Review of the Unit Titles Act 1972 - Discussion Document, May 2006

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From the Minister

The Unit Titles Act was created in 1972, mainly to deal with small blocks of flats in the suburbs. Today we live in a very different world. Unit title developments range from inner-city high-rise apartment buildings, to complex retail and commercial properties, to highly specialised industrial parks. People tell me that the Act, as it stands, is not flexible enough for this fast-changing environment, and problems have arisen as a result. As the trend towards living and working in intensive, multi-unit developments continues, more and more New Zealanders will be affected by these issues.

Since late 2003, the government has been engaged in a conversation with agencies, groups and individuals, and carrying out research, toward improving the law around multi-unit developments. The aim is to update the Unit Titles Act to make it more flexible, more straightforward and better suited to the changing environment we live in.

This discussion document - Options for Change - is the next step in the review of the Unit Titles Act. It sets out a possible direction for change, based on feedback and submissions on the previous discussion document, Review of the Unit Titles Act 1972, released in November 2004.

We now need to know what you think about the options for change and how you think they might affect you. It is important that we hear from people who are involved with unit title property on a day-to-day basis, either in their personal or professional lives. It is important that you let us know if you think the specific proposals might go too far, or might not go far enough.

Your submissions will help shape decisions about the future of the Act by informing the development of the final proposals for change that will be put to the government.

I would like to thank all of you who have contributed to the review so far, and now invite your further input into the next stage of the review.

Hon Clayton Cosgrove, MP
Minister for Building Issues