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Tread carefully with building products

Investors beware: Auckland’s housing shortage is leading builders to substitute cheaper products to get construction work done more quickly, Auckland Council has warned.

Tuesday, January 10th 2017, 11:30AM

by Miriam Bell

The council’s building control team general manager Ian McCormick said inspectors are seeing a marked increase in product substitutions as traditional building materials grow scarcer.

Cheaper prices are the number one reason for replacing the specified product but all building products have to meet the New Zealand Building Code.

Another major sticking point for builders is the time it takes for the council to assess the products as fit for purpose.

McCormick said it is common for inspectors to discover a substitution on-site during an inspection.

“That may happen weeks after the decision to use the alternative product was made. The message is clear - notify us as early as possible to avoid delays in building.”

Builders should save themselves and their customers thousands of dollars by getting the proper signoffs before using substitutes, he said.

“Less haste, less waste… While we recognise builders need to get on with their construction, we can’t cut corners on quality, durability and suitability.

“Due diligence can sometimes look like red tape when you’re in a hurry, but reputable builders recognise the importance of ensuring new products are up to code.”

Property owners should be careful not to fall for a cheap price and quick turnaround if the deal looks too good to be true, McCormick said.

“While there are some great new products on the market, the boom has attracted a few cowboys trying to cut corners and some importers trying to bring in cheap, substandard products.

“Some imported products may look like the local offering, but if they’re are quoted as 40% cheaper then chances are they might not comply with the New Zealand Building Code or pass inspection.”

One example of the problems that can occur is a developer’s decision to use non-compliant electrical wiring in multiple houses – which ended up costing thousands of dollars.

“We have zero tolerance for products that are not up to the New Zealand Building Code.

“The developer had to remove and replace the non-compliant wiring from all of the houses, some of which were nearly finished.”

However, in some cases, if substituted products are up to code, the market benefits from innovative new products and processes.

McCormick said it might seem to take a bit longer, but getting new building products signed off is cheaper and faster than having to re-work non-compliant construction.

“You should check compliance before buying particularly if the product price seems too good to be true.”

Property owners should get confirmation from the designer or builder and the supplier that products being used in a building job comply with the New Zealand Building Code.

It is also possible to check products on the Building Research Association of NZ website which lists products that comply with the New Zealand Building Code.

Building inspectors can also provide advice on compliance matters.

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Lender Flt 1yr 2yr 3yr
AIA - Back My Build 6.19 - - -
AIA - Go Home Loans 8.74 7.24 6.79 6.65
ANZ 8.64 7.84 7.39 7.25
ANZ Blueprint to Build 7.39 - - -
ANZ Good Energy - - - 1.00
ANZ Special - 7.24 6.79 6.65
ASB Bank 8.64 7.24 6.79 6.65
ASB Better Homes Top Up - - - 1.00
Avanti Finance 9.15 - - -
Basecorp Finance 9.60 - - -
Bluestone 9.24 - - -
Lender Flt 1yr 2yr 3yr
BNZ - Classic - 7.24 6.79 6.65
BNZ - Green Home Loan top-ups - - - 1.00
BNZ - Mortgage One 8.69 - - -
BNZ - Rapid Repay 8.69 - - -
BNZ - Std, FlyBuys 8.69 7.84 7.39 7.25
BNZ - TotalMoney 8.69 - - -
CFML Loans 9.45 - - -
China Construction Bank - 7.09 6.75 6.49
China Construction Bank Special - - - -
Co-operative Bank - First Home Special - 7.04 - -
Co-operative Bank - Owner Occ 8.40 7.24 6.79 6.65
Lender Flt 1yr 2yr 3yr
Co-operative Bank - Standard 8.40 7.74 7.29 7.15
Credit Union Auckland 7.70 - - -
First Credit Union Special - 7.45 7.35 -
First Credit Union Standard 8.50 7.99 7.85 -
Heartland Bank - Online 7.99 6.69 6.45 6.19
Heartland Bank - Reverse Mortgage - - - -
Heretaunga Building Society 8.90 7.60 7.40 -
HSBC Premier 8.59 - - -
HSBC Premier LVR > 80% - - - -
HSBC Special - - - -
ICBC 7.85 7.05 6.75 6.59
Lender Flt 1yr 2yr 3yr
Kainga Ora 8.64 7.79 7.39 7.25
Kainga Ora - First Home Buyer Special - - - -
Kiwibank 8.50 8.25 7.79 7.55
Kiwibank - Offset 8.50 - - -
Kiwibank Special - 7.25 6.79 6.65
Liberty 8.59 8.69 8.79 8.94
Nelson Building Society 9.00 7.75 7.35 -
Pepper Money Advantage 10.49 - - -
Pepper Money Easy 8.69 - - -
Pepper Money Essential 8.29 - - -
Resimac - LVR < 80% 8.84 ▼8.09 ▼7.59 ▼7.29
Lender Flt 1yr 2yr 3yr
Resimac - LVR < 90% 9.84 ▼9.09 ▼8.59 ▼8.29
Resimac - Specialist Clear (Alt Doc) - - 8.99 -
Resimac - Specialist Clear (Full Doc) - - 9.49 -
SBS Bank 8.74 7.84 7.45 7.25
SBS Bank Special - 7.24 6.85 6.65
SBS Construction lending for FHB - - - -
SBS FirstHome Combo 6.19 6.74 - -
SBS FirstHome Combo - - - -
SBS Unwind reverse equity 9.95 - - -
Select Home Loans 9.24 - - -
TSB Bank 9.44 8.04 7.55 7.45
Lender Flt 1yr 2yr 3yr
TSB Special 8.64 7.24 6.75 6.65
Unity 8.64 6.99 6.79 -
Unity First Home Buyer special - - 6.45 -
Wairarapa Building Society 8.60 6.95 6.85 -
Westpac 8.64 7.89 7.49 7.25
Westpac Choices Everyday 8.74 - - -
Westpac Offset 8.64 - - -
Westpac Special - 7.29 6.89 6.65
Median 8.64 7.29 7.32 6.65

Last updated: 28 March 2024 9:42am

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