Flatpack homes are not the solution to high-density inner-city living, the OneRoof Radio show has been told.
In the last year, Bunnings Trade has sold more than 50 flat-pack homes, with prices ranging from $69,000 to $91,278.
Property commentator Alistair Helm told the show on Newstalk ZB that he believes modular construction is the future of homes in New Zealand.
"I think they're the kind of things that would add to accommodation facilities of a second dwelling outside of the major cities," he said.
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>>> Scroll down to hear Helm's full interview on the OneRoof Radio Show
"I don't think this is a solution in itself to high-density living in the city from that point of view, that will be solved by what I hope is off-site modular construction which is the way of the future."
Bunnings is marketing its flatpack homes under a brand it owns, Clever Living Co., advertised as "homes that move to you."
A Bunnings spokesperson told the Herald all packages include the appliances, the kitchen, light fittings, bathroom, timber frames, roofing and other building materials.
Floor coverings and onsite services like water and power are excluded.
A new flat-pack home being built in Onehunga, Auckland. Photo / Dean Purcell
OneRoof editor Owen Vaughan said: "While the $91,278 price of the flat pack is encouraging it does not include GST or earthworks, cost of the land, consenting costs by a territorial authority or connections to services including power, sewage and stormwater.
"Buyers who think the flat pack is a silver bullet to affordability challenges within the housing market should factor those extra and sizeable costs into their calculations.
"In New Zealand, land, not the house, is the most expensive component when buying a property."
Helm told the OneRoof Radio Show a major component to the popularity of flatpack homes is the worldwide movement towards small homes.
"People are starting to looking at how they can live with less space, consume less, acquire less, all those sorts of things," he said.
"Flatpack has the perception that isn't particularly nice but if you look at it as modular, construction off-site and then bought on site is the logical and smart way to build."
Meanwhile, New Zealand has an affection towards craft homes which are constructed with lumber from the ground up, Helm said.
"You got to Australia, the UK, America, a group home builder will build 150 A-style houses that don't differ in any respect.
"You might get a different tile in the bathroom but they are identical and stamped out right across that development.
"Whereas in New Zealand, number four wants this style and number six wants this style, they may all be 220 square metres or 120 square metres but they're all craft built by craftsmen and they do cost $5000 a square metre."
