Uncertified housing/private residence extension

Hi,

Can’t find rules online about housing extensions for Victoria. Looking at an investment property currently in south east Melbourne. They have plastered around the old awning, added electricity and a sink and currently have someone living in there. The agent has said that as it has been there for over 7 years, they don’t need certification/approval now.

just wanted to know what the deal was before we made an offer? This will obviously affect bank valuation/legal implications. Thanks

 

I assume by awning you mean porch or verandah?

Call Council and ask them when it was done, if they have a record of it and if there was a permit / if one was needed.

 

So they have converted this into a “bungalow”/ another room with sink and electricity.

I called the council and they have said that the agent needs to contact the owner to provide a permit which I know they don’t have.

A building inspection will 100% be done but I was just wondering about the legality of this as it has been there for >7 years and I have been told if it is this long then the council can’t really do anything about it. I can’t find the rules anywhere

 

My bungalow in Melbourne was built in 1970 and there is a building permit for it.

Requirements depend on when it was built. I hadn’t heard about any ‘7 year‘ rule.

There may be no records or there may be some.

Just call Council and ask. Councils have been taking aerial photos well before google maps...

 

Yes I called Dandenong council and they said to call the agent to ask the owner for a permit. The council wasn’t very helpful

 

That seems odd. I had no trouble getting help when I asked for a house in a nearby council.

Call back tomorrow and be really polite and ask again. Ask the vendor too of course...

 

Time doesn’t matter if you won’t be able to get insurance for an illegally built structure.

What if the electricals in that room start a fire? Or a tradie/visitor trips and falls inside, sustaining a bad injury? You’re unlikely to be covered by building and public liability insurance if the room was illegally built.