The Property Council says the public should bear some of the cost if people decide a building should be saved when it has a resource consent for demolition.
Chief executive Connal Townsend says problems arise when property owners want to demolish an older building that is not listed as heritage.
He says that if the public decides the building should be saved, there's an overwhelming sense that the property owner should be expected to carry the burden.
Mr Townsend says that view is outrageous as it is a complete infringement of a private property right.
