Archicentre Newsbreak                                                                   28 November 2009
Archicentre Poll
In the next two years do you intend to:
* Purchase property
* Buy an investment property
* Renovate an existing home
 
 
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The Seminars continue during December in Melbourne.  
In this issue
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 Emissions Trading Scheme will increase Energy Costs   
In the wake the Federal Government's Emissions Trading Scheme the cost of power and water are expected to increase making green homes more valuable in the future.
  
The important issue for all home buyers is that they run the GREEN RULER over any property that they are purchasing to ensure that the property can be renovated in a cost effective way to deliver an environmental outcome.

This can be discussed with an Archicentre architect onsite as part of the pre-purchase home inspection report.

Archicentre has also released a Guide to Sustainable Homes available for download at http://www.archicentre.com.au/pdf/Sustainablehomes309.pdf
 
The Dangers of Demolition and Excavation Next Door
Government planning policies to increase housing densities combined with the trend to maximise land space during renovations and new building is seeing an increasing number of people excavating and building to property boundaries.
 
In inner suburban areas often older homes are being demolished to be replaced with townhouses, apartments or one very expensive property built on the land. Many of these redevelopments involve extensive deep excavation across a large section of the land to allow for the foundation structures, underground car parking and storage facilities.
 
An owner who is proposing building work has obligations to protect the adjoining property from potential damage from their work. Archicentre is increasingly being called in to undertake status reports on neighbouring properties.
 
A dilapidation report carried out professionally on neighbouring houses records all existing defects to allow the tracking of any new damage which may occur during the construction period. It also requires the builder undertaking the work to take special precautions if the report reveals risks.  
 
The Archicentre Dilapidation Report records the condition of the home photographically combined with an extensive written report and provides protection for all parties concerned - the builder, the owner and the neighbour.
If building work is close to or adjacent to adjoining property boundaries, then an owner may be required to carry out protection work in respect of that adjoining property. Some protection work includes extensive propping of fences and walls with pylons and large support beams where the excavation is on the boundary.

In many renovations a second storey is being added to single storey dwellings and neighbours need to be protected from the dangers arising from work on or above the property boundary such as falling bricks and scaffold.

Expensive legal and construction complications can arise if during the construction a neighbouring house has its foundations damaged or cracks appear.

Archicentre recommends ongoing communication with the neighbours over any issues which may arise over the building process. 
 
Click here to find out more about the Archicentre Dilapidation Reports.