Today I learnt from one of my clients (WA Builders Registration Board who deal with licensing and investigating of Builders), that an owner-built property can not be sold within the first 3 years of completion without permission.
Anyone else learn something new ??
The BRB is certainly an interesting place. That, and it's controlling building legislation in WA (1939).
I had cause to investigate when a dodgy "builder" with over 17 years experience....but none as a registered builder, told me 'No worries mate, we'll build your shed for you.....you simply apply to the Council as an Owner Builder and we'll then do the work for ya.'
It took all of 2 hours of reading legislation / phoning the BRB / digging around at council to determine what he was telling me was completely unlawful and a complete crock.
There is only a very small gap in the 1939 legislation that permits owner builders to do anything at all. It must have something to do with residing, as that is the only exemption afforded by the legislation. No residing component - like a simple shed - no exemption. BRB told me the "builder" was full of ****.
When confronted with the paperwork and truth, the "builder" simply said....'well bugger me, I dunno anything about that nonsense, all I know is that hundreds of clients have applied successfully and I've built lots of sheds for 'em...no worries.'
I don't particularly like being led up the garden path by someone with supposedly 17 years experience in the game, when 2 hours of thorough checking exposes them as completely fraudulent. I guess builders, or more importantly unregistered builders, don't know diddly squat about the paperwork.
It's all good until the wall falls down and crushes the neighbours kids.
Thinking of building a 800K 2 storey monstrosity as an owner builder and don't know a thing - no problem, go for your life - knock yourself out. Try and build a 30K shed in the back corner - all stop....you're not qualified. Doesn't make sense to me but that's the law.
The BRB produces a handy little table as to what owner builder's can do, and what they cannot do.