Hi all,
Just wanted to get ur opinions on an issue we're having with our estate.
We have a corner block and our plans were drawn up leaving 1 metre between our house and the next door neighbours fence (on the right side). Due to a large block, we have about 6 metres on the other side of the house (left side) to the road corner. We have an Alfresco area, and from the end of the alfresco to the road corner, there is about 3.5 metres.
The estate have stated that for corner blocks, its min 2.5 and max 4 metres set back between the house and the fence. They have worded the contract to say that open areas (such as an alfreco) are allowable encroachments (infringments) of this rule.
What they have done is told our builder that we have to move th house (plans) to make it that our block is in the "building envelope" exactly 2.5 metre set back.
What we want to know is that with the wording of the contract, and our alfresco being well within the 2.5 - 4m setback rule, do we have a leg to stand on?
Fiancee has left a msg for the girl at the estate, but just wanted to get ur opinions...sorry for the long post....hope everyone understands it!!
Thanks
Thuy
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Browse Forums Building A New House Re: eekk help! 2Apr 21, 2008 5:27 pm Thuy, we have similar requirements in our estate for corner blocks. Ours is a corner block but the difference is our reqm't is 2m from the boundary and 4m from the corner point of the block (which for us in on a 45 deg angle to the front of the property).
We had to move our house back 30cm to be compliant. You can ask for your situation to be assessed on it's individual merits with the developer, but usually they don't budge on those things.... Is it a huge deal if you are moved back .5m? All you can do it is try to work it through with both builder and developer.... Good Luck!!  Re: eekk help! 3Apr 21, 2008 5:36 pm Hi !!
nah, its not so much the moving the .5 mt, its more the cost involved. Cos PD have told us that if we have to move the house, we have to pay for another soil test, and if there are any other site costs, that we'll have to pay for it.... we fixed our site cost, but they say they fixed it based on where the house is now, and if we move the location, it has to be done all over again!! >.< so im worried about all this additional costs that we mite have to fork up!! hope this gets fixed soon... Re: eekk help! 4Apr 21, 2008 5:49 pm Thuy, where abouts on the site plan were the soil tests done?
Honestly is .5m going to that big an issue? What soil type do you have? I can't see it changing dramatically in .5m? Go to the developer/council and push your case and then stand firm with PD... Seriously, it's not your issue if PD have sited your house incorrectly and not in line with the council/developers requirements. Unless YOU specified where the house was going to be situated, i think the fault ****** with PD for positioning the house in the wrong spot and subsequently testing in the wrong spots????? II'd stand firm in that instance, let us know how you go?  Re: eekk help! 5Apr 21, 2008 5:52 pm Not building in an estate but shouldn't the builder know about the estate requirements beforehand? Re: eekk help! 6Apr 21, 2008 5:56 pm  sammyNot building in an estate but shouldn't the builder know about the estate requirements beforehand? SPOT ON ! That's what they're paid for - to liase with the relevant authorities. They're just trying to see how much they can get away with/
Stand your ground  Built the Eden Brae Cambridge 34 Family with Boston Corner Facade Re: eekk help! 7Apr 21, 2008 5:59 pm Thanks guys!
yea, we'll have to really fight it out...or prepare to anyway....haha yea, well we would have thought that they would know all this stuff, and do it accordingly...but good point P, will have a talk to the builders to see what happened there....
will keep u posted  Re: eekk help! 8Apr 21, 2008 6:00 pm what is it with PD and their soil tests?
I had a soil test done on my block and they told me that they wanted to do another one because the people next door had dumped a small amount of soil (we are talking a few wheelbarrows here) on my block and that would affect the soil test. They bore 3 holes to check the soil type - if you move the house 0.5M does that mean they drill new holes 0.5m in another direction? PD can be so beurocratic sometimes, they seem to use soil tests on their customers like a wooden spoon. I'd call their bluff - it's early days yet and you haven't signed the contract. They changed my site/excavation details 3 times after I singed my contract ( their decision) so it shouldn't be that big a deal to them. Re: eekk help! 9Apr 21, 2008 6:01 pm  NewbiesCos PD have told us that if we have to move the house, we have to pay for another soil test, and if there are any other site costs, that we'll have to pay for it.... Sorry but that's just baloney from the builder, they take a sample at depth and they make a geotechnical interpretation on what sort of foundation you have. Which they already know because they have built in the estate. Most estates have the same foundations throughout it doesn't change with just 0.5 metres ! ! ! ! ! Even for a major engineering project you wouldn't worry about 10's of metres let along 0.5 metres ! ! ! ! And I'm sure when you handed them the title it would have referred to covenants which dictate house siting.... Makes me  with some of the stuff builders try on....
Apologies.....comments like that from builders really tick me off...can you tell... mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard Re: eekk help! 10Apr 21, 2008 6:03 pm Sorry for the rant...I'm calm now..... mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard Re: eekk help! 11Apr 21, 2008 6:04 pm eee nope, thats the thing, we have signed the contract....we signed everything, and then the estate called us to tell us that our plans weren't approved and so we spoke to PD and here is where we are....
i'm not sure who to be at....PD or estate? hehe
i just hope this can be sorted out without lots of faces...heheRe: eekk help! 12Apr 21, 2008 6:12 pm It's OK I'm Zen now....
It's not your fault...you give them the title with all covenant's they know the rules the developer has laid out (whether the covenants are right or wrong is irrelevant), they design accordingly, if they muck it up, it's not your fault......they are the one's who are accountable.... As others have said hold your ground....maybe it's a test.... mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard Re: eekk help! 13Apr 21, 2008 6:19 pm hehe Thanks!! don't worry, i'm pretty at ttimes too....just not on the forum yet!! hehe
yea, now that i think about it, PD really should have known this type of stuff before they drew all the plans and stuff....grrr anyway, will see what they come back with. Thanks for you feedback!!  ** Update ** 14May 05, 2008 6:08 pm Hey everyone!
Just thought i'd let you know that Stockland approved our plans! We got lots of advice and realised that Stockland's contract wasn't clear, and that we shouldn't have to move our house, cos PD was right We were ready to fight it out....and then last week, Stockland called my dear fiancee and said that they "reviewed our case, and decided to approve the plans!" woo hoo!! ...so holding our ground really did work!!! yea!!!Re: eekk help! 15May 05, 2008 6:32 pm Good work...a win for the little guy! mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard Re: eekk help! 19May 05, 2008 9:31 pm Great to hear that everything's sorted out now..
We're also in a corner block - from Stockland too! They're pretty reasonable when it comes to adhering to the design guidelines. Finally you'll start with your build! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Built the Nevada 42 Next project - landscaping! Have you considered Dark Colors for the first floor (the ones above the garage) - it could help highlight the fascade. I would also encourage you to consider Large Glass… 8 4295 if the wall failed due to his trees, i'd be chasing him for the cost of the new wall 14 6520 In general, I wouldn't compromise the design to try and make it easier to fit a copy and paste house. Like AFALDT and jas25t we did a custom design to suit the block: … 4 3618 |
