The Government has announced an extensive review of the management of seismic risk in existing buildings to ensure it is being managed effectively and in a workable, proportionate way At a high level, the Review will include: considering society’s expectations and willingness to pay to mitigate the risk of injury and death in an earthquake, and for improving the resilience of buildings over time recommending regulatory responses that balance life safety risks against the costs of regulation and impact on private property owners identifying barriers to meeting regulatory requirements and the types of support or incentives that would help building owners to better manage seismic risk considering how outcomes from seismic risk requirements align with broader Government objectives. Continue →

Most seismically vulnerable buildings are not imminently dangerous and can remain occupied while seismic remediation work is planned, funded and undertaken, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) advises The new seismic risk guidance has been developed by MBIE to help building owners and users understand seismic assessments and provide them with the tools to make informed and risk-based decisions about continuing to occupy buildings with low seismic ratings. Continue →

Work undertaken by unauthorised people, not only risks your health and safety – but may also invalidate your insurance policy, says PGDB Chief Executive Martin Sawyers Owner and director of 5 Star Plumbing Ltd, Michael Mullany, was sentenced to a $6,000 yesterday at the Auckland District Court for doing restricted plumbing work with an employee, without a current licence. Continue →

What is an earthquake-prone building, what are your responsibilities as a building owner and what support is there available? Continue →

In a move to reduce the risk of fire, the Victorian Government in Australia has banned the use of certain external wall cladding products – should New Zealand follow suit? Continue →

Fire equipment maintenance is an essential service that must continue regardless of the pandemic, Wormald Australia CEO Andrew Lee is reminding business and property managers While the nation is in lock down to minimise the spread of COVID-19, there is still the need to maintain essential services. Continue →

With many tenants now unable to access their premises due to COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, commercial property landlords could be hit with ‘no access’ lease clauses, warn leading property and legal experts The most common standard form of commercial property lease in New Zealand, the Auckland District Law Society (ADLS) Deed of Lease, includes a ‘no access in emergency’ clause. Continue →

Due to the spread of COVID-19 and the new lockdown laws, new restrictions now apply to the New Zealand rental market according to myrent.co.nz We are receiving are a lot of questions from both landlords and tenants around the topic of property viewings, moving house, and starting tenancies during the four-week lockdown period. Continue →

Fifty years ago, newly-built assets seemed to have little difficulty in meeting the full term of their lifespan Today however, ongoing problems of poor design details and lengthy remediation of building defects are issues with which the whole industry continues to struggle. Continue →