Heritage houses

[alpina]

hi all,

how does one go about finding out information regarding a specific heritage listed house?
For eg, we are currently looking at one to purchase and want to know exactly what we can and cannot do to it?

anyone come across this before? who does one speak to?

thanks,

julie

[geoffw]

It's usually a council issue- talk to them.

Try to look at opportunities, not just get across obstacles.

My local council has restriction on development in heritage areas.

But they also give grants to costs involved in keeping places to heritage standards (up to $1000 pa).

And, if it's a big block with redevelopment potential, when the zoning does not allow a dual occ- just make a nice little addition, then just close that single door between the old and new (you can't sell as separate, but you can let out)

[alpina]

thanks geoff,

just wasnt sure if i can just ring up the local council and ask questions about house xyz without some sort of consent from the owners. also, i thought that there might have been some sort of independent heritage board that oversees all this.

regards,

julie

[geoffw]

just wasnt sure if i can just ring up the local council and ask questions about house xyz without some sort of consent from the owners. also, i thought that there might have been some sort of independent heritage board that oversees all this.Julie,

You're not asking them about property xyz. You ask them (preferably in person- you can look at any maps etc) what their policies are in regard to abc area. And when you look at their maps for that area, try to find out what their intentions are.

In my local council area, it is the council who is on top of then heritage areas.

[alpina]

thanks geoff :)

will try this approach :)

julie

[Sunstone]

Dear Alpina,

Why the interest in a heritage house?

By buying one of those you immediately eliminate potential developer interest in the site and limit the options to change it to a "higher use" option to increase yields later.

It's good to keep ones options open. ;)

Cheers,

Sunstone.

[XBenX]

Not that you should discount the potential growth implications but from memory Julie is looking for a PPOR?

[wish-ga]

Heritage house for ppor, my dream!

<wish_ga swoons>

[geoffw]

Heritage house for ppor, my dream!

<wish_ga swoons>Ah yes. I once rented a heritage house. A terrace, in North Sydney, just around the corner from the railway station. Convenient, close, magnificent views. Rated a mention

Outside dunny, dangerous verandah- and you had to cart hot water from the outside bathroom to wash the dishes.

My room was below footpath level. I once heard someone tell his son, "If you're not careful, one day you'll end up in a place like this".

I love heritage.

[Sunstone]

Not that you should discount the potential growth implications but from memory Julie is looking for a PPOR?

Dear XBenX,

Even with a PPOR the same question remains. Because it is a "PPOR" does that validate in some peoples eyes an inferior investment decision?

Who would consider in dollar terms the potential emotional attachment of a "Heritage House" to be in excess of the potential premium paid by a developer for a profitable and "higher use" site?

Cheers,

Sunstone.

[XBenX]

Sunstone - let me first say that if it was my PPOR I would follow the same logic as you...

But the reason for my comment was not everyone cares about the return - in example you put forward, some ppl would put their emotional attachment far ahead of a developers purse (not many could afford to but still)

[manny]

Hi Alpina,

I understand that u may like the architecture on heritage properties (can't blame u there as I also like them) BUT speaking from experience, at my workplace we currently own & manage a number of heritage buildings which are an absolute nightmare to maintain (expensive) & you are limitted to what u can & can't do, need to follow certain colours & need heritage architect reports prior to proceeding (which need to go through council)... even internally in our buildings we cannot even touch floors in some rooms & even run wiring through walls (network/power), so can get expensive to try & come up with alternatives to satisfy the authorities... just keep all this in mind when dealing with heritage properties...

Cheers,

Manny.

[wish-ga]

Because of the restrictions I wouldn't want a listed heritage property...I just like ye olde looke :D