It is surprising to know that most people when they are ready to sign on the dotted line for the purchase of a property have never considered the regulations that are in place by the local council.
This really should not be the case as they can have a significant effect on what you are able to do with you property and the future re-sale value.
So before you finalise the purchase of a property here are some points to consider.
“It’s my house; I can do whatever I want with it!”
Sorry, but no. Council regulations are there, primarily, to ensure that local, state and federal building controls are enforced to ensure that:
- structures are safe,
- that heritage listings are preserved and
- that the value of property’s in the area continue to rise.
“What sort of things can council regulate?”
Both state and local governments can affect the regulations on your property and the list of things it can affect is long and varied. Here is a short list to keep in mind:
- Swimming Pools
- Materials used on the building or renovation of the property
- Additional structures
- Trees and plants
- Noise
- Older building may be heritage listed
- Pets
- Fencing
- Usage of land
- Sigange
This list is not exhaustive however, there are a great many things that council/government can oversee.
“I know all about the regulations, I’ve already had a house elsewhere”
Council regulations are not the same from council to council. Each council has its different ways to ensure that they preserve the area and how best to please the community. Therefore it is important not to assume that the regulations will automatically be the same.
Make sure you contact the local council to discuss what you would be looking to do or visit their website where they have the most relevant data.
