Question 1

How is the insulation and energy efficiency?

Accepted Answer

Our standard units use high-density EPS or rock wool sandwich panels. Beyond that, we can custom-upgrade your insulation to align with New Zealand's latest H1 Energy Efficiency standards, ensuring you stay warm in winter and cool in summer while reducing energy bills.

Question 2

Are the homes optimized for New Zealand's climate?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. Designed with New Zealand's high UV index and coastal environments in mind, our external claddings undergo rigorous anti-corrosion and weather-tightness treatments. The roofs are engineered to handle high wind zones and heavy rainfall.

Question 3

Are Expandable Units watertight?

Accepted Answer

Weathertightness depends on the unit and the installation together. The units are designed and built to be weathertight — robust flashing and sealing throughout — but that only holds once the unit is expanded, sealed and finished correctly on site, on a base that drains properly. Weathertightness is one of the most consequential things in New Zealand building, so we won't give you a blanket guarantee over an installation and a site we haven't seen. Have it installed by an experienced team, and talk to us about your site.

Question 4

Can I customize the design or layout?

Accepted Answer

Every home is built to our Deluxe specification — engineered stone benchtops, SPC flooring and double glazing as standard. You can further customize with individual upgrades (additional rooms, decks, kitchen upgrades and more) for the ultimate experience. Interior finishes, window placements, and bathroom fittings can all be tailored to suit your lifestyle and budget. Ask us which certifications the fittings on your chosen specification carry — we'll confirm it in writing on your quote rather than generalise here.

Question 5

Can your expandable homes be used as a Granny Flat or Minor Dwelling in NZ?

Accepted Answer

Yes — granny flats and minor dwellings are what most of our customers use them for. The Comfort 30 is about 57m², which is inside the 70m² floor area limit in the granny flat exemption, and every unit is self-contained with its own kitchen, bathroom and entrance. Floor area and self-containment are only part of it. Whether your build is actually exempt, and whether it meets the minor dwelling definition in your district plan, depends on your site — boundary setbacks, siting, and who carries out the structural work. Your council is the one who confirms that. See our Granny Flat page for the conditions.

Question 6

Are your units considered Portable Homes, Modular Houses, or Transportable Homes?

Accepted Answer

Yes — our expandable homes fit all three categories. They are portable because they are delivered on a trailer and can be relocated. They are modular because they are factory-built in standardized sections and assembled on-site. They are transportable because they ship as a compact unit and expand to full size. This flexibility means they can serve as portable cabins, transportable homes, relocatable homes, or modular houses depending on your needs.

Question 7

Can an expandable home be used as a Tiny Home or Backyard Cabin?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. The Studio (25m²) is our most compact model — ideal as a tiny home, backyard cabin, or home office. The Comfort 20 (37m²) provides more space while still fitting in most backyards. All models are engineered for NZ wind, snow and seismic loads, fully insulated, and include kitchen and bathroom — making them genuine tiny homes, not just sheds or sleepouts.  What you are permitted to do with the unit depends on your site and your council, so talk to us before you commit to a particular use.

Question 8

What's the difference between your expandable homes and Container Homes?

Accepted Answer

Unlike repurposed shipping container homes, our units are brand new and purpose-built. They use container dimensions for efficient global shipping but are engineered from the ground up with proper insulation, ventilation, and weather-tightness. This means better energy efficiency, no chemical residue concerns, and structural engineering to NZ wind, snow and seismic loads — at a comparable or lower price than most container home conversions.

Question 9

Do you offer Affordable Homes for farms or rural properties in NZ?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our expandable homes are an affordable farm accommodation solution starting from $28,000. They are popular for farm worker housing, rural holiday cabins, and additional dwelling space on lifestyle blocks. The units are delivered complete and can be installed on timber piles or concrete pads — ideal for rural sites across Waikato, Auckland, and nationwide.

Question 10

What kind of foundation is required?

Accepted Answer

Foundations must provide a level, structurally sound base. Depending on your site's soil and slope, common choices include engineered timber piles or a concrete pad. Even under the 2026 exemption, ensuring your foundation is stable and compliant, especially concerning natural hazards, is a key homeowner responsibility.

Question 11

What is the installation process? Does it include utility connections?

Accepted Answer

Our team or your builder will unfold and secure the structural module on your foundation. Note that New Zealand law strictly requires all final water, drainage, and electrical connections to be made by a locally Registered Plumber and Electrician, who must supply their respective Safety Certificates (and Records of Work) upon completion to satisfy the final sign-off.

Question 12

Can the home be moved later?

Accepted Answer

Yes! The highly modular nature of our expandable units means that they function as non-permanent structures. If you ever need to relocate, the unit can be disconnected, folded back up by professionals, and transported via base trailer or truck.

Question 13

What is the turnaround time from order to delivery?

Accepted Answer

For our standard inventory available in Auckland, delivery can be arranged within days. For custom orders, allow roughly 4 weeks in production plus 6–8 weeks of shipping to your closest major NZ port — around three months in total. The balance is due when your home arrives at the port, before pickup or delivery.

Question 14

How do payments work?

Accepted Answer

Two payments. You sign the build agreement and pay a 30% deposit, which secures your production slot and starts manufacturing. The balance is due when your home arrives at the port, before pickup or delivery. The exact schedule is confirmed in writing on your quote and build agreement — there are no progress payments through the build.

Question 15

What's included in the price — and what's quoted separately?

Accepted Answer

Listed prices are NZD and GST-inclusive, and every home is built to the Deluxe specification — the configurator prices your layout and upgrades as you go. Transport to your site and any site preparation are quoted separately, because both depend on where you are. New Zealand law requires the final water, drainage and electrical connections to be made by a locally registered plumber and electrician.

Question 16

Do you offer financial loan services?

Accepted Answer

We don't provide direct financing. We work with independent finance providers who understand the unique nature of modular and transportable homes — our finance partner in New Zealand is Nobilo Finance. Any lending is arranged directly between you and them, on their terms, and they decide what they can offer. Talk to us and we'll point you in the right direction. We're not a financial advice provider, and you're under no obligation to use them — see Disclosures at the foot of this page.

Question 17

What warranty do you provide?

Accepted Answer

We back our homes with a 3-year structural warranty and a 1-year warranty on fixtures and finishes. These sit on top of your rights under the Consumer Guarantees Act and Fair Trading Act — those apply automatically and nothing in our warranty reduces them. Your building contract states your protections in full.

Question 18

Do I need Council Approval for an Expandable Unit? (2026 Exemption Policy)

Accepted Answer

It depends on your site, and the rules changed in your favour in January 2026. Resource consent: In many Auckland planning zones (like Single House Zone), a granny flat under 65m² (excluding decks/garages) acting as a 'Minor Dwelling' secondary to your main house may not need one. The NES-DMRU standards removed the requirement for many more sites. Building consent: Since 15 January 2026, under MBIE's guidance, a new single-storey granny flat up to 70m² can be exempt — but the exemption belongs to a build that meets every one of MBIE's conditions, not to a product. See the next question for the full list. Which of these applies to your property is a question for your council. We can tell you the unit's dimensions and specification; we can't confirm your site qualifies.

Question 19

What are the specific conditions to qualify for the 2026 Exemption?

Accepted Answer

Here are the hard requirements for the exemption: • Maximum internal floor area of 70m², and single-storey. • Built with lightweight materials (e.g., roof ≤ 20kg/m², wall ≤ 220kg/m²). • It must be standalone and at least 2 metres away from any legal boundary or other residential buildings. • It must contain independent cooking and bathroom facilities. • Even though a building consent is exempt, all structural/waterproofing work must be completed by a Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP), and plumbers/electricians must provide official compliance certificates.

Question 20

Where are you up to with New Zealand Building Code compliance?

Accepted Answer

We are working towards full New Zealand Building Code compliance and are not there yet. Our plumbing and electrical systems have passed their certifications, and we are completing the remaining steps of the process.  Being exempt from a consent doesn't mean exempt from the rules — your building must still comply with the NZBC. We provide a materials and certification pack to support the LBPs in issuing the final completion certificates (Record of Work), and if your project falls outside the exemption limits we can connect you with local licensed experts to handle the council process.  For exactly where things stand for your site, come and see us in Pukekohe or give our team a call on 022 593 0090.

Guidance & FAQ

Guides & Resources

What makes a quality expandable home

Design a home that feels like yours

Ten ways to use an expandable home

From deposit to move-in

GST-free export pricing to the Pacific

The Buying Experience

Model Selection

Custom Extras

Finance Options

Agreement & Deposit

Delivery & Setup

Are your units built from used shipping containers?

1. Product Specs & Quality

2. Use Cases & Terminology

3. Site & Installation

4. Purchase, Delivery & Warranty

5. Policies & Consents