Owners’ responsibilities to ensure their buildings are safe to use

About this document

  • Published on 1 November 2010
  • Updated on 26 November 2024
  • Of interest to Building owners,
  • ISBN: 978-0-478-34342-7 (Print) / 978-0-479-34343-4 (Online)
  • 1st edition

Introduction

If you own or manage a building that has installed specified systems, use this guide to help you understand and meet Building Act requirements related to building warrants of fitness and compliance schedules.

Contents

1. Purpose and introduction

2. The Building Act 2004

3. Explanation of terms

4. The responsibilities of building owners

5. Roadmap for three scenarios involving existing compliance schedules

6. How a compliance schedule is developed

6.1 Applying for a building consent
6.2 Building consent issued
6.3 Building work completed and compliance schedule issued with the code compliance certificate

7. Building warrant of fitness process

7.1 Inspections and maintenance of specified systems
7.2 Building warrant of fitness issued

8. Amendment to a compliance schedule

8.1 Amendment triggered by council decision, owner’s request or independent qualified person (IQP) recommendation
8.2 Amendment triggered by a building consent

9. Useful information when buying a building with a compliance schedule

10. Fines for offences

The Building Act was amended by the Building (Earthquake-prone Building Deadlines and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2024 to add new offences and penalties for Independent Qualified Persons (IQPs). These changes came into effect on 26 November 2024.

Fines and penalties for offences

11. Further guidance and information

Appendices 

Appendix 1: List of specified systems
Appendix 2: Application for amendment of compliance schedule
Appendix 3: Building warrant of fitness
Appendix 4: Certificates of compliance with inspection, maintenance and reporting procedures

This information is published by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Chief Executive. It is a general guide only and, if used, does not relieve any person of the obligation to consider any matter to which the information relates according to the circumstances of the particular case. Expert advice may be required in specific circumstances. Where this information relates to assisting people: