Can I maintain my fire escape on my rental property doing the…

You can do the work yourself, but you may need to check with the City plan whether the work you have done complies with the code. You could call an architect or consultant planner who could also help explain.

There are certain types of work which require a certificate from the appropriate trade, such as electrical work and plumbing and other trades. Much of the requirements is in the Building Codes for the local authorities, and also in the Building Act which says at s 17 "

"17 All building work must comply with building code All building work must comply with the building code to the extent required by this Act, whether or not a building consent is required in respect of that building work."

The effect of this is that you must then turn to the building code and see what it says about what you intend doing, and the standards which apply. Section 19 says that "

How compliance with building code is established(1) A building consent authority must accept any or all of the following as establishing compliance with the building code:

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    (a) compliance with regulations referred to in section 20:

    
    
  
  

  
  

  
  
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    (b) compliance with the provisions of a compliance document:

    
    
  
  

  
  

  
  
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    (c) a determination to that effect made by the chief executive under subpart 1 of Part 3:

    
    
  
  

  
  

  
  
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    (ca) a current national multiple-use approval issued under section 30F, if every relevant condition in that national multiple-use approval is met:

    
    
  
  

  
  

  
  
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    (d) a current product certificate issued under section 269, if every relevant condition in that product certificate is met:

    
    
  
  

  
  

  
  
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    (e) to the extent that compliance with a requirement imposed by regulations made under the Electricity Act 1992 or the Gas Act 1992 is compliance with any particular provisions of the building code, a certificate issued under any of those regulations to the effect that any energy work complies with those requirements.

    
    
  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  (2) In considering whether something complies with the building code, a building consent authority or, as the case may be, a regional authority—

  
  

  
  
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    (a) must have regard to any relevant warning issued, and ban declared, under section 26(2); and

    
    
  
  

  
  

  
  
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    (b) may have regard to any guidance information published by the chief executive under section 175.

    
    
  
  

  
  
  
  

So you will need to apply for a building consent and describe what you intend doing. The council will tell you what compliance certificates will be needed, and that will further identify if you can do the work yourself.

I am sorry this is a long and technical answer, but this is the way it works and is why many employ building professionals.

I do not think the fire escape is a structural element, but is a relevant health and safety requirement. In addition the Fire Service may have to sign off your work. They will make a report as to the fire safety issues and whether it complies. This will inturn make the work comply with the building permit, as this will be issued subject to the Fire Report

There are also Fire Consultants who could give more precise advice.