A recent case highlights that where a building consent is required for any building work, consent must be obtained before any building work is started and the building work must comply with the consent.  Failure to do so is a criminal offence. 

In this case the owners and the builder are both being prosecuted. The owners pleaded guilty to failing to obtain a consent. They carried out extensive renovations over a period of 6 years – including conversions, alterations of existing structures and extensions.  One of the owners said they were ignorant of the law, rather than intending to break it.  However, it is not a defence to show that you did not intend to carry out building work without a consent …

The owners in this case will be sentenced in the New Year and will then find out how much of the maximum fine of $200,000 they have to pay.  The builder has yet to be dealt with by the Court.