Study / Bedroom

[NomoneyNotalk]

Hi Property Investors

When advertising for rental what differentiates a study from a bedroom? Does a bedroom have to have a built-in wardrobe?

Thank you

[Sanya]

Its defined in legislation, check that out but as I understand it every bedroom must have a minimum width of 1.8m and an area of 6sqm. If two people sleep in one room it must be 10sqm or more, three people can sleep in a room of at least 14sqm and four or more in a bedroom of 20sqm or larger.

Legislation also defines minimum light and ventilation requirements as well. See https://brentsellsnelson.co.nz/real-...-bedroom-size/

[John the builder]

Sanya
this is housing improvement regulations 1947. this act is still in force but there is confusion as to what weight it has as it was superceded by the building act that does not prescribe minimums.

a bedroom is otherwise what you want it to be?

change of use regulations apply but this only applies to making code compliance worse when a change is made and the definitionof change of use does not apply to a study becoming a bedroom?

[erinak]

To keep it simple and to address your question:

A study does not have to have a built-in wardrobe.
A bedroom does need somewhere to store belongings, be it built-in or stand alone.

The building would not have been given consent if those basic requirements were not met in the first place. Throw a desk in or somewhere to study and you have both.

[Perry]

And always remember that councils are short on the first line commodity.

Rules are for the guidance of the wise
and the obeisance of fools

[Sanya]

Sanya
this is housing improvement regulations 1947. this act is still in force but there is confusion as to what weight it has as it was superceded by the building act that does not prescribe minimums.

You are not wrong but Property managers inform me that they are breaking the law by advertising a house as having say four bedrooms when in fact they should have advertised 3 bedrooms plus a study because the 4th room was non compliant for use as a bedroom.

Building regulations aside, there is also the Fair Trading Act to consider. For example, if a house is consented as 3 bedrooms and its marketed as 4 bedrooms that's a serious breach of the Fair Trading Act.

[NomoneyNotalk]

Its defined in legislation, check that out but as I understand it every bedroom must have a minimum width of 1.8m and an area of 6sqm. If two people sleep in one room it must be 10sqm or more, three people can sleep in a room of at least 14sqm and four or more in a bedroom of 20sqm or larger.

Legislation also defines minimum light and ventilation requirements as well. See https://brentsellsnelson.co.nz/real-...-bedroom-size/

Thanks Sanya, the article is very useful . In the newer houses it is described in the plan as study or bedroom, just the older houses are not clear what the room is sometimes

[NomoneyNotalk]

To keep it simple and to address your question:

A study does not have to have a built-in wardrobe.
A bedroom does need somewhere to store belongings, be it built-in or stand alone.

The building would not have been given consent if those basic requirements were not met in the first place. Throw a desk in or somewhere to study and you have both.

Thank you Erinak

[John the builder]

bedrooms do not need to be approved to be bedrooms.

some house with septic tank systems are limited as to bed numbers by the capacity of the system but this is an RMA issue.

a bedroom doesnt need storage to be a bedroom but the occupant might prefer this?

a house doesnt need approval to go from say 3-4 bedrooms this is a misconceootion.

[Perry]

A bedroom does need somewhere to store belongings, be it built-in or stand alone. The building would not have been given consent if those basic requirements were not met in the first place.

I'm missing something / perplexed. Once upon a time, houses had no built-in wardrobes. They were separate, movable add-ins. Times changed.

I do not see how a consent could be issued for a building [house?] with a bare 'bedroom' by a building inspector, solely on the basis that someone asserted that a free-standing wardrobe would be added, sometime later.

[John the builder]

there is no requirement for wardrobes or storage

Erinak
where do you get this idea?

[donna]

I viewed a property today and it has a minor dwelling that the RE Agent said - was consented as a two-bedroom property - yet you'd struggle to get a single bed in the 2nd room. But the room did have a built-in wardrobe and the RE Agent said - yep that makes it a bedroom.

So a property that wasn't originally built as a 3 bed but you've improved the attic space (insulation, natural lighting, etc) and using it as a 3rd bedroom as it far exceeds the sizes quoted and it has built-in areas for storage - when you sell the home - is it 3 bedroom property? Or do you first need to get the flats plans updated and could it be turned - ie the council say 'no' we won't 'consent' to that?

cheers

Donna

[John the builder]

the question is what law requires approval?

there isnt any and council dont habe this power of decision either!

the problem is agents gun shy at complaints under REA.

[erinak]

Hi Donna

I am sorry that this is a diversion from this thread but a Greenhorn I am at finding my way around this new set up since I was here a while ago. I'm trying to find where to post a New Thread??? Simple when you know how but frustrating when you don't.

Sorry for the intrusion folks and thanks for any basic 101 skills for dummies.

[Perry]

Hi Donna

I am sorry that this is a diversion from this thread but a Greenhorn I am at finding my way around this new set up since I was here a while ago. I'm trying to find where to post a New Thread??? Simple when you know how but frustrating when you don't.

Sorry for the intrusion folks and thanks for any basic 101 skills for dummies.

Go to the area or section of the forum you want. In this case it could be Property Management.

There - to the left of the screen - you should see a little box, shaded in blue, that says [ + New Topic ]

Click on that and you should be away . . .