- This topic has 1 reply, 2 voices, and was last updated 8 years, 6 months ago by .
-
Topic
-
Twelve months after a rogue renovator started major alterations, removal of walls and re-configuring of the floor plan without any approvals whatsoever, we eventually approved the By-Laws subject to appropriate Council/Compliance approvals prior. Work recommenced very shortly after the EGM but six months down the track we still have not seen any notification from Council or any Private Certifier.
Can this By-Law be considered null and void? Please advise what “status” the by-law can now be considered.
Many thanks!
-
Replies
-
The by-law isn’t “null and void” but it may have been breached. Did it say that the commencement or resumption of work was contingent on council approvals? Or just that approval of the work was dependent on council DAs? If the latter, the rogue renovator could argue that all he or she was seeking was approval after the work had been done.
Any work that involves the reconfiguration of the rooms in an apartment requires council approval. My next call would be to the council’s planning department asking them to investigate. They can issue a ‘stop work’ notice if need be.
Failing that, you could apply directly to NCAT (no need to go to Fair Trading on this) for an interim order that all work cease until appropriate approvals have been granted. Go to this page to find the links to the necessary forms. You apply for an interim order under Section 231 of the Act.
If the rogue developer is smart, they will get the builder to say this is a complying development – which means no council involvement. Don’t fall for it and if they try it on, tell the builder you will report them (not the owner) to Fair Trading for fraudulent behaviour.
If you want to be alerted when anyone replies to your posts or responds to this topic, please register and login, then you will be able to subscribe to the topic. The opinions offered in these Forum posts and replies are not intended to be taken as legal advice. Readers with serious issues should consult experienced strata lawyers. NB: Longer threads may spill over to additional pages - look for the numbers on the bottom right, under the last post.
Our rogue renovator has said he’s replacing kitchen cupboards. Maybe so, but the amount of noise made (some of it at night) clearly shows that much more is happening than replacing kitchen cupboards. We think he intends to put the unit on the market as soon as he’s finished. What can we do to ensure an engineer inspects BEFORE sale for anything that might jeopardise the structure?