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.

Unfortunately, you can’t use your KiwiSaver to buy a HouseMe transportable home directly — but there are a few ways it can play a role if you already own or plan to buy land.

KiwiSaver first-home withdrawals are designed for buying a property where the house and land are purchased together under one legal title. Because HouseMe homes are built off-site and delivered later, they don’t initially meet that requirement. The home isn’t legally tied to the land until it’s permanently installed and added to the property’s title — which is where the KiwiSaver rules get tricky.

Here’s how it breaks down in real terms:

Why you can’t use KiwiSaver upfront

KiwiSaver providers can only release funds once there’s a legal property title that includes the dwelling. With HouseMe, that’s not the case at the time of purchase — it’s still considered a movable asset.
So even though it’s a legitimate home, it doesn’t yet meet the legal definition of a “house purchase” under KiwiSaver regulations.

The technical (but messy) way you could use it

It’s technically possible to use KiwiSaver, but the process is backwards and rarely worth the hassle:

• You’d need to fully fund the home upfront yourself — through cash or finance.
• The home would then be transported, installed, and connected on your land.
• Once it’s permanently fixed to the site and legally recorded on your land title, you could then apply to draw down your KiwiSaver funds, effectively reimbursing yourself after the fact.

In short, KiwiSaver won’t fund the purchase itself — only after the house is complete, installed, and legally recognised as part of your property. That timing makes it nearly impossible for most buyers to rely on KiwiSaver as their main funding source.

How you can use your KiwiSaver effectively

If you’re starting from scratch, the smart way to involve KiwiSaver is to use it to buy the land first.
Once you own the section, you can then purchase and install a HouseMe home on it using your own funds or through our in-house finance solution, FinanceMe.

Many customers take this route:

1. Use KiwiSaver for the land purchase (since it has a legal title).
2. Fund the build and delivery of the HouseMe unit separately.
3. Once the home is sited and added to the title, you’ve effectively created a full house-and-land property that builds long-term equity.

A practical example

Let’s say you buy a $250,000 section using your KiwiSaver and a small top-up loan. You then finance a $130,000 HouseMe home through FinanceMe. Once the home is delivered, installed, and added to the title, your property is now worth, say, $420,000. You’ve used KiwiSaver exactly as intended — to help secure permanent housing — just in a roundabout way.

Why it should change

It would make sense for KiwiSaver rules to evolve. Off-site homes like HouseMe are permanent, consented, code-compliant dwellings — they just happen to be built smarter and faster. The current system doesn’t reflect that reality, and it’s stopping a lot of Kiwis from accessing affordable housing solutions.

Until those rules catch up, KiwiSaver can only help before (buying land) or after (reimbursement once the home is on title), not during.

If you’re ready to get started, our FinanceMe option bridges that gap — it’s quick, flexible, and designed for people who don’t want to wait for outdated systems to catch up.

No — we do not build our homes on trailers or wheels.

All HouseMe units are constructed on a galvanised steel chassis with full-length skids, designed for strength, stability, and easy delivery. We used to fit wheels on some smaller units purely for transport purposes, but no longer do.

Some companies will tell you that if a tiny home is built on wheels or a trailer, it doesn’t require council consent because it’s “technically a vehicle.” That’s not entirely true — and it’s something we strongly advise you to tread carefully with.

When a company builds on a trailer, they’re legally registering the unit as a vehicle (with a WOF and registration). Because it’s not classed as a “building,” they don’t have to meet the New Zealand Building Code. In other words, they’re building a vehicle — not a house.

This loophole has led to a flood of low-quality “DIY” and unregulated builders entering the market — and unfortunately, it’s created a lot of cowboys.

At HouseMe, we’ve made a deliberate decision to stay well clear of that. Every new HouseMe home is built to NZ Building Code standards and issued with a Code Compliance Certificate (CCC). That means your home is legally recognised, safe, insurable, and built to last.  Read More Here.


 

Yes — every brand-new HouseMe home is built under a full Building Consent and comes with its own Code Compliance Certificate (CCC) once construction is complete.

The CCC confirms that your home has been inspected and approved as meeting all requirements of the New Zealand Building Code. It’s an essential document that gives you peace of mind your home is built to the same legal standard as any permanent house.

The CCC applies specifically to the HouseMe home itself as built in our factory. It doesn’t cover site-specific work such as foundations, drainage, or decks — those are handled separately through your local council as part of your site consent.

Once your home has passed its final inspection, the CCC is formally issued to HouseMe within about 6–8 weeks. If you need a copy of your CCC, simply get in touch with our team, and we can provide it.

More info can be found here

We sure do! We offer a few different finance solutions to help you get into a new, affordable home as soon as possible.

Unless you already own land, getting finance from a bank for a transportable home is almost impossible — that’s where FinanceMe comes in.

Our flexible finance options let you secure a home with:

• Finance with deposit – standard option with flexible terms and no limits on home size.
• No-deposit finance – available for homes under $100,000 (our 3m-wide range).
• Rent-to-Buy – for those needing time to build credit before converting to a finance contract.

All options come with manageable repayments and a clear path to ownership.

If you’d like to learn more about how HouseMe finance works and whether it’s right for you, get in touch with our team — we’ll happily walk you through it.

You can also get started on our website [here].

Basic criteria:

• Ideally, you have a full-time income (not always required).
• You live in New Zealand.
• Up to three people can apply jointly.
• No land or equity ownership required — the landowner simply signs a one-page permission form allowing the home on their property.

Key details:

• Interest rates: 14.95% – 19.90%, based on credit, deposit, and risk profile.
• This is not a mortgage, and is similar to a personal loan.
• Term length: up to 10 years.
• Repayments from $200 per week.
• No limit to loan amount.
• Minimum deposit required for higher-value homes.
• KiwiSaver funds cannot be used.
• Can only be used for the home purchase, not site works or council related costs

Yes — in most cases, you do.

Don’t be fooled by anyone who tells you otherwise. In New Zealand, if a home has plumbing and/or is being lived in, it’s classed as a dwelling — and that means it requires building consent to make sure it meets the New Zealand Building Code.

All HouseMe homes are fully consented before leaving our factory and come with a Code Compliance Certificate (CCC). This certificate confirms the home itself meets all requirements of the Building Code.

However, you’ll typically need to apply for a second building consent for your land — usually just for foundations, drainage, and sewage connections specific to your site.

We deliver homes across around 68 different council districts across New Zealand, and every region has slightly different planning and zoning rules. While it’s impossible for us to know the exact requirements for every property, we can provide guidance and point you in the right direction if you’re unsure where to start.

In some cases, a Resource Consent may also be required — for example, if your property sits within a special zoning area, overlay, or coastal zone.

Code Compliance Certificate (CCC)

Every new HouseMe unit is built under a full Building Consent and issued with a Code Compliance Certificate (CCC) once it passes its final inspection.

This CCC applies to the HouseMe home itself, not the land or site-specific works.
On-site elements like foundations, decks, ramps, or sewage connections are covered under your own site consent.

Once delivered, your home has already passed inspection. The formal CCC document is usually issued to HouseMe 6–8 weeks after that inspection. If you’d like a copy, just get in touch with our team.

Resource or On-Site Building Consent

If your project needs extra approvals (for example, for earthworks, drainage, or unique site conditions), these are managed separately through your local council. We recommend engaging a local draughtsperson or planner to help with the process.

Coastal Properties

If your site is within about 1,000 m of the coast, you may need to upgrade to a coastal cladding system to meet local requirements. This is often triggered as part of the full site consent process.

Regional Differences

Rules can vary significantly across regions. We strongly encourage every customer to open dialogue with their local council early on — it’s the best way to confirm exactly what’s needed for your property.