Home Renovations Thornbury

Not necessarily. A Heritage Overlay mainly controls demolition, external changes and work visible from the street. Rear extensions that sit behind the original house are commonly approved with a planning permit, although the outcome depends on the property’s grading and the design. We read the precinct’s statement of significance before we draw anything.

Often for part of it. The front rooms of a bungalow can usually stay in use while the rear is demolished and rebuilt, but there are periods without a kitchen, water or power while services are reconnected. We set out those stages in writing so you can plan where to stay and for how long.

Outside a Heritage Overlay, internal work and many single-storey rear extensions may only need a building permit, depending on the zone and site coverage. Second storeys and walls on boundaries can still trigger a planning permit. We read the planning property report and confirm requirements with Darebin City Council at the start.

Common ones are rotten stumps, termite damage in timber floors, old wiring with ceramic fuses, galvanised pipes and asbestos sheeting in later additions. They are not always visible at the first visit. We check what we can, explain allowances in the written quote and tell you promptly if something is found once walls are opened.

Thornbury buyers often value original period features, so repairing rather than removing them is usually wise: fix verandahs, windows, fretwork and floorboards, and repaint. A dated rear lean-to may be better tidied than rebuilt if you are selling soon, because an extension takes design, permits and time. For leasing, focus on safety, heating and working wet areas.