Frequently asked questions

01

Who is Walls Group?

Walls Group is a trusted builder of high-quality, transportable homes in Auckland, New Zealand. We offer a range of transportable homes sizes from 30m² to 135m², combining exceptional value with traditional craftsmanship and modern design.

02

What makes your homes different?

Our homes are traditionally built to the NZ Building Code, ensuring durability and peace of mind. We focus on high-quality materials, beautiful finishes, and smart layouts—offering premium features without the premium price tag. All homes are eligible for a Code Compliance Certificate (CCC).

03

Are your homes transportable?

Yes. Our homes are designed to be transportable, allowing you to place them on your site of choice. They are constructed off-site in Kumeu and delivered directly to you at an additional cost, offering flexibility and reduced construction disruption.

04

Will you build on site?

We primarily build our homes off-site in a controlled environment to ensure high quality, faster timelines, and less disruption. However, for specific cases or larger homes that require it, on-site builds may be available within Auckland—just get in touch with us to discuss your site and what’s possible.

05

What sizes do you offer?

We build homes ranging from 30m² studios to 135m² multi-bedroom family homes. Whether you’re looking for a compact dwelling, a holiday retreat, or a full-time residence, we’ve got you covered.

06

Can I customise my home?

Yes, we offer a range of layout options and customisable finishes so you can create a space that reflects your lifestyle and taste. Common minor customisations would include adding extra ranch sliders or windows, and larger customisations would come up with a completely new design and size to suit your exact needs. Talk to us about what you would like and we can see if we can turn it into reality.

07

Is a Building Consent / CCC required?

If you want it to comply with the council and it has plumbing or is greater than 30m2 , then Yes, a Building Consent is required. All our homes are built to the New Zealand Building Code and are eligible for consent and CCC, but this is not something that can be achieved retrospectively. We can guide you through the consent process and provide all necessary documentation to help make it as smooth as possible. We provide it as an option, as there are people who are not interested in the CCC and would rather save the money.

08

Do your homes come with a CCC (Code Compliance Certificate)?

Absolutely. All of our homes are built to the NZ Building Code, and we offer a CCC option for full compliance and resale peace of mind. This code of compliance is for the transportable building. If you would like to make your site fully compliant with the council then a Building consent for your site would be required; this would cover foundations, drainage etc.

09

What kind of materials do you use?

We use quality proven materials, including Steel framing, insulation and claddings suited to New Zealand’s climate. Our homes also feature modern stone bench kitchens, stylish bathrooms, beautiful timber look SPC flooring and elegant finishes.

10

How long does the process take?

Timelines vary depending on if you chose a CCC or not, but typically our build take 12–14 weeks from Bearers to delivery. We'll guide you through every step of the process. CCC add another 6-10weeks

11

Do you deliver outside of Auckland?

We can arrange transport throughout New Zealand. Customers let us know that even with a long-distance transport, they are still saving significant cost compared to any other comparable option available. Let’s talk about where you’d like your home to go.

12

Do you help with foundations and other site works?

Yes we can within Auckland. Every site is different, so we’ll work with you and our contractors to ensure your home is properly installed and ready to move in. We can also offer guidance or manage the entire process depending on your location and needs.

13

Is a tiny home in a grey area with the council?

No. The current rules with the council are clear.

A vehicle or caravan is OK as it is not a building and falls outside of the building code and the building consent system. A vehicle needs to be roadworthy on a rated trailer with a WOF and under 3.5 tonnes or with a COF for over 3.5 tonnes. Caravans are built very light but tiny homes are 4-6m long would start pushing over 3.5 tonnes with the trailer. To remain a vehicle, it must not become attached. Quick-release caravan plugs and quick-release water/wastewater connections are required. Foundations or bolting to a deck is not OK, as it would be more permanent and fall into a building category and not a vehicle.

Note: that even if you have a caravan/vehicle, which falls outside of the building code, other items that you install may still need building consent, such as a wastewater system or a high deck built next to it.

Be careful, there are many companies that are trying to say the rules are grey and putting tiny homes on trailers that are not rated to carry the weight of the tiny home. Many of these companies will lift the tiny home onto the back of a truck to transport it, as it is not road legal on the trailer. They are just hoping that the wheels make it look passable as a vehicle.

Another option is a building 30m2 or less without plumbing, as this is exempt from a building consent.

Although you will not need building consent, you will still need to process the building through the council via a new process. This new process will reduce compliance costs and time marginally, but these reductions may not end up being that significant. The most obvious saving at the moment is the elimination of inspections. Most of the standard rules will still be in place, such the building code will still need to be met, Building still need to be done by an LBP, a minor dwelling will need to be permitted in the property's zoning, as well as the other normal rules like height to boundary, etc.

Proposed Council notification

You must notify your council before you start to build and when building is complete.

• Building owners must notify their council of their intention to build via a request for a Project Information Memorandum (PIM). This will be through a new or updated PIM form. This enables councils to share relevant information with owners and supports the collection of development contributions.

• Councils must advise homeowners on whether the proposed building work is likely, unlikely or uncertain to meet the proposed building consent exemption. However, this is not an approval process and homeowners can choose to build irrespective of council advice.

• Building owners must provide councils, on completion of work, a set of plans (for both building and plumbing and drainage work). These plans must include any changes that occurred between the initial design and the completion of the build. This is an administrative process and councils cannot review built plans to determine if a small standalone dwelling complies with the Building Code.

• Building on land where a natural hazard exists, as defined by section 71(3) of the Building Act 2004, may require a building consent. Land subject to a natural hazard would require a building consent unless a council is of the view that the provisions of section 71(2) would otherwise apply.

• Owners must meet all building consent exemption conditions. Otherwise, owners are required to get a building consent. Existing building work underway is not eligible to be exempt from requiring a building consent. Councils retain their existing powers to address non-compliant building work.

Small standalone dwellings must have a simple design and meet the Building Code.
The building must comply fully with all the relevant requirements of the New Zealand Building Code.
Single storey, standalone and be self-contained

• ⁠The building must be new and standalone.

• The building must be single storey.

• The building is classified as: Housing – detached dwelling (defined by Clause A1 of the Building Code). This means it must:

  • comply with all the requirements of the Building Code that apply to this classified use

  • be intended for a single household or family.

Building dimensions

• The net floor area must be no greater than 70 square metres (including 70 square metres).

• The building must have:

  • a maximum floor level of 1 metre above ground

  • a maximum height of 4 metres above the floor level.

• The building must be 2 metres or more away from any other structure or legal boundary.

Construction material

• The building must be designed and built using lightweight building products for the roof.

• The frame must be built using light steel or light timber.

• Wall cladding must have a weight not exceeding 220kg/m2.

Amenities

• Plumbing and drainage works should be simple and designed and built in accordance with the Acceptable Solutions for compliance with these clauses of the Building Code:
  Clause E1
  Clause G12
  Clause G13

• Plumbing and drainage systems must connect to network utility operator services (NUOs) where available. Where NUOs are not available, onsite water systems are exempt from requiring a building consent.

• The building must have:

  • interconnected smoke alarms throughout

  • independent points of supply for electricity and gas (where applicable), and

  • electric or gas heaters.

• Level-entry showers are permitted only once a relevant licence class has been established.

Proposed building consent exemption conditions for small standalone dwellings | Building Performance

Building practitioners

• All work on a building must be carried out or supervised by licensed building professionals (Licensed Building Practitioners (LBPs) and licensed plumbers, drainlayers, gasfitters and electricians).

• All building work must have a Record of Work (RoW), Certificate of Work (CoW) and energy work certificate:

  • A new record of work form is proposed for plumbing and drainlaying work on exempt small standalone dwellings.

  • For small standalone dwellings, energy work certificates may include certificates of compliance, electrical safety certificates and gas safety certificates.

They are also changing the LBP structure to hold LBP holders more accountable

Improving occupational licensing to help homeowners

Funding infrastructure

To support councils with local infrastructure funding for growing communities, the Government has agreed that infrastructure charges (also known as development contributions) will apply to small standalone dwellings.

These will be charged by the council through the Project Information Memorandum (PIM) process.

Find information on Project information memoranda (PIMs)

Expected to be in force by early 2026, until then, all builds require a building consent.

We can help you navigate the current or future building process.

14

Minor dwelling proposed exemption (70m2 or less)