Browse Forums Owner Builder Forum 1 Feb 03, 2017 6:41 pm Hi all, Hubby and I have some ideas and we aren't sure about what we can and can't do as far as building.We have our deposit together soon. We want to buy land and then build a container house ( temporary), small place whilst we pay off a portion? of the land ( not sure how much is required) until the bank allows us to then borrow and build a larger container house ( turning the first one in to accommodation later). My first question is, can we borrow the money for the first container house or do we have to pay x amount off the land before we can do that...possibly live on the block in a big circus tent in the meantime lol. My other question is for hubby, who did a lot of renovating and building overseas, this also includes plumbing, electrical, roofing, flooring, the works all of which someone would come and sign off on so he did the whole lot himself, legally. I told him he can't do that here???????????????? and he said sure ya can lol Re: How much can we do? 2Feb 03, 2017 8:43 pm You don't mention where you intend to buy. Different councils have different rules. 1. I doubt any bank would lend money for your first container house. The council probably wouldn't let you live in it either unless it had stuff like shower, toilet and kitchen. 2. No he can't (internal or external plumbing, electrical). Doubt tradies would let him help as it's their licence and insurance on the line if he messed up. Sorry to sound so negative for your first post. Re: How much can we do? 3Feb 04, 2017 10:05 am It might sound negative.. but most of your points are NO.. Not all councils are happy with container house. Even is they are ok, you still need to comply to a lot of regulations and energy rating would be a killer. Depends on how big your land is, you might not be able to have 2 houses on the one block at later stage. Council might not approve it. Even if they approve it, you can't live on the site while building the second house, at least not for suburban areas. You can do almost anything for your house except for plumbing and electrical. Check legal requirements first. No tradies would let others stuff around with their licenses.. so don't expect someone will sign anything off with your hubby doing all the work. Re: How much can we do? 4Feb 04, 2017 12:19 pm We will be looking at th Riverina area NSW, or the Victorian side around Yackandandah as we are right on the border.Rural area. When you say he can do almost anything ( except for plumbing and electrical)? Can you please elaborate? Does this include stumps, roof, construction? I have seen a container house and several shed type homes out near Yack so i'm thinking that may not be an obstacle.I forgot to mention we will be off the grid as far as we are allowed to be off the grid. Do we have to meet certain energy ratings? this is the first I've heard.Our home will be passive and with design will not need much heating or cooing. As far as living on site, you mean that if we want to build a second dwelling we will have to move out of the first dwelling and completely off the property? This is not looking good lol,maybe living in rent is more realist for me. snowing It might sound negative.. but most of your points are NO.. Not all councils are happy with container house. Even is they are ok, you still need to comply to a lot of regulations and energy rating would be a killer. Depends on how big your land is, you might not be able to have 2 houses on the one block at later stage. Council might not approve it. Even if they approve it, you can't live on the site while building the second house, at least not for suburban areas. You can do almost anything for your house except for plumbing and electrical. Check legal requirements first. No tradies would let others stuff around with their licenses.. so don't expect someone will sign anything off with your hubby doing all the work. Re: How much can we do? 5Feb 04, 2017 9:43 pm Plumbing, including roof drainage and electrical is no. So is waterproofing unless you've done the training. Everything else doesn't require to be signed off by a licensed trade. Theres a thread here with a guy doing a container house. He'd give you an idea or two. 6 star energy rating. Has to be done by a licensed person and is required by council. Passive design will help achieve 6 stars but will need to be designed properly. If you owner build you can't do 2 properties on the one piece of land. Even if it is 60 acres. I'm not sure about the rules if one is only temporary. Re: How much can we do? 6Feb 04, 2017 10:51 pm Since you are in rural area, speak to your council to see if they allow for temporary accommodation such as container house. If it is a portable house or one that will be demolished after finished your own house and you are building your new house at same time, they might be ok with it. All plumbing and electrical work requires licensed plumber / electrician to sign off. So no one will let your hubby to do the work as the risk is too high for them. For waterproof, you can do that for areas like bathroom.. but that needed to be inspected before it can be tiled on. The first thing you should do is to obtain the owner builder guideline for your state. It will tell you what you need. That would be the first thing you should do. good luck! Re: How much can we do? 7Feb 05, 2017 10:43 am Some councils do allow temporary dwellings onsite while building, but they come with their own requirements. Somerset for example has not only minimum requirements for the temp dwelling, but you must show you have planned and can finance the main building. 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