Ongoing concerns about non-compliance have led to the Southland District Council issuing a Notice to Fix for a Winton residential complex.

The Church Street building, known as Winton Lifestyle, was issued the notice on September 9, due to the Annual Building Warrant of Fitness documents not being supplied to the council as required.

Mayor Gary Tong said these documents assured the council that the safety systems in the building were operating correctly by providing evidence of compliance from an independently qualified person.

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“Therefore, Council requires the owner of the building to provide sufficient evidence no later than midnight on 7 October 2020.”

A subsequent progress inspection completed on the building last Thursday (October 1) had shown the council that not all safety systems wee fully operational, creating a risk for the 24 residents, some of whom are elderly, Mr Tong said.

If not rectified to the council's, residents may not be permitted to sleep in the building from Thursday (October 8) until all systems were working and the council was assured of their safety, he said.

“We have a duty of care to ensure all safety standards are being met for those residents and have received support from external agencies on this issue.”

The council has advised residents of the Notice to Fix and recommended they seek alternative temporary accommodation from Thursday in case the building owner does not meet the deadline.

“We will do our best to keep all residents informed on whether the safety systems are compliant.”

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The council is required by law to provide a reasonable timeframe for the owner to rectify the building and, as a result, has not immediately closed the building.

“However, should any residents feel unsafe to sleep in the building they have the right to relocate immediately until confirmation is received that the building safety systems do fully comply,” Mr Tong said.