Nothing on Council File ? / :) ??

[Bluekiwi]

Okay looking at buying a house but the council property bag is empty.
Nothing on LIM either.

In Archives there is just a record of a building permits in 1955 and 1974.

What does this mean, are there any legal issues with this ?

It looks like it hasnt been touched since 1974.

We dont really have any plan's to make changes.
But as there are no plans on file you can basically do what you like cant you ???

[Leftette]

Incorrect. It means that what you have currently is fine and the council can't interfere, but if you make any changes that require permits etc, then they can ask that you bring parts of the house associated with your change up to code. It's a fuzzy line where it's drawn, and probably depends on the stickler for the rules that you get on the day.

[Bluekiwi]

Incorrect. It means that what you have currently is fine and the council can't interfere, but if you make any changes that require permits etc, then they can ask that you bring parts of the house associated with your change up to code. It's a fuzzy line where it's drawn, and probably depends on the stickler for the rules that you get on the day.

What changes ???

All we did was paint and carpet the rooms and decks

[Leftette]

"IF you make any changes". Comprehension, BK, comprehension.

[Bluekiwi]

"IF you make any changes". Comprehension, BK, comprehension.

Honestly we didnt make any changes, it was always like that.

[John the builder]

It is an existing house relax

there was no requirement to keep records prior to 1992 and councils lost files through flood fire and whatever.

you could get a safe and sanitary report woth plans to formalise the current stiuation but as L says you dont need to

[Ahar]

It is an existing house relax

there was no requirement to keep records prior to 1992 and councils lost files through flood fire and whatever.

There was a fire in the old council building in Northcote back in the mid 70's.....quite a few records were lost which probably explains your situation.

I have a property in the same situation.....worked out fine for me...put in French doors where there was once a window.........fitted exactly into the space where the window was.... all done by a professional builder

And the council can't prove they weren't always there

[Wayne]

And the council can't prove they weren't always there

So long as any changes use materials in keeping with the rest of the property you will be fine.

[John the builder]

you still need a consent for consent=able work now but the council would struggle to prove what was done since the original and didnt have a permit/consent up to time file was lost?

Safe and Sanitary report still a good idea with current plans included to tidy up the file

Councils have a habit of issuing Notices to Fix's and making owners prove their innocence which means no evidence in a lost file to support current owner either?

[motivated]

Treat the lack of a council file as a gift

[PTILoveYou]

Love properties with no files or lack of drawings in the property file.

You can add bedrooms and make alterations etc without much of an issue =)

Strictly speaking you should get the changes reflected via a CoA or building consent, but for buy and hold, I won't bother myself.

PS: Adding a second kitchen is a no-no though.

[elguapo]

PS: Adding a second kitchen is a no-no though.

Why is that?

[PTILoveYou]

Why is that?

Because I think councils won't like that when they find out a dwelling has more than 1 kitchen.

[elguapo]

Because I think councils won't like that when they find out a dwelling has more than 1 kitchen.

You can have as many kitchens as you like, what has the council liking it got to do with it?

[PTILoveYou]

You can have as many kitchens as you like, what has the council liking it got to do with it?

Well it's not something I will try though.

Also insurance companies won't like that either...