Guides
The rules, the costs and the process, explained properly.
Everything we get asked, written down once and kept current. No sales pitch inside, just the answer.
Kitset granny flats · 6 min read
Do you need a building consent for a granny flat in 2026?
Since January 2026 a granny flat of 70m² or less can be built in New Zealand without a building consent. Here are the conditions, what still has to happen with council, and where people get caught out.
Updated 23 September 2026
Kitset granny flats · 5 min read
How a granny flat build works, from first look to keys
The seven steps between deciding you want a granny flat and living in one, including what council needs, who has to be licensed, and what you should have in your hand at the end.
Updated 23 September 2026
Pergolas and louvre roofs · 5 min read
Do you need a building consent for a pergola or louvre roof?
An open pergola is exempt from building consent in New Zealand. Put a roof on it, and size, height and where it sits start to matter. Here is how the rules apply to pergolas, louvre roofs and covered decks.
Updated 24 September 2026
Pergolas and louvre roofs · 4 min read
Louvre roof or fixed roof: which pergola should you buy?
A fixed roof costs less and gives permanent cover. A louvre roof costs more and lets you choose sun, shade or shelter. Which one suits depends on where your deck faces and how you use it.
Updated 24 September 2026
Kitset granny flats · 5 min read
Granny flat, sleepout or tiny house: what is the difference?
They look similar on a section and are treated very differently by the rules. What separates a granny flat from a sleepout and a tiny house on wheels, and which one actually suits what you need.
Updated 24 September 2026
General · 5 min read
Expanding home or kitset granny flat: which should you build?
Both give you a self-contained home on your section. One arrives folded on a truck and opens in a day. The other arrives flat and is built over weeks. Here is when each one is the right call.
Updated 24 September 2026
General · 5 min read
Ten questions to ask any granny flat supplier before you sign
Every supplier will tell you their price. Very few will tell you the total. These ten questions get you the number that matters, and the paperwork that proves the build was done properly.
Updated 25 September 2026
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