Housing Estate Rules and a little Warning.
Mar 30th 2004, 6:03 am
#1
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Joined: Feb 2002
Location: Dream life UK....
Posts: 2,912
Housing Estate Rules and a little Warning.
Something to beware of for those heading for the housing estates.
Housing estates here usually come with a set of covenants to build to. Basically rules by the developer like where you can put your washing line/ bins, what roof pitch you must have, colours allowable on the house, landscaping requirements etc.
To enforce these rules, fair enough they ask for a sum of say $5000.00 as a bond to ensure everyone complies with the rules, so everyone ends up neat and tidy etc. When you comply they refund the money.
Well not so for our friends, they have done everything in the rules, but when the driveway went in they had to move a tree belonging to the estate, so they put it further up the block. However during moving it it dies so the developer has charged them $2000.00
for the missing tree!! The missing tree was about 5 foot high and probably worth $20.00.
They cant do anything about it as when they bought the land they were offered cheap conveyencing if they used the same solicitor as the vendor. Handy eh
Housing estates here usually come with a set of covenants to build to. Basically rules by the developer like where you can put your washing line/ bins, what roof pitch you must have, colours allowable on the house, landscaping requirements etc.
To enforce these rules, fair enough they ask for a sum of say $5000.00 as a bond to ensure everyone complies with the rules, so everyone ends up neat and tidy etc. When you comply they refund the money.
Well not so for our friends, they have done everything in the rules, but when the driveway went in they had to move a tree belonging to the estate, so they put it further up the block. However during moving it it dies so the developer has charged them $2000.00
for the missing tree!! The missing tree was about 5 foot high and probably worth $20.00.They cant do anything about it as when they bought the land they were offered cheap conveyencing if they used the same solicitor as the vendor. Handy eh
Mar 30th 2004, 6:47 am
#2
I'm an individual!
Joined: Mar 2004
Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Posts: 91
Ecumberances are common for estates. We had one for our property in South Australia, it listed in detail what colour and type of fence we had to have, how far the house had to be away from the street and stuff like if we could put a caravan on our block of land.
After our first purchase we have a firm appreciation of a really good independant conveyancer and also a really good engineer for inspecting the land prior to building. It really helps you avoid problems like this.
After our first purchase we have a firm appreciation of a really good independant conveyancer and also a really good engineer for inspecting the land prior to building. It really helps you avoid problems like this.
Mar 30th 2004, 7:50 am
#3
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Posts: n/a
Our last house in the UK had one of these covenant things.
Our solicitor didnt think it important enough to mention to us when we bought the house, but sure enough, when it came time to sell, it was there big enough for the purchasers solicitor to create difficulties.
We were selling from OZ, so it created awkward problems. We ended up having to pay for an insurance policy to safeguard the new purchaser from any future claims.
Our solicitor didnt think it important enough to mention to us when we bought the house, but sure enough, when it came time to sell, it was there big enough for the purchasers solicitor to create difficulties.
We were selling from OZ, so it created awkward problems. We ended up having to pay for an insurance policy to safeguard the new purchaser from any future claims.
Mar 30th 2004, 8:56 am
#4
High in the Dandenongs
Joined: Apr 2003
Location: Listening to Puffing Billy
Posts: 9,183
Another reason to steer well clear of the twighlight zone of the home of the 600 sq block mc mansion!
Far too many rules for grown ups if you ask me 
Far too many rules for grown ups if you ask me
Mar 30th 2004, 10:42 am
#5
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 7,834
Re: Housing Estate Rules and a little Warning.
Originally posted by dotty
Something to beware of for those heading for the housing estates.
Housing estates here usually come with a set of covenants to build to. Basically rules by the developer like where you can put your washing line/ bins, what roof pitch you must have, colours allowable on the house, landscaping requirements etc.
To enforce these rules, fair enough they ask for a sum of say $5000.00 as a bond to ensure everyone complies with the rules, so everyone ends up neat and tidy etc. When you comply they refund the money.
Well not so for our friends, they have done everything in the rules, but when the driveway went in they had to move a tree belonging to the estate, so they put it further up the block. However during moving it it dies so the developer has charged them $2000.00 for the missing tree!! The missing tree was about 5 foot high and probably worth $20.00.
They cant do anything about it as when they bought the land they were offered cheap conveyencing if they used the same solicitor as the vendor. Handy eh
Something to beware of for those heading for the housing estates.
Housing estates here usually come with a set of covenants to build to. Basically rules by the developer like where you can put your washing line/ bins, what roof pitch you must have, colours allowable on the house, landscaping requirements etc.
To enforce these rules, fair enough they ask for a sum of say $5000.00 as a bond to ensure everyone complies with the rules, so everyone ends up neat and tidy etc. When you comply they refund the money.
Well not so for our friends, they have done everything in the rules, but when the driveway went in they had to move a tree belonging to the estate, so they put it further up the block. However during moving it it dies so the developer has charged them $2000.00
for the missing tree!! The missing tree was about 5 foot high and probably worth $20.00.They cant do anything about it as when they bought the land they were offered cheap conveyencing if they used the same solicitor as the vendor. Handy eh
Mar 30th 2004, 10:50 am
#6
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Joined: Nov 2001
Location: Back in Aus
Posts: 721
We lived for a short while in a unit in Canberra (same deal, a body corporate with all sorts of petty rules).
The Body Corporate actually put up a 15 kph sign on a cul de sac maybe 10 metres long!
Despite trying on numerous occasions, I was unable to get the car to exceed 15 kph before having to slam on the breaks to avoid finishing up buried in a brick wall!
The Body Corporate actually put up a 15 kph sign on a cul de sac maybe 10 metres long!
Despite trying on numerous occasions, I was unable to get the car to exceed 15 kph before having to slam on the breaks to avoid finishing up buried in a brick wall!
Mar 30th 2004, 12:51 pm
#7
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Joined: Feb 2003
Location: Perth
Posts: 495
Re: Housing Estate Rules and a little Warning.
Originally posted by dotty
Something to beware of for those heading for the housing estates.
Housing estates here usually come with a set of covenants to build to. Basically rules by the developer like where you can put your washing line/ bins, what roof pitch you must have, colours allowable on the house, landscaping requirements etc.
To enforce these rules, fair enough they ask for a sum of say $5000.00 as a bond to ensure everyone complies with the rules, so everyone ends up neat and tidy etc. When you comply they refund the money.
Well not so for our friends, they have done everything in the rules, but when the driveway went in they had to move a tree belonging to the estate, so they put it further up the block. However during moving it it dies so the developer has charged them $2000.00 for the missing tree!! The missing tree was about 5 foot high and probably worth $20.00.
They cant do anything about it as when they bought the land they were offered cheap conveyencing if they used the same solicitor as the vendor. Handy eh
Something to beware of for those heading for the housing estates.
Housing estates here usually come with a set of covenants to build to. Basically rules by the developer like where you can put your washing line/ bins, what roof pitch you must have, colours allowable on the house, landscaping requirements etc.
To enforce these rules, fair enough they ask for a sum of say $5000.00 as a bond to ensure everyone complies with the rules, so everyone ends up neat and tidy etc. When you comply they refund the money.
Well not so for our friends, they have done everything in the rules, but when the driveway went in they had to move a tree belonging to the estate, so they put it further up the block. However during moving it it dies so the developer has charged them $2000.00
for the missing tree!! The missing tree was about 5 foot high and probably worth $20.00.They cant do anything about it as when they bought the land they were offered cheap conveyencing if they used the same solicitor as the vendor. Handy eh
Very common in UK developments as well. Didnt have a bond though mind you neither does our landlord here.
Damm cheek considering people purchase the freehold purchase.
Mar 30th 2004, 6:51 pm
#8
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Joined: Jul 2003
Location: Cairns
Posts: 3,918
Agree that such things are a pain in the arse, have one even better than that tho' - we have friends who bought a property in uk niceposh housing estate, few hundred grand etc, etc and were told that they COULD NOT park the husbands company van on their driveway.
Obviously a tradesmans wage is good enough to buy a upmarket (ish) property, but not good enough to park his company van on the driveway!!!!
Are these people for real or what???!!!! :scared: 
Obviously a tradesmans wage is good enough to buy a upmarket (ish) property, but not good enough to park his company van on the driveway!!!!
Are these people for real or what???!!!!
:scared:
