An Auckland housing developer has been fined $74,000 for charging affordable home buyers extra for landscaping and driveways at Scott Point in Hobsonville. They were given consent to build affordable homes at no more than $636,000 under Special Housing area rules but then charged the first home buyers extra for things like landscaping and driveways. READ MORE• Auckland couple's legal wrangle to get driveway, fences, landscaping with 'affordable house'• Extra billing for driveways on 'affordable' homes: Auckland property developer prosecutedAuckland Mayor Phil Goff was pleased with the ruling, saying the point of the affordable housing legislation was to bring more affordable homes to the market to address housing challenges. Auckland Councillor Chris Darby said the investigation had been very thorough and he was confident the council had a strong case. Special Housing Areas were created by the previous National government to increase the housing supply, with developers given fast-tracked consents in return for providing some affordable homes for first-home buyers.

Source: New Zealand Herald October 20, 2020 07:34 UTC