Faster consenting with remote inspections

The Government is progressing a requirement for building consent authorities to use remote inspections as the default approach so building a home is easier and cheaper.

The Government says some of the key benefits include,

• Lowering costs by removing the need for inspectors to travel to site. This is particularly important in congested cities and in rural areas with large travel distances.

• Reducing delays by enabling more inspections per day and allowing inspectors to work in other regions remotely to support a region with greater demand.

• Reducing transport-related emissions.

• Better record-keeping and documentation, meaning more quality assurance for homeowners.

• Reducing the time wasted by increasing flexibility for both inspectors and building professionals on the day of inspection.

The Government will release a discussion document in quarter three of 2024. There will be an opportunity for councils and the sector to provide feedback about the best approach.