9.4 One Bedroom Superior Tiny Home

HouseMe has a strict policy in place for 'Owner Collects'. The policy is as follows:

1. The Company needs to be informed what cartage/trucking company the customer intends to use. HouseMe management will be required to approve the contractor. We must consider their experience, competency levels, and Health and Safety. In the past, we have had a few inexperienced operators turn up and congest our yard, creating an unsafe environment.
   
   
2. Owner Collects’ are at our discretion, and HouseMe reserves the right of refusal. We cannot risk the customer or contractor impacting our good name because of an incompetent operator.
   
   
3. The customer must pay a $500 bond for a set of lifting lugs/arms. These lifting arms are engineered to suit our units, and the contractor will not be able to uplift their unit and site it without them. The lugs are our original design, and we will not provide the customer with the ‘design specs’ so they can replicate our product.
   The $500 bond will be refunded when the lugs are returned to HouseMe Head Office in Auckland (undamaged and in working order). Valid for three months from the date that the unit is uplifted from HouseMe. The bond is non-refundable outside of three months.
   
   
4. If the customer requests a site assessment, or if a site assessment has been completed by HouseMe, we reserve the right to charge a fee of 5% of our standard transport price (3m wide unit price).
   
   
5. We will charge a $300 administration fee. Regardless of who does the delivery (HouseMe or the customer), the customer still consumes an equal number of Sales and Transport Coordination resources. Our admin team will provide the customer with status updates, schedule the pick-up timing, and liaise with the contractor (often two contractors).

Customer: "When will we receive our CCC?"

Code Compliance Certificate: Expected Time Frames.

Your CCC is not issued immediately.

Please note there is a substantial delay between when your unit is delivered, and when you will receive your final Code Compliance Certificate (CCC).

Once the build is 100% completed, your HouseMe unit will receive a Final Inspection and become “Signed-off”. This allows us to progress to the next step of applying for the formal Certification (CCC).

Once the issuing Council receives our documentation, it enters an administrative process in their very busy system and can take up to 6-12 weeks for the PDF Certificate to hit our Inbox. This is fairly standard for the construction industry, and we have zero influence on the timeframes. Auckland Council manages the process as this is where the build takes place. They will issue the CCC for the unit only, with nothing to do with the land, foundations, or sewage.

Unfortunately, you can't.

It'd be great if you could as it'd help so many Kiwi's get an affordable home. However, you are unable to. There are specific rules and restrictions for withdrawing your Kiwisaver and it is only to be used for a permanent house & land purchase where a Title is issued.

No, not as standard. We are open to making small changes to your unit if you're looking at going 100% off-grid i.e. Gas cooking. We do not supply nor install composting units or solar. You will need to organise that yourself once the unit is on-site.

Since our units are issued with a CCC, we have to install some form of toilet whether it be gravity-fed or with a macerator.

No. We install toilets with either a macerator or a gravity-fed plumbing system. Due to NZ building code laws, we have to install a toilet for the unit to get compliance and meet NZ Building Code Standards.

We do not offer solar as an option as the installation needs to be done by a proper technician and is also very site-specific - they must face the right direction etc.
We are also unable to transport solar panels with our units. We advise our customers to go to market and find the best solution once the unit is delivered. Many customers have installed solar. We do not install 12-volt cables or componentry.

All of our units are constructed on a galvanised steel chassis with skids that run the full length of the unit. We used to put wheels on our smaller units for the purpose of delivery, but no longer do.

We DO NOT build units on trailers.

Some companies will tell you that if a tiny home is built on wheels or trailers, they do not require council consent as technically it is a vehicle. This is not entirely true and we advise that you tread carefully and do your homework.

Companies that build their units on trailers are legally registering them as vehicles (WOF and Rego) and if something is a vehicle and not a 'building' then they don't need to build it to NZ Building Code standards, as they're building a vehicle...not a house! This is why there are lots of new companies popping up and why there is such a huge DIY following. This has created a lot of cowboys in the industry.

You need to question any company that constructs "houses" that aren't built to a suitable standard. HouseMe has decided to distance itself from this as we are proud to say all of our new builds are built to NZ Building Code standards and we issue all new units with a CCC.

From October 1st, 2021, all new HouseMe units will be issued with a Code Compliance Certificate (CCC). The CCC is a legally recognised document verifying that the building work carried out complies with the New Zealand Building Code. The CCC is specific to the factory-built HouseMe unit and is separate from any site activity i.e. foundations or sewage. Units are delivered having passed a final building inspection with CCC documentation issued approximately 6-12 weeks later.

Yes - We have a 3-year workmanship guarantee on all of our new builds. Some of the components come with extended manufacturers warranties which we are happy to discuss.

Rent-to-Own is very similar to finance. Although we don't do rent-to-own as such, HouseMe has partnered with an external, third-party provider who specialises in lending for Transportable Homes. An online application can be completed on our website by clicking here.

• Won't do Rent-to-Own/Buy, we offer Finance.
• The applicant must be living in New Zealand and have a full-time job.
• No equity or property ownership required; however, the applicant must have good credit.
• The Landowner will be required to sign a one-page document allowing the unit on the property [if the applicant doesn't own the land].
• Interest rates are from 8.95% (not guaranteed to be 8.95%)
• Term length is up to 7 years
• The maximum lend is $70,000 or $100,000 to Tier 1 borrowers with excellent credit.
  
• Anything over $70,000 will be paid directly to HouseMe as a deposit.
• The deposit amount is negotiable depending on your circumstance. No deposit options are available.
• You can not use your Kiwisaver
• You can find out repayment estimates via their website https://www.squirrel.co.nz/mortgage-broker/tiny-house-loan

• We have an optional extra's price list for you to pick and choose additional components to add in.
• As part of the purchasing process, you will get to choose your exterior paint, joinery colour, benchtop, vinyl, and carpet colours.
• We are a high-volume business and apply a standardised approach to manufacturing – Our very competitive pricing and short lead-time reflects this.
• Keeping the unit as standard as possible reduces the chance of error and ensures all our units are being sent out to the highest standard.
• Small changes can be made to our larger units e.g. flipping the plan, adding a ranch slider, adding a power point or moving the bathroom to the opposite side.
• Please note: Customisation to plans may result in an increase in price and delivery time.

As a part of the purchasing process, you will choose your exterior paint and joinery colour combination, benchtop, vinyl and carpet style. The interior paint colour is standard and unable to be changed.

There is commercial grade carpet in the prefab units, and in the wet areas (kitchen and bathroom) industrial strength vinyl floor covering. If you want to make changes please let us know and we can discuss the options available. There is the option to have vinyl throughout.

Yes. All of our units come with thermal drapes on the ranch-slider door & roller blinds supplied on other windows. These are standard with all units.
If you choose to add in magnetic insect screens, this will be to all opening windows except the ranchslider.

Yes, all newly built HouseMe tiny homes are constructed with NZ Made Colorsteel EPS Thermopanel. This is a 75mm thick 'sandwhich panel' comprised of pre-painted colorsteel skins over a fire retardant treated Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) core. The benefits of this EPS product = WARM, QUIET, STRONG & STYLISH. All units have double-glazed windows. All units are built to NZ Building Code standards.

The bathroom comes with a 900 x 900mm shower unit. There is a standard flush toilet (with a macerator pump attached). A vanity unit with basin and under cupboard storage, mirror cabinet, towel ring, toilet roll holder, and an extractor fan. The Deluxe units also incorporate space for a washing machine and additional cabinetry.
We do not install bathtubs. We can install accessibility handles in the shower if needed. Unfortunately, we don't install "wet floors" which are suitable for wheelchairs.
We can configure the plumbing to be gravity-fed but need to know this at the time of placing your order.

Most of our units come fitted with a surface mounted twin electric hob. The larger Deluxe Units have a full-size oven and 4 burner electric hob. These can be reconfigured to gas for an additional fee. We do not offer Induction as an option as they use too much power. If you convert to gas, your unit will only require a 16 amp power supply

Built into the unit is a Macerator Pump which will safely process and liquidise all waste from the unit – Kitchen, Toilet and Shower. The macerator pump uses a fast-rotating cutting blade to break up waste and toilet paper and convert the water and waste into a fine slurry, similar to an InSinkErator. This is then discharged under pressure through a 25mm alkathene pipe and expelled into your main sewer or septic tank. Most customers hire a plumber or drain layer to professionally junction it into your existing sewage network. For more permanent situations, the unit can be configured to exclude the macerator and include a common gravity-fed toilet.
We don't do composting or cassette toilets.

Water supply is as easy as plugging in a drinking hose (like a garden hose). The unit is fitted with an exterior water inlet valve that your hose will plug in to. Alternatively, you’re welcome to hire a plumber to install a more permanent connection. The HouseMe unit requires "Mains Pressure" for the gas califont to function properly.

We will supply 2 x 9kg LPG Gas ‘Swappa-bottles’ that will power the Rinnai gas Califont for hot water. The unit will come with a Gas certificate.

A water tank is fine, just as long as it has a pump to supply the unit with sufficient pressure. If you are using bore water, you will need to install mechanical water filtration.

You will be required to engage an electrician and install either a 16 or 32 amp outdoor “caravan” power point. We will supply you with a 15m long caravan type extension lead that will plug into this point, successfully powering the unit. You will be provided with an Electrical Certificate and the Unit will have a Warrant of Electrical Fitness.
If you require a longer lead, we need to know at the time of placing your order. We don't offer Solar as an option.

Unfortunately, there is no straightforward black and white answer to whether a unit needs consent or not. Due to the unorthodox nature of portable housing, it can be a little confusing as some councils will say you do, and others will say you don't. HouseMe is happy to offer guidance as we are aware that every situation is different.
The rules and regulations vary from region to region, and it is up to the individual purchaser to open dialogue with their local council should they feel the need to.

All new HouseMe units have a Code Compliance Certificate (CCC). The CCC is a legally recognised document verifying that the building work carried out complies with the New Zealand Building Code. The CCC is specific to the factory-built HouseMe unit and is separate from any site activity i.e. foundations or sewage. Units are delivered having passed a final building inspection with CCC documentation issued approximately six weeks later.

If your unit has been customised from the standard plan, we will need to have an engineer sign off the changes for the council, and this fee will be on-charged to the customer. If you also require onsite consent [for foundation and sewage], this will be a separate project, and you will need to approach a local draughtsperson and discuss your ideas with the planner at your local council.

We operate NZ's largest off-site manufacturing facility so due to Work Safe requirements, you are unable to simply turn up on-site. However, if you book an appointment, we are happy to discuss and show you the progress of your transportable home. We can email photo updates if required.

Even though the units only take 3-4 weeks to build, our lead time varies but is generally forecasted to be 14-16 weeks from deposit to delivery. Our lead time can fluctuate depending on the volume of orders so it is always best to check in for an updated time frame. We can delay your delivery with plenty of notice. We do not store units.

A $10,000 deposit is required for all orders under $60,000, $20,000 deposit for all orders over $60,000, and $30,000 for all orders over $100,000. A deposit is required to secure your order prior to building commencement, and your purchase will not be placed in the production schedule until we have received your deposit. Payment in full is required prior to delivery. We will not deliver your unit unless we have received full payment. Your deposit is legally binding and is strictly Non-refundable - Once you have paid your deposit, you have committed to purchasing. In the rear circumstance where our pre-delivery transport team determines your unit as 'undeliverable', we will refund your deposit in full.

Yes, we do! We have show homes on display in 5 locations - Auckland, New Plymouth, Hastings, Tauranga, and Palmerston North. You can view opening times for all sites by clicking here.

Yes, but the changes you are able to make are limited. We apply a standardised approach to manufacturing which helps us build the units efficiently, at an affordable price. You can add in and remove certain components. Once your order has been placed, no additional changes can be made. This will incur an additional cost and may result in your unit dropping down the queue.

Yes. The transport cost is not included in the price of your unit. The cost of delivery is based on the size of the unit, location, and level of difficulty. Occasionally, specialist lifting equipment such as a Hiab or Crane is required to complete your delivery, or lift the unit on to piles of which the hire cost will be charged to the customer. We need to know at the time of placing your order if you require lifting i.e. the unit is going on piles or over a house/fence. We don't have our own Hiab's or Cranes. For some difficult deliveries, professional traffic management may be required and the cost will be on-charged to the customer.

Yes. The largest transportable home we build is 12.5m (long) X 4.4m (wide). Most of our units are either 3.0m, or 3.6m in width and vary in size by length. We generally refer to them by their length. We have a range of standard lengths and don't do customised sizes. Your options are 5.2m, 7.4m, 8.4m, 9.4m, 10.4m, and 12.5m long.

We are often asked this question if there are challenges with access and the short answer is No.
All of our transportable homes are constructed in our purpose-built factory and are complete when delivered to you. This is quite normal for prefab homes. Chat to the team about alternatives with delivery such as crane or hiab lifts.