Background

The purpose of the Dangerous, Affected, and Insanitary Buildings Policy is to reduce the potential risk posed to residents, and to provide a clear framework of how Council will manage dangerous, affected, and insanitary buildings.

Under the Building Act 2004, Council is required to adopt, maintain and review policies for dangerous, affected, and insanitary buildings within the district. The current review has been undertaken to ensure Council’s policy framework remains clear, up to date, and reflects current legislative terminology, while continuing to support Council’s established approach to managing building-related risks and public safety.

Purpose of the policy review

Streamline existing policies

Council currently maintains two policies addressing dangerous and insanitary buildings separately.

To improve clarity and consistency, Council is proposing to combine the two policies into a single, consolidated Dangerous, Affected, and Insanitary Buildings Policy. This proposed change is intended to:

• simplify Council’s policy framework,

• ensure our policy is maintained in accordance with the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment’s best practice guidelines, and

• make it easier for property owners and the public to understand Council’s approach.

Include “affected buildings” in policy terminology

Council proposes to include “affected buildings” in the policy title and terminology, alongside dangerous and insanitary buildings. This ensures the policy:

• aligns with current legislative definitions, and

• clearly reflects the types of buildings Council may need to manage following events such as natural hazards or emergencies.

No change to how Council manages buildings

These proposed updates:

• do not change how Council identifies or manages dangerous, affected, or insanitary buildings,

• do not introduce new regulatory powers, and

• do not impose new obligations on building owners.

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