What are the MBIE Floor Level Guidelines used for?

The dreaded MBIE floor level guidelines; let's talk about it. There is a large misunderstanding among the public and industry professionals about what the MBIE floor level guidelines parameters are used for, and this often causes people to not be able to buy or sell, essentially, saleable and sound homes if homes exceed these guidelines. 

If you've been involved in the sale or purchase of a pre-earthquake home in Canterbury, chances are you've run into this issue, especially when trying to secure insurance or finance if the floor levels fall outside the MBIE tolerances.

The MBIE floor level tolerance is a measurement used as an indicator, and that's exactly what it is, an indicator. The biggest misunderstanding is that these guidelines set a universal standard for all homes. In reality, they provide a benchmark for identifying potential earthquake-related structural damage and are not meant to serve as a pass-or-fail test for a property's overall condition.

In fact, many older homes were never built perfectly level to begin with. Over time, it’s normal for houses to experience minor settling or timber movement, especially in properties that have stood for decades. Often, these irregularities are harmless.

Even in homes that have sustained earthquake damage, it’s possible for structural repairs to be carried out successfully while still leaving some minor level variation. In some cases, attempting to force a home back to perfect level can actually do more harm than good.

So if you're buying or selling a property and you’ve been told the floor levels are outside the MBIE tolerances, don’t panic. Speak with a licensed building inspector or structural engineer to determine whether there’s any genuine structural concern. Often it does not have to be a deal breaker!

An assessment of the floor level variations referring to the MBIE guidelines is included in all of our standard building reports, along with everything else you would expect!