Building Underneath Queenslander?

Just looking for advice on buying a Queenslander to then build underneath, has anyone done this and have any knowledge of the process and estimate costs? I know it must be legal height underneath otherwise must be raised, there is also the flood risk which I guess is why a lot of these houses were built this way in the first place. Does anyone have any estimates of costs to build underneath, with and without raising the house (have seen a few that are already legal height)

 

whats the point? (extra valuation, rental income, granny flat) etc
Makes an impact on the question asked

 

Rental income and valuation hopefully I guess

 

Council approval needed - I believe they wont allow it in flood prone areas. Downstairs must not be a separate dwelling.

 

Wow, that is expensive, I was looking at one to possibly convert to a share house, its legal height underneath, 3 bedrooms upstairs maybe add 4-5 underneath, but doesn't look like it would be worth it.

 

I see, where I've been looking there seem to be a lot of older qlder's with downstairs converted.. some legal height some not.. some classed as share houses some not, seems to be a grey area.

 

No, it’s not a grey area at all.

See above post from. @wylie

Illegal to rent to more than 5 unrelated people in a share house. BCC are very strict in enforcing.
Marg

 

I mean grey in enforcing in some of the other areas I've looked, not just Brisbane.

 

After the 2011 floods, the BCC allowed flood affected houses to be raised higher than previously and even built under if the lower ground floor was going to be above the flood height. This is evident a lot in Deagan and Shorncliffe near my place.

On the other hand, if you want a house that you can legally rent to two separate parties, then you are looking into suburbs outside the BCC LGA - Logan and Moreton Bay, for example. You will need to cost fire safety and other insulation between the two occupiable areas.

 

I have found a couple more properties that are legal height and already built in underneath however there are no rooms/ kitchen in underneath just open space for business and/ or garages, how much would I be looking at to convert these to rooms, maybe turn into a sharehouse/ add a kitchen maybe etc.?

 

Also some old QLDERS have been reclassified as commercial, does this make it more complicated to build under?

 

You want to see what any council says as development approval will be needed. The fire regs and noise issues for two separate habitable areas will be substantial. Just because you own it doesnt mean you are allowed to change it

 

I raised my queenslander in a flood overlay area and built under and extended back.

Unless you have the skills to do it yourself and a lot of spare time. Move on to the next idea.

 

Thanks, I came to this conclusion as well, not worth the cost especially for places not even raised, and not something I could do myself. I have come across another couple of properties that are already built under and legal height however they are offices underneath so would need to change the layout/ add bedrooms (already have toilets), would this sort of thing also not be worth the costs involved? Any idea how much something like this would be?

 

Ive got no idea. Often what is built under isnt legal. So double check that.

Post pics and what you want to change if you want more of an idea of cost.