Hi all
I bought my first and current house back in 2006 and have just started thinking about doing some alterations. The house was built in 1975 and is in Whitby, Porirua.
I wanted to turn a downstairs rumpus room into a bedroom (which I thought would be easy enough as my Father In Law is a registered builder) but when I went to check the council records, I can't see any evidence of there being a permit for converting the 2 carports into a garage and a rumpus room. I'm now worried that I'll open up a can of worms if I ask the council any questions about it. Plus I don't really want to spend good money on making alterations, only to find that the council tells me it has to all come down.
I found on file at the council a permit for a wood burner fire from 1982 and that had a hand drawn floor plan of the house included. It showed a rumpus and single garage on the lower level and then showed the proposed changes for the fireplace (which incidentally was long gone by the time we bought.) I am wondering given that the council obviously sighted those plans and signed off on the fire, that it would indicate that they were aware of the rumpus and garage (it's not like you can miss them!)
My question is, is it possible the council has lost some records between 1975 - 1982? Incidentally, it does seem that there are a couple of other houses nearby which might have had similar alterations and I couldn't see permits for them either. Should I be concerned about not being able to find any permits for the change from two carports to a garage and rumpus? (Currently I am concerned of course as I don't know any better.) Given that it was pre 1991, will that make any difference?
What advice could anyone give me about how to move forward on this? Obviously when I come to sell it could be an issue for me (not that I am planning on selling yet.)
I'm just a bit reluctant to approach the council about it right now as I could open up a can of worms.
Any advice appreciated.
Cheers
Larry
I bought my first and current house back in 2006 and have just started thinking about doing some alterations. The house was built in 1975 and is in Whitby, Porirua.
I wanted to turn a downstairs rumpus room into a bedroom (which I thought would be easy enough as my Father In Law is a registered builder) but when I went to check the council records, I can't see any evidence of there being a permit for converting the 2 carports into a garage and a rumpus room. I'm now worried that I'll open up a can of worms if I ask the council any questions about it. Plus I don't really want to spend good money on making alterations, only to find that the council tells me it has to all come down.
I found on file at the council a permit for a wood burner fire from 1982 and that had a hand drawn floor plan of the house included. It showed a rumpus and single garage on the lower level and then showed the proposed changes for the fireplace (which incidentally was long gone by the time we bought.) I am wondering given that the council obviously sighted those plans and signed off on the fire, that it would indicate that they were aware of the rumpus and garage (it's not like you can miss them!)
My question is, is it possible the council has lost some records between 1975 - 1982? Incidentally, it does seem that there are a couple of other houses nearby which might have had similar alterations and I couldn't see permits for them either. Should I be concerned about not being able to find any permits for the change from two carports to a garage and rumpus? (Currently I am concerned of course as I don't know any better.) Given that it was pre 1991, will that make any difference?
What advice could anyone give me about how to move forward on this? Obviously when I come to sell it could be an issue for me (not that I am planning on selling yet.)
I'm just a bit reluctant to approach the council about it right now as I could open up a can of worms.
Any advice appreciated.
Cheers
Larry
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