Reporting a neighbour for illegally letting a granny flat

[Micholas]

Hi guys, just wondering if anyone has gone through this process with the council?

Haven't contacted the council yet but I was just wondering what they would do (if anything). What are the chances of some action? Any tips and tricks?

Thanks

[Leftette]

How does it negatively affect you?

[Micholas]

It is mostly just a case of sour grapes. I had intended to purchase the house and convert the granny flat into a minor unit, fireproofing etc to make it all safe and legal, but was outbid by a chinese buyer who is choosing to let it illegally, saving the cost of converting to a minor unit.

I imagine the differing views of my actions will largely depend on whether people go by the book or not...

It does piss me off a bit to see that I am somewhat disadvantaged by being an honest person.

[Leftette]

I like that you're being honest about the reason - sour grapes. Nice one. Dob the bastard in, in that case. Anonymously.

[PTILoveYou]

The Chinese buyer's actions will be rewarded when the place burns down, and his/her insurance company won't pay out.

If you do feel strongly about it you can just make a call to council hotline and report it. Council will investigate that for sure.

[elguapo]

It is mostly just a case of sour grapes. I had intended to purchase the house and convert the granny flat into a minor unit, fireproofing etc to make it all safe and legal, but was outbid by a chinese buyer who is choosing to let it illegally, saving the cost of converting to a minor unit.

I imagine the differing views of my actions will largely depend on whether people go by the book or not...

It does piss me off a bit to see that I am somewhat disadvantaged by being an honest person.

lol, I can relate to that! Just a word of caution though, my general experience with councils is that any such attempt would somehow result in you getting into some kind of fight with them, and not the person letting the illegal flat. The game is rigged against the honest person. Good luck to you if you do report it to the council though.

[shanecarruthers]

Or you could just move on with your life and spend your time instead looking for another property that could suit .... just a thought

[John the builder]

I am on the chinese owners side,
what difference does it make (certainly not to you) if there are two tenants or an extended family in that property?

I would consider an absent minded granny leaving a pot on the stove a greater risk than your other tenant.

The law requires fire and sound separation for seperate exclusive households perhaps they are still sharing the tenancy? Were you planning to subdivide perhaps?

It is not illegal to let a granny flat?

It is about time we heard from an insurance expert on this matter of insurance because I fail to see where the risk difference is between a granny and another separate (but not exclusive) household and why an insurer would be concerned unless the stove was improperly and illegally installed and this lead to the fire? (for example).

If it because work is unconsented this may not need to be?

[Leftette]

John, is it not sufficient that when I asked this question of AMI, they said it absolutely was relevant and any info like this not communicated to them could result in non-payment if a claim is made. I'm sure there are many from Chch who'd agree that if they can find a way not to pay then they will.

I understand technically why you feel it's of little difference, but they make a distinction so I can only assume that actuarial brains bigger than mine and yours have decreed that it is indeed a higher risk.

The Council on the other hand could go jump in the lake as all they're after is additional funds. However you could find that an additional family in the granny flat might indeed impact on the OP's life in negative ways - parking on the street, late night noise nuisance. Any number of things that a genuine granny or other family member of the main household would not cause, or much less likelihood anyway.

[Leftette]

Besides, rules are rules. If some get away with not following the rules then you have an uneven playing field. You'd be unhappy if, for instance, they dug a stinking long drop in their backyard, or diverted their sewer into the storm water, right? Also illegal activity, but it doesn't necessary affect you as the neighbour. Does that make it ok? Of course not. Dob him in, I say again.

[John the builder]

L'ette
what are the rules? what is written or what an individual officer interprets them to be?

I never said don't disclose to insurer but at the same time don't be scared of them either. paying extra premiums even for granny to be protected is reasonable and not the issue here.

Your bringing in of substandard work is a red herring as this can happen with any dwelling and any owners and is an issue of insanitary that councils have every right to enforce, but when it comes to how those lawful facilities are utilized and managed that is not councils business unless it leads to insanitary.

Likewise your issues of noise and parking are matters of RMA and may be accommodated anyway within existing enforcement, but may still apply to extended families, as my 4 car family next door (with an enthusiastic teenage learner drummer to boot) testify to.

If you complain you simply feed the monster.

[Leftette]

That's deep, John. If a rule is written in the bush, can you hear it being broken?

[elguapo]

I am on the chinese owners side,
what difference does it make (certainly not to you) if there are two tenants or an extended family in that property?

Competitive advantage.

[ljm]

I rented such a property once, in Auckland. The neighbour complained, and the council did come. The landlord said I was a flatmate, and as far as I was aware, all the council asked was that the oven was removed. End of story as far as I was aware, stayed there for two years. Without oven, but no big deal.

[PTILoveYou]

I am on the chinese owners side,
what difference does it make (certainly not to you) if there are two tenants or an extended family in that property?

I would consider an absent minded granny leaving a pot on the stove a greater risk than your other tenant.

The law requires fire and sound separation for seperate exclusive households perhaps they are still sharing the tenancy? Were you planning to subdivide perhaps?

It is not illegal to let a granny flat?

It is about time we heard from an insurance expert on this matter of insurance because I fail to see where the risk difference is between a granny and another separate (but not exclusive) household and why an insurer would be concerned unless the stove was improperly and illegally installed and this lead to the fire? (for example).

If it because work is unconsented this may not need to be?

According to council, it is illegal to have an unpermitted kitchen, which is what Micholas's looking at.