Safe & Sanitary Report Christchurch: What It Is (and When You Need a CoA)

TL;DR (40–60 words): A Safe & Sanitary report (often called a third-party report) records the condition of pre-1 July 1992 building work so there’s a public note on the property file. It doesn’t legalise the work. For post-1992 unconsented work, you normally need a Certificate of Acceptance (CoA) instead. (Christchurch City Council)

Buying or selling in Christchurch and told you need a safe and sanitary report Christchurch buyers often ask about? Here’s the plain-English version—what it is, when it applies, and how it differs from a CoA.

What is a Safe & Sanitary (third-party) report?

It’s an independent report that verifies the condition and fitness for use of unpermitted histroical building work carried out before 1 July 1992 (the end of the building-permit era). Councils use it as a record on the property file; banks sometimes ask for it to confirm the space is safe and suitable.

Important limitation

A Safe & Sanitary report has no legal status under the Building Act. It doesn’t retroactively approve the work; it simply records expert observations and may be noted on the LIM as existing on the file.

Christchurch specifics: how the paperwork fits together

• Adding documents to your property file: Christchurch City Council lets owners email documents to be added to the file (for example, property check reports). That’s where a Safe & Sanitary report can sit.
• When you need a CoA instead: CCC clarifies that only building work undertaken after 1 July 1992 (that required consent) can be considered for a Certificate of Acceptance—the proper pathway for most unconsented work done since that date.
• What a CoA (Certificate of Acceptance) is in short: A CoA is council decision that, on reasonable grounds, specified work complies with the current Building Code. The certification is applied for retroactively if illegal/unconsented works have been carried out post July 1992 and consent was never applied for when it should have been. A CoA may also be applied for if code compliance was never issued and it has passed the expiry date in which a code compliance certificate should have been applied for and issued. —often needing evidence and sometimes invasive checks a CoA is not guaranteed; applications can be complex.

Typical situations where a Safe & Sanitary helps

• A pre-1992 sleepout, garage conversion or lean-to that never had final paperwork.
• Layout tweaks or extra fixtures from the permit era (e.g., load-bearing wall removal, added bathrooms or WCs, large conservatories, or external structures) that were never fully recorded.
• Bank/insurance comfort for older alterations when selling or refinancing. (Councils explicitly note banks may require this documentation.)

What goes in the report (and the standard we work to)

A robust report typically includes:

• Description & photos of the work and its likely construction era.
• Safety & sanitary assessment (structural red flags, moisture, ventilation, dampness, basic services suitability) for the intended use.
• Recommendations where hazards or significant defects are found.

For quality and consistency, councils commonly recommend reports align with NZS 4306 Residential Property Inspection principles for visual inspections and reporting.

Safe & Sanitary vs Certificate of Acceptance (CoA)

• Scope: Safe & Sanitary = pre-1992 third-party record for council property file. CoA = post-1992 unconsented work pathway assessed against current Code. (Christchurch City Council, Building.govt.nz)
• Outcome: Safe & Sanitary records; CoA assesses/accepts specific work (sometimes with qualifications if parts were not able to be inspected).
• Effort & evidence: Safe & Sanitary is visual and non-invasive; CoA may require design docs, product evidence, and opening up work to prove compliance.

How we approach Safe & Sanitary reports (Christchurch)

We focus on health and safety, sanitary conditions (moisture, ventilation, dampness), basic services, and any structural warning signs. Where risk is elevated, we’ll recommend next steps (e.g., an electrician, plumber, or engineer) rather than over-promise what a third-party report can achieve.

Process in Christchurch — quick steps

1. Confirm the era: If the change is pre-1992, a Safe & Sanitary may be appropriate. If post-1992, talk to CCC about a CoA path instead.
2. Commission the report: We inspect, document, and prepare the third-party report.
3. Lodge to your property file: Email the report to CCC so it’s recorded for future buyers and lenders.
4. If post-1992: Expect a CoA process with evidence and, potentially, invasive checks to demonstrate compliance.

Bottom line

Use a Safe & Sanitary report to record older (pre-1992) work on your Christchurch property file—it helps with transparency and lending but doesn’t legalise the work. For unconsented work since 1992, plan for a Certificate of Acceptance discussion with Council. If you’re unsure which applies, we can point you to the right pathway.