city of Sydny's cash grab

[carole]

Just worked out why the City of Sydney is just discovering all the boarding houses that it has not checked out over the past 10 years, and have now been converted, changed, family houses etc...
You have to pay them 20,000$ per room, to get your own home back.
In my case that would be $160,000. To stop the City's enforcers walking in when ever they feel like it.
I am thinking of selling, but I like my house, and my area, Glebe:
Even a specialist property lawyer I have known for 25 years is hopeless in this case. Not a boarding house according to Dept of Fair Trading, but on some list in the City, ....3 other people in same boat...one, I'm sure found someone to bribe...he won't tell me who....
don't know where to go from here.

 

[wylie]

If you have eight rooms, rented separately, how is it not a boarding house? How is it legal? What happens to you and your house if someone starts a fire and tragedy strikes? Will you be insured?

More information would be good, but my take on your situation is that you may well be doing the wrong thing. Who said it is not a boarding house and why?

Edit: I see a previous thread which explains it is three flats. Are they legal and if there was a fire and somebody was killed, would you have insurance?

http://somersoft.com/forums/showthread.php?t=101642

 

[redwing]

This?

The NSW Government Has A New Way To Combat Illegal Boarding Houses - Just Cut Off The Power And Water

The NSW Government has a new plan to deal with illegal accommodation in Sydney. New laws being implemented by planning minister Pru Goward will give the Land and Environment Court the power to order utility providers to cut off gas, water and electricity to hostels if they are illegal or break consent conditions.

The plan expands a law that currently only applies to brothels. The Planning minister said the new laws would give local councils increased powers to deal with illegal hostels and boarding houses.

??These new laws will strengthen the action Councils can ask the Court to take against hostels,? Goward said.

?Those operators who flout the law and put our tourist economy at risk need to be held accountable. Shutting off electricity and water has an immediate effect on a hostel?s business. It means bags are packed, bunks lay empty and the income is cut off as quickly as the power.?

It will give councils the power to enter a non-residential premises without notice to investigate an offence and use reasonable force to enter premises without written authority, as well as seize items connected with an offence and demand.

?This means if a local council has a reasonable suspicion a backpacker hostel is allowing guests to stay too long or not maintaining basic hygiene standards, they will now have even stronger powers to investigate them and take action,? Goward said.

 

[vaughan]

Just worked out why the City of Sydney is just discovering all the boarding houses that it has not checked out over the past 10 years, and have now been converted, changed, family houses etc...
You have to pay them 20,000$ per room, to get your own home back.
In my case that would be $160,000. To stop the City's enforcers walking in when ever they feel like it.
I am thinking of selling, but I like my house, and my area, Glebe:
Even a specialist property lawyer I have known for 25 years is hopeless in this case. Not a boarding house according to Dept of Fair Trading, but on some list in the City, ....3 other people in same boat...one, I'm sure found someone to bribe...he won't tell me who....
don't know where to go from here.

You could be referring to two issues here:

1) Approved boarding houses have been converted into standard residential properties; or
2) Standard residential properties have been converted into boarding houses.

Either would be, strictly speaking, not legal because council approval is required for the change of use.

I believe in Brisbane the council is not allowing existing legal boarding houses to change to residential, due to the subsequent reduction in boarding house accommodation and the effect on the tourist economy. Unfortunately, many boarding houses (as properties) would be worth more as residential.

 

[travelbug]

I think the OP is saying it "was" a boarding house and is now her home.
I read somewhere else that this is happening.
People bought them man y years ago as a home and now are facing problems because "somewhere" it is listed as a boarding house still.

 

[wylie]

I think the OP is saying it "was" a boarding house and is now her home.
I read somewhere else that this is happening.
People bought them man y years ago as a home and now are facing problems because "somewhere" it is listed as a boarding house still.

In a previous post, it seems OPs house is split into three separate flats, which I gather are rented separately. See the link, but that is how I read it.

 

[Paul@PFI]

I might suggest speaking to
1. Lawyer
2. Psychologist

Part posts indicate a issue requiring attention. A lawyer can address any illegal response by Council. If the premises are illegal then you will get correct advice.