Why we can't build our way out of the housing crisis

[mamaJ]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11948685

Another economist trying to explain why we need government intervention to fix the housing affordability "crisis".

A crisis for some, an opportunity for others.

Jillian

[Nick G]

We'll give ourselves a much better chance of building through this if we look at the building industry as a whole.

http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/shows/2015/09/opinion-govt-action-needed-on-building-industry.html

The ChCh approach of Fletcher "overseeing" a huge amount of builds, taking all the profit out and people cutting corners to get by as a result is more likely.

[Learning]

The Chinese can build a 30 unit appartment block in 30 days with their kit set designs. Why aren’t we doing the same here?

[jimO]

The Chinese can build a 30 unit appartment block in 30 days with their kit set designs. Why aren’t we doing the same here?

because council inspections would take 30 days

[Don't believe the Hype]

The Chinese can build a 30 unit apartment block in 30 days with their kit set designs. Why aren’t we doing the same here?

This is a good question. We have looked into the process and have found the amount of red tape is huge. You can import fully complete apartments from China that only require on site assembly i.e. stacking them and locking them in position.

Getting approval for these pre built houses is near impossible... there is a way but each step in the process needs a costly assessment and approval so if you change anything at all the approval lapses until that change is approved.

While we were going through this process i wondered why cars could be assembled overseas to the same blueprint and not have to be individually inspected when they arrive in NZ, stripped down and inspected to ensure they pass the quality controls but if you pre built a room with 4 walls and a few wires/pipes it is different.

[Davo36]

Yep the cardigan wearers don't like anything new. And don't like to be hurried along.

[jimO]

This is a good question. We have looked into the process and have found the amount of red tape is huge. You can import fully complete apartments from China that only require on site assembly i.e. stacking them and locking them in position.

Getting approval for these pre built houses is near impossible... there is a way but each step in the process needs a costly assessment and approval so if you change anything at all the approval lapses until that change is approved.

While we were going through this process i wondered why cars could be assembled overseas to the same blueprint and not have to be individually inspected when they arrive in NZ, stripped down and inspected to ensure they pass the quality controls but if you pre built a room with 4 walls and a few wires/pipes it is different.

yes bit they would be full of asbestos and all sorts of other shoddy cornercutting shenanigans

[Don't believe the Hype]

yes bit they would be full of asbestos and all sorts of other shoddy cornercutting shenanigans

yet you'll eat pork and bluberries among other things from china.

[jimO]

yet you'll eat pork and bluberries among other things from china.

i spent a month in china , wouldnt trust any of them as far as i could hiff them

[Wayne]

yet you'll eat pork and bluberries among other things from china.

I try not to.
NZ brought train engines from China - new - specifically in the contract that they shouldn't have asbestos.
What do you know - they contained asbestos.

[Nick G]

From the outside it just appears to be a lottery if the way a crop has been raised is what the seller says it is, but I wonder how much that is a language barrier because you could say the same thing about the USA....

[Meehole]

Architects and draughtsmen specify particular products that have been around awhile and they know are good as if the proverbial hits the fan and the place leaks then their butt is covered as the design and specifications are looked into.
We are so far behind the times here in regard to our building methods and products. We seem to have blinkers on here and when you try to implement a new method or product that can make things cheaper for the end user there are so many barriers in the way.
Alot of building companies don't pay their subbies anywhere near what they can get on a private job but the work is consistent so they take it on as bread and butter.
With fuel going up that will increase the price of supplies and labour, wage increase will have a flow on effect, Grant Robertson and Phil Twyford are absolutely dreaming if they think they can build all those affordable homes they are committing to. The Govt don't even maintain the stock they have now, there is a fortune to be spent sorting them out.