Transitioning a Building/Property from Business to Residential Use and Pricing for Energy and Broadband Services

 If your current electricity, gas or broadband pricing are designated for business purposes and you intend to switch them to residential pricing due to a change in the building/property's use, you must provide evidence that the building is intended for residential use. To initiate this process, you need to submit a request to the council to change the use of the building/property.

 When transitioning a building/property from business to residential use, it is crucial to notify the council in writing, even if no building work is involved. The council will then confirm in writing whether the requirements of the Building Act have been fulfilled before implementing the proposed change.

 The specific requirements for the transition will depend on whether the incorporation of household units is part of the plan. If household units are involved, the council must ensure that the building, in its new use, complies with the Building Code to the best extent feasible. Even if the change does not include household units, the building must still conform to the Building Code provisions regarding fire escape, access, protection of other property, sanitary facilities, structural performance, and fire-rating performance.

 Different building uses necessitate specific design requirements, and modifications may be necessary to ensure compliance with regulations. It is advisable to consult with the council during the planning stages to determine if any upgrades are required.

 Once the council is notified of the change of use, they will provide written confirmation as to whether the building, in its new use, meets the compliance requirements of the Building Code. Generally, obtaining a building consent solely for changing the use of a building is not mandatory, unless it involves building work that requires consent. In certain cases, exemptions from building consent may be granted if the building already complies or if the proposed work falls under the exemptions specified in the Building Act.