Dangerous, Affected and Insanitary Buildings

The Building Act 2004 (the Act) requires territorial authorities to have a policy on Dangerous, Affected and Insanitary Buildings. Nelson City Council’s policy, adopted in 2006, was most recently reviewed in 2019 and approved by Council’s Environment Committee in 2020.

The policy indicates the Council’s general approach and its priorities in performing its functions in relation to dangerous, insanitary and affected buildings. The policy also deals with the performance of those functions in relation to buildings that are also heritage buildings.

It is the building owner’s responsibility to ensure that buildings comply with the Act’s requirements.

The Council’s responsibility is to ensure that when dangerous or insanitary conditions are found, the danger is reduced or removed and the owner takes action to prevent the building from remaining dangerous or insanitary. Where an owner fails to take steps to address the dangerous or insanitary state of a building, the Council may exercise its powers to take those steps on the owner's behalf and to seek to recover any resulting costs from the owner.

Read the current policy: Dangerous, Affected and Insanitary Buildings Policy 2006 - reviewed 2019 - approved by Environment Committee 05Mar2020 (387KB PDF)