A building consent lapses and is of no effect if the building work to which it relates does not commence within 12 months after the date of issue of the building consent, or any further period that the building consent authority may allow. If building work does commence within 12 months, then the owner has 2 years from the date of the granting of the building consent to complete the building work before the building consent authority will follow up on the building consent and decide whether or not to issue a code compliance certificate. A building consent authority can agree to an extension to the 2-year period.