Stalled construction of a Mount Maunganui house could be about to resume after fed-up neighbours petitioned the city council to do something about it.

Residents living close to the Rita Street house lodged the petition in January. And while the council voted to take no action, that stance could be about to change.

The incomplete house has stalled for nearly six years. Photo: Supplied.

City council staff tried to contact the owner in January after the petition was lodged, while in February the owner referred the city council to an engineer.

Council staff then visited the house and insist it's fenced off in compliance with the New Zealand building code for construction or demolition site hazards. The house is largely closed in, but the first floor is propped up by Acrow props in some areas.

Environmental Health staff visited the house last month and found no evidence of rodents. There was no rubbish, construction waste or long grass on the site, and nothing that would attract rodents.

The engineer is dealing with structural issues and part of the recommendation approved this week is to continue a building consent process that begun on March 31 to bring the building up to current building code requirements.

Neighbours of the unfinished house at 32B Rita Street say the building, which is subject to a leaky building claim, has been neglected for nearly five years.

They say the building is a risk to health and safety and an eyesore which affects the value of their surrounding properties. They want it either demolished or brought up to standard.

However, the Ministry of business Innovation and Employment informed the city council in December 2014 that the weather tightness claim had been settled.

The details of the settlement are confidential and a settlement does not mean the building has been repaired. Further details were discussed in the confidential part of the meeting.

Neighbour Hans Kerkhof says the state of the house could affect the value of his property by tens of thousands of dollars.

The Cambridge-based real estate agents says while it was originally intended as a retirement home, it is used only as a holiday house and weekend retreat.

The council hired an engineer to inspect the site and found that while the building isn't likely to collapse, the site itself presents many dangers. The fence was open at the time of his visit, and anyone of any age could have entered.