Browse Forums Real Estate 1 Oct 06, 2011 8:23 pm Hi there, I'm in the process of selling my highset 1970s brick house in Brisbane. The buyer has come back, via their solicitors, saying the hand rail on the external back stairs doesn't meet current building codes and we need to rectify it. As this is the original stair rail from the 1970s it doesn't need to be compliant with current laws and I don't see why I need to change it. It is the same as the neighbours and many others in the area. It is only about 90cm high, and I think the current standard is 1m. Any advice on how to handle this? Any tips on the cheapest possible way to add an extra 10cm on my rail? It is 4m diagonally up, extending a further 1m horzontally, then a right angle for another 1m to the side of the house. I have been given an estimate of $1200 to supply a new steel rail / ballustrade compliant with current laws. Cheers, Mick. Negotiations following Building and Pest inspection 2Oct 06, 2011 8:44 pm I would question this. If you were selling a 1800's farmhouse, would you be required to bring it up to the building standards of 2011? It sounds to me like the new owners are wanting you to pay for their renovation work. It's just me but I am inclined to tell the solicitors that if the new owners want the work done, they are most welcome to do it at their expense after handover. Presumably they bought the house from you with full knowledge of the handrails existence, so why is it your responsibility to change it, particularly if the contract of sale makes no mention of bringing every part of the property up to 2011 building standards prior to handover. Course, I say all this as someone who has no knowledge of Queensland real estate law so it might well pay to get more competent advice than what I have offered. Re: Negotiations following Building and Pest inspection 5Oct 09, 2011 6:54 am Thanks for the responses. The official notification of the issue came through an hour before the sale was to be unconditional and while I disagreed with the buyers reasoning and argument, I took a small amount off the purchase price to avoid losing the sale and having to put up with more real estate agents, open for inspections, etc. In a more buoyant market I probably would have told them to stick it, and if they gave me more time I probably would have sought advice whether their reasons legitimately allowed them to get out of the purchase on the building & pest clause. Cheers, Mick 4 1852 Hi group, have some damage to the door frame and skirting board. It's a side door to the laundry area. Only has a security door. I had a termite inspection (note drill… 0 5053 Brass fly wire, you will need to cut it, shape it and jam it into brick slots 1 7464 |