated Building Report (in the 'related documents' section at the bottom of this page).
• Details of the proposal including a site plan, colour photos of the dwelling (each elevation) and a dimensioned floor plan; full architectural drawings and specifications for any proposed alterations or additions planned as part of the relocation of the building.
• Elevation plans showing the height of the building relative to the original ground level and recession plane lines.
• If a new fire appliance is to be installed, the relevant details of the installation and manufacturer's specifications (refer to the Wood Burners page for further information).
• A detailed foundation layout and design in accordance with site levels which comply with NZS3604 (or are specifically designed by an engineer) including sub-floor bracing calculations. All stucco buildings must have continuous ring foundations or be specifically designed by a suitably qualified engineer.
• A plan showing points of access to the dwelling, design of decks, steps, ramps, hand rails and balustrades etc, where required.
• If the roof is to be removed or altered either before or after the shift, or the building is to be split for relocation, details of the fixings and/or replacement structure are to be supplied, including detail on how the building will be made weathertight again.
• A detailed plan of the drainage layout (both storm water and sewer), including materials, sizes, grades which comply with AS/NZS 3500 or NZBC G13. If a septic tank/secondary treatment system is required, then full specifications and calculations for septic tank and effluent system from a registered drain layer are to be provided.

                In the case of a septic tank include:

• An on-site wastewater disposal site assessment, subsoil investigation and site evaluation checklist.
• An accurate site plan of the tank placement, effluent field with site elevation and effluent drain details etc (effluent trench cross section, size and drainage materials).
• If required, Hawke's Bay Regional Council Resource Consent or permitted activity letter.

• The full details of the proposed water supply including a site plan layout showing mains connection location, valves, pipe size and material.

                In the case of an on-site water supply include:

• If the supply is from a bore, provide a water analysis report covering both bacteria and chemical composition. This is required irrespective of others being connected to the supply
• If the supply is by rain water storage tank, provide details of the tank, any support structure, pumping and provision of overflow disposal.

Note: A site plan shows the location of the dwelling in relation to the property boundaries and any existing buildings. The floor plan indicates the use of every room (i.e. lounge, kitchen, bathroom, etc) and location of the hot water cylinder, fire appliance etc.

The 'Site Copy' plans issued with the Resource Consent must be kept on site and made readily available at all times.

Building Consent work will be inspected by a Council building officer and Resource Consent conditions will be monitored by a Council planning compliance and monitoring officer.

Will I need Building Consent?

A Building Consent is required to remove a building from an existing site. Applications for Building Consent to remove a building should include all the information outlined above.  A building must only be removed after Building Consent has been issued.

Demolishing an existing building on a site does not require building consent as it is specifically exempt from the Building Act provisions (Clause 30, Part 1 Schedule 1 of the Building Act).  However demolition proposals should be discussed with Council's duty building officer to ensure that appropriate public safety measures have been identified and will be implemented.

Where drainage and water services are still connected, the applicant is responsible for applying to the Hastings District Council reticulation engineer for sealing of the sewer and disconnection of the water at the boundary. At least five working days notice is required for the services to be disconnected.  Contractors must not remove or demolish any part of a building containing drainage pipework until Council’s approved contractor has carried out the required disconnections.

You will also need Building Consent to site the building at its new location. See the Apply for a Building Consent page.