YOUR CERTIFICATE OF ACCEPTANCE GUIDE

WHAT IS A CERTIFICATE OF ACCEPTANCE?

A Certificate of Acceptance (COA) is a document issued by a Territorial Authority(Council), for building work that has been undertaken without building consent. The certificate indicates that the Council accepts that the building work, or part of it, complies with the New Zealand Building Code (NZBC). A COA has some similarities to a (but should not be mistaken for) Code Compliance Certificate in that it provides a certain amount of assurance for a building owner or future owners that part or all of the building work complies with the Building Code. There are various situations where a COA becomes necessary. For instance, if you purchase a property with unconsented work completed by a previous owner without a building consent, a COA can help validate that these alterations comply with building code standards.

WHY IS A COA REQUIRED FOR UNCONSENTED WORK?

A COA is necessary because it provides official assurance that building work done without prior consent meets the requirements of the NZBC. This assurance is crucial for property owners, councils, insurance companies, lenders, and potential buyers, giving them confidence that the completed work is NZBC compliant. Typically, councils advise property owners to obtain a COA or may issue a Notice to Fix, prompting the need for a COA to address compliance concerns.

HOW DO I OBTAIN A CERTIFICATEOF ACCEPTANCE?

Providing evidence from an independent and qualified professional helps the Council confirm that building work complies with the NZBC. At Supremegroup, our team has extensive experience preparing COA applications/reports in Whakatane and across New Zealand. We've previously worked within councils, reviewing and completing numerous COA applications, so we understand the process well. Our expertise can simplify interactions with the council, removing pressure and stress for property owners. Councils can sometimes request unnecessary or difficult information, so having someone Knowledgeable who understands the Building Code on your side makes obtaining a COA easier.