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Unapproved building work, cross-lease complications and missing council paperwork will be among the issues discussed at a free property compliance evening in Ōrewa this month.
The event is being organised by Harcourts Cooper & Co real estate agent Ben Gibson, alongside North Harbour Law and Bays House Inspection Services. It will cover code compliance certificates, certificates of acceptance, title issues, legal processes and the differences between cross-lease and freehold properties. A question-and-answer session will also be held.
Gibson says compliance problems often emerge late in a sales campaign, sometimes without the homeowner realising work carried out years earlier required council approval.
A common example is a tiled shower installed during a bathroom renovation. Owners may have been told that paperwork supplied by the tradesperson was sufficient, when a building consent was also required.
Although following the proper process can add time and cost to a renovation, Gibson says resolving problems before a house is placed on the market can prevent much greater difficulties later. Unapproved work can deter buyers and may also affect whether a bank is willing to lend on the property.
Cross leases are another frequent source of confusion in older parts of Ōrewa. Additions such as conservatories, garages or even bay windows may require agreement from other cross-lease owners and changes to the property title.
Gibson says the evening is particularly aimed at homeowners planning renovations or considering selling within the next year.
The Local Property Compliance in Ōrewa evening will be held at Drifter, 3 George Lowe Place, on Thursday, August 20, from 5.30pm.
