Has the Local Council Approved Your Property's Structures?

Are You Protected from Unapproved Structures?

Sure, the pool, carport or extension on the house of your dreams may look to be on the up-and-up; before signing on the dotted line, though, you're going to want to make sure of it. The Standard REIQ Contract does not have any sort of provisions concerning whether or not structures on a property must be approved by the Local Council. In other words, if you sign the contract - then discover that the Local Council has not approved an existing structure - you are going to be out of luck.

Options for Protecting Yourself -

Since the standard contract does not protect the buyer against unapproved structures, it is up to the buyer to protect himself. Even though your conveyancing firm will know the process, it always is beneficial to have a personal understanding of your available options. One of the ways to handle this situations is through adding a Special Condition to the property contract which clearly stipulates that all structures on the property must be approved by the Local Council. A time limit can be specified as well.

Another method to protect yourself against unapproved structures is to consider making some of the enquiries yourself before the actual signing of the property contract. If you zero in on a property that has a pool, pool fencing, a pergola or other structures on it, you can check with the Local Council to see if they are approved or not. If not, you can inform the seller that you won't be signing a contract until they have been approved.

Be Smart When Buying a House -

Although there are many things to keep in mind when buying a house, it is important not to overlook some of them in order to get through the process more quickly. Rushing along can cause mistakes to be made - and you'll often end up paying for them. An experienced conveyancing solicitor is an invaluable tool against making costly mistakes, and can guide you about things like handling structures on a property. Always hire a conveyancer when looking for a new home. That way, the chances of signing a contract for a property with unapproved structures will be significantly fewer.

About the Author:

Ownit Conveyancing www.ownitconveyancing.com/ recommend to ask your conveyancing Gold Coast solicitor to add a special provision about any structures on the property that you'll be buying. A part of any conveyancing Brisbane company's work is to ensure that the contract is in good order, and a provision about structures can be very beneficial.