We recently reviewed our Dangerous and Insanitary Buildings Policy. The policy is focused on making sure people can live and work in buildings without compromising their health and safety.
We review our policy every five years in response to any issues that arise or as a result of legislative changes, whichever comes first.
We recommended minimal changes to the policy as there have been no changes to legislation since the policy was first adopted, in 2018, that influence what requirements the policy needs to address.
Public consultation ran from 15 May to 12 June 2023.
We received two written submissions from individuals and one on behalf of an organisation. Both individuals agreed with the proposed changes to the policy. A submission from Fire and Emergency New Zealand requested its name be updated in the policy.
There were no requests for verbal submissions.
Our proposed changes to the Dangerous and Insanitary Buildings Policy were adopted on 3 August 2023. These included updating the scope of the policy and referencing the relevant sections under the Building Act.
Hamilton City Council (Council) has reviewed its Dangerous and Insanitary Buildings Policy and is recommending minor changes to the policy. We want your feedback on the proposed changes.
The policy was first adopted in 2018 in consultation with the community and sets out the approach we will take to identify and deal with dangerous and insanitary buildings. The policy is focused on ensuring people can live and work in buildings without compromising their health or safety.
Council is required to review the existing policy, in response to any issues that arise, a result of legislation changes or within five years, whichever comes first. The policy is approaching its five-year review, and this provides us with an opportunity to check in with our community and consider feedback on the policy.
Council is required by legislation to create and maintain a policy on dangerous and insanitary buildings. The policy is focused on ensuring people can live and work in buildings without compromising their health or safety.
Council is responsible for managing the policy through the Building Act 2004 and will apply it to any building where the current conditions mean the building could be dangerous, affected or insanitary. Buildings must meet the definitions outlined in the Building Act to be considered dangerous, affected or insanitary and Council will work with building owners on any reasonably practicable options available to them.
Heritage buildings are covered by the policy and will be assessed in the same way as other dangerous, affected and insanitary buildings. The policy recognises the importance of Hamilton’s heritage buildings and will protect the heritage value of these buildings wherever possible, without compromising public health and safety. We keep a record of all dangerous and insanitary buildings on the property file which building owners can access.
We’ve reviewed the Dangerous and Insanitary Buildings Policy and are recommending minor changes.
The key reasons for the proposed changes are:
There have been no changes to legislation since the policy was first adopted that alters what requirements the policy needs to address. Therefore, there is no need to make any changes to how Council applies the policy when assessing dangerous, affected or insanitary buildings.
Staff will collect and analyse all feedback at the close of the submission period and this will be presented at Council’s Regulatory and Hearings Committee meeting on 27 June 2023. At this meeting, anyone who submitted will be welcome to make a verbal submission in person to support their views.
If no verbal submissions are requested, the committee may decide to review all submissions and make a recommendation directly to Council for adoption.
Council will then consider all the views and make a decision on the policy.
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