Glossary of terms

Building Consent

Consent issued by a Building Consent Authority (Local Council) for building work to begin in accordance with the approved plans and specifications.
 

Certificate of Title 

A document attesting to the rights of ownership to a piece of land. It describes the land involved, the area, the legal description, the type of ownership, and lists any mortgages, charges, leases and easements or other encumbrances over the land.

Code Compliance Certificate (CCC) 

A certificate issued by a Building Consent Authority at the completion of building work, confirming that the building work under the building consent complies with the approved plans and specifications.

Consent Notice 

A notice issued under the Resource Management Act 1991 and recorded on the Certificate of Title in respect of the ongoing matters affecting the property.

Deposited Plan 

Survey plan giving legal definition to property boundaries.

District Plan 

A document, generally consisting of maps, policies and rules, which sets out the activities permitted on any land governed by a district or city council. It provides the conditions under which these activities are permitted and lists which activities require resource (or planning) consent.

Drainage Plan

A sketch plan lodged with the local council which shows where private wastewater and storm water drains are laid and where they connect to the main sewer.

Fixed Priced Contract 

Contract with a pre-determined and agreed upon price. It may be qualified by clauses providing for adjustment of the price under stated circumstances. For example, unavoidable delays in construction, unavailability of specified items, or changes required by the customer.
 

Geotechnical Report 

A report, prepared by a soils engineer, setting out the geotechnical limitations of a site in terms of soil

Land Information Memorandum (LIM) 

A report issued by the council, usually to a potential purchaser. It lists information the council has about the property, including what building consents and code compliance certificates have been issued.

Plans and Specifications 

The documents according to which building work is proposed to be constructed.
 

Practical Completion 

When everything in the contract is completed although there may be minor maintenance items still to be completed.

Prime Cost (PC) Sums 

Specific, adjustable amounts allowed in the contract for the supply of required materials, for example, hardware and plumbing ware.

Producer Statement 

A statement confirming that plans, specifications, or completed works comply with the technical requirements to satisfy the Building Code. A producer statement will usually be issued by a recognised specialist, for example, engineer, architect, appraisal organisation or competent contractor. It is up to the Building Consent Authority to decide whether to rely on such a statement.

Project Information Memorandum (PIM) 

A report, issued by the local council prior to issuing a building consent, confirming that building work may proceed, subject to any requirements under legislation other than the Building Act. It may also notify that building work may not be done. It includes information the council considers to be relevant to the proposed building work such as potential erosion, subsidence, slippage, and flooding.

Provisional Sums 

Adjustable amounts to be used to pay for complete sections of work which cannot be accurately estimated in the contract documentation.

Quantity Surveyor

A person who can assess your plans and tell you what materials you will need, in what quantities and an estimate of how much it should cost.

Resource Consent 

Land-use consent, issued under the Resource Management Act 1991, by the local council, for land use not designated a permitted activity in the district plan.

Specific Design 

Calculations and detailed drawings usually of an engineering nature, by persons with appropriate technical expertise, relating to a design solution specific to a particular project. Specific designs may be supported by a Producer Statement.

Schedule of Allowances 

Detailed written inclusion containing details of materials to be used in the construction of a building.

Subcontractor

A tradesperson hired to do specific work such as plumbing, wiring or painting. The subcontractor takes instructions from, is paid by, and is responsible to the main contractor.

Survey Plan 

A plan showing legal boundaries of properties, the area and dimensions and the 'appellation’, for example, Lot 1 DP 12345.
 
 
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