Auckland Council says it is introducing a consistent new policy from 1 July 2015 which relates to assessment of unauthorised building work.

It says any unconsented work will need to have a Certificate of Assessment. 

The document How unauthorised building work is assessed provides information on how the Council deals with unconsented decks or other additions. 

Building Control Department general manager Ian McCormick says from 1 July the Council will introduce a new policy which will be consistent across the region and not a mix of legacy council rules.

He says the the policy will be implemented on 1 July for Orewa, Henderson and Takapuna, and from 1 August for Central Auckland, Manukau, Papakura and Pukekohe.

Mr McCormick says Aucklanders buying new homes with unconsented decks or other additions should not assume that they won't have to remove them.

"What doesn't change is the fact that anything unconsented with need to have a Certificate of Acceptance to meet the current New Zealand Building Code, not the code at the code at the time of construction," he says.

"This is a very important consideration for home  buyers, and for the real estate agents. 'She'll be right' doesn't stop a major structural failure."