We urge owners and managers of any form of commercial property, large or small to review their council property file and LIM to identify any anomalies so they can be resolved in good time and not within a high-pressure transactional situation, such as a conditional Sale & Purchase Agreement. It is often only during a Technical Due Diligence review, within a sale and purchase process that building consents without Code Compliance Certificates (CCC’s) and or unconsented building works are uncovered. This can be an unwanted surprise during a time when Vendors, Purchasers, Financiers and Lawyers are all pushing to close out and complete a sale.

Unconsented works likely actioned many years prior without an awareness of the ramifications down the line can be difficult and costly to resolve. Some are straight forward and with others it is easier and quicker just to remove the works if they have little relevance.

Obtaining a CCC following completion of consented works is often just simply forgotten about and a Final Inspection request with council will deal with the issue. Others are more complex, take time, involve commissioning of physical works and producer statements. Naturally there is a cost to all of this.

Such issues can seriously hinder a sale and purchase process, provide ammunition for a reduced sale price, add cost or at worst on occasion derail the process completely. We urge owners and managers of all commercial property to obtain and complete a property file and LIM review in good time and long before the property is considered for divestment.

CoveKinloch New Zealand Ltd can assist in the early stages of a potential sale by obtaining property files and LIMs, and completing a thorough review to identify unconsented building works and highlight any missing CCC’s.

To discuss further please contact Peter Bamford at peter.bamford@covekinloch.co.nz.