Kitset Home Planning Advice

This timeline is based on the QuickBuild Shell build service:

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Most modular and transportable homes simply can’t get to a back garden, or down a restricted driveway.

QuickBuild Homes can be put anywhere there is a 1m wide accessway. (Make use of that large back garden!)

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QuickBuild Homes are suitable for:

• Very High Wind Zones
• All Seismic Zones
• Most Snow Loadings
• BRANZ Zone C and lower - Call us for BRANZ Zone D (Some conditions/options do apply, please talk to us first)

You can find out more about what BRANZ Zone your property is in here.

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QuickBuild Homes can be delivered to all different sites - Check with us about your site!

We can supply alternate foundation details for sloping sites (extra costs may vary)

• Generally you will need about 1m on each side before a boundary.
• Some councils have "Recession Plains" or other lighting restrictions.
• Some councils have minimum "Open Space Areas".
• Some councils have minimum distances from boundaries, and if a window is there, then you either need written permission from an affected neighbour, or else you may need resource consent, or to make the glass in a window obscure.

Check all of the above with your Council first.

Also, ask your council about any existing services that may cross your proposed positioning (They won’t let you build over main drains that serve an entire road, or gas lines etc).

As always, if you have any questions, feel free to contact us.

• All work will still have to comply with the Building Code.
• Every house or building over 30 square meters requires Building Consent.
• Every house or building under 10 square meters, but with water/plumbing requires Building Consent.
• Any building exemption for sleepouts only applies if it is than the maximum height of the building away from any boundary. i.e. if your ridge is 3m high, then the building can be no closer than 3m to any boundary.
• You still need Building Consent for positioning & boundaries & services
• The house however is pre-approved by MBIE.
• The house must be built according to the Consented Plans.
• You must own the land (a mortgage is OK).
• A  “Licensed Builder” is still required to oversee the pile holes and the panel assembly if you decide not to pursue an "Owner Builder Certificate".
• If you are doing an "Owner Builder" - i.e. you are the owner and not a licensed builder, there is a requirement to either live in, or intend to live in the house you build (If you are using a Licensed builder it is just like a normal build - you may live in it, or sell it, rent it etc).

• You still have to run a safe site, and make sure there are no accidents, complying with Health & Safety rules.

There are two sorts of consent and you will need at least Building consent, and you may need Resource consent

1. Resource Consent

This is needed if your proposed new house does not comply with the local council District Plan.

We highly recommend that you speak to your council to verify if your house needs resource consent. Ask to see a "Planner". If we have sent you an initial site plan, take this to the Planner.

Many councils have "permitted activities" - such as Minor Dwellings. These permitted activities vary from council to council, so in one council a maximum second house size may be 60sqm, but in another it may be 80sqm

They will also check such things a distances to boundaries, vehicular movements, section size, etc.

If your proposed new house DOES comply with the District plan, then it probably will NOT need Resource Consent. But check with council first.

What ever council says to you, GET IT IN WRITING.

Resource consent can take a long time if not straightforward, and in our experience can vary incredibly from council to council. Some councils are very good. Others will want you to specify where the washing line and rubbish bins go so be prepared and be patient!

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2. Building Consent

EVERY COUNCIL IN NEW ZEALAND ACCEPTS MULTIPROOF DESIGNS

Although our houses have pre-approved, national building consent, you  will  still need consent for the position, orientation of the house, location of services, driveways / parking.

Every building in NZ with any plumbing in it requires building consent by law. There are no "grey areas" there is no varience from region to region. If it has plumbing, you need consent. Homes on wheels, below a certain size, or on skids are not exempt.

The plans for the council are ALWAYS supplied as "AS PLAN" as that is how the Multiproof system works. We will provide you with a MIRROR plan for your site plans if you want a MIRROR plan.

The role of Building Consent Authorities is to:

• Approve site specific details, including non-standard foundations (if required) and utilities; position on the section.
• Ensure that the MultiProof conditions have been met; and
• Undertake normal inspections during construction.
• QuickBuild Homes only require 3 building inspections!

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The Council has only 10 working days to issue a MultiProof Building Consent, based on information from the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment website.

Plans and specifications are already lodged with the Ministry of Business, Employment and Innovation, so your council will access those plans online. We will send you a full set upon payment of deposit. Minimal delays from council with RFI’s (Requests for Further Information) for the house.

Most councils have different forms.

Some councils are grouping together to unify building consent application formats. Ask us if we already have a suitable consent - If we do, we’ll pass you a copy free of charge.

Check out simpli.govt.nz for councils that use a shared format.

You can download PDF forms with Building consent applications from your local council.

Some councils require you to submit 2 printed copies, others you can submit by email, and some others allow electronic submission via their website.

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For your submission, you will need:

1. Completed Check Sheet (mandatory)
2. HousePlans (mandatory) - From QuickBuild Homes.
3. House Specifications (mandatory) From QuickBuild Homes.
4. Location plan - Does not need be to scale. Needs to show known points, such as road junctions or adjoining houses / sections.
5. Site plans - Existing & Proposed. To scale if possible. Maybe two plans at different scales for large sites.
6. Services Location - of all existing services, both in the road and on the section.
7. Certificate of Title or other Evidence of ownership. (No more than 3 months old) (www.cheaptitles.co.nz)
8. Specified Systems (form SBCG27) (not usually required for a QuickBuild Home).
9. Certificate of Design Work (If you have revised foundations - from QBH or your own engineer / designer)
10. Statutory Declaration as to Owner Builder Status (where an owner builder exemption applies) - Form 2 Alternative Solutions - Not applicable for QuickBuild Homes.
11. Waiver/Modification - Not applicable for QuickBuild Homes.
12. Geo-technical Report - Often, but not always required. Google "Geotech reports" for your area.
13. Any other supporting documentation - Not usually applicable for QuickBuild Homes.
14. Name, address & license numbers of registered plumber, gas fitter (if required), drain-layer and electrician
15. Estimated value of the building work - Cost of the house, service connections.

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General Guide to Building Consent Applications

• Yes to a “Project Information Memorandum, and a “Building Consent”
• No to a Staged consent, or amendment
• Yes to a Multiproof
• Choose how you want to collect the consent once done.
• Yes to “Restricted Building Work”
• We will supply “Certificates of Design Work” and “Memorandum of Design”
• If you are a “Licensed Builder”, put your details here. If not, you will only need a Licensed Builder to oversee the pile holes.
  (This is to make sure you own the section and are building for yourself)
• No to any cultural significance, unless there is some on your site.
• You will need to find “Lot” and “DP numbers - available on your council website, often through the Rating Database - That will also give you the land area.
• New floor areas are the floor areas of your new house.
• Building Name is what is written on the Multiproof Certificate as the name of the house.
• Building Street address is where your site is.
• You, as the owner, get the invoice. You won’t be able to start work or collect the consent until it is paid.

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Contacts

• Your own name and address.
• The Designer is “Neil Colliver”, QuickBuild Homes
• The Address is 227 Parewanui Road, RD1, Bulls,
• Email info@qbh.co.nz
• You will also need the Name, Address, Registration number of your Plumber, Electrician and Drain-layer.

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Site details and information

• Finished Floor level - Usually 600mm above ground level. (if you are in a flood zone, we can provide higher piles, together with associated engineering details)
• A datum level point - Council maps , or a call to the council will often provide this
• Distances to boundaries - If building closer than your District Plan allows, then you may need “Resource Consent”
• Wind and earthquake and Climate Zones - found on the map under "Resources".  (Type in address to pull up all the information you need for your Zones, such as wind, climate, earthquake.)
• You may have questions about natural hazards - Talk to council.

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Project Information

• "No" to Subdivision
• "No" to alterations to land contour
• "Yes" or "No" to New site access as applicable.
• "No" to Building work over a road or Public place.
• Disposal of Storm-water - usually to a Storm drain, but sometime to water tanks & appropriate overflow or soakage pit)s). Sometime to a Bubble up in the road.

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Compliance