Land and Building

A section gives you the chance to shape a home around the way you want to live. The useful starting point is whether the land, likely building costs and purchase terms work together for your plans. Before committing, bring the property documents to your lawyer, lender and the professionals who will assess or design the build.

Picture the home before you choose the section

Think about the rooms, outdoor space, parking and access you need. Consider sun, privacy and how a house could sit on the site. A large land area does not tell you how much of it will suit your intended home. Have a designer or builder consider the actual site before treating an appealing concept as a workable plan.

A bare section, a house-and-land package and an off-the-plan home involve different decisions. Ask what you are buying, who is responsible for each stage and which documents need to be agreed together. Compare the total commitment rather than the advertised land or house price alone.

Read the title and restrictions

Ask your lawyer to explain the title, boundaries, access rights, easements and covenants. Covenants may affect the design, materials or features you want. If a new title has not yet issued, understand the remaining steps and the agreement’s timing and cancellation provisions before you sign.

Clarify who owns or maintains shared access and services. A fence or marketing plan should not be your only evidence of the legal boundary or the rights attached to the property.

Check the Christchurch planning and site information

Use Christchurch City Council’s buying or developing guidance to find the District Plan property search and relevant rules. Check the zone and features affecting the address, then ask whether your intended project is permitted or needs resource consent. Planning permission and building consent are separate matters to resolve with the council and your advisers.

The council’s LIM information and property file can help you investigate the records held for the site. Read them with the right advice. A LIM does not replace a site-specific assessment or establish that the land suits every proposed use.

Ask a geotechnical engineer about ground conditions and the information needed for the proposed house and foundations. An existing report may be useful, but confirm its scope and whether it answers your project’s questions. Investigate relevant natural hazards, drainage and floor-level requirements rather than relying on a neighbourhood description or a map alone.

Price the work around the house

Check what is already connected, what is available at the boundary and what still needs to be installed. Obtain advice and quotes for access, water, wastewater, stormwater, electricity and communications as relevant. A service shown nearby is not confirmation that the site has an approved, paid connection.

Allow for site preparation, earthworks, retaining, foundations, professional reports, design, consents and finishing work, as well as the building itself. Keep landscaping, driveways and fencing in the comparison. Ask what each quote includes, what it excludes and which allowances could change. Settled’s property-options guide explains useful checks when buying an empty section.

Join up the finance and contracts

Discuss the actual land and building proposal with your lender before making an unconditional commitment. Clarify the required deposit, stage payments, valuations and insurance arrangements. Ask how delays or changes to the build would affect your funding and the cost of somewhere to live in the meantime.

Have your lawyer review the purchase and building documents before you commit. Understand the agreed work, specifications, price basis, variations, payment stages, completion arrangements and what happens if something changes. MBIE’s homeowner protection information is a useful starting point for your rights and responsibilities when arranging residential building work.

Take the next step with the property information

If you are considering a listed section, ask the listing salesperson which title, council and site documents are available and what still needs investigation. Browse current land listings, read our buying guide or call 03 332 2080 to discuss your search.

Use the contact form below with the section address and your questions about the sale. The team can provide available listing documents for your independent investigations.