Bought a Unit at Auction - Wanna Get out of The Contract Is It Possible?

Hi Guys,

Guys I need help here. If anyone can please share there knowledge in regards to my issue then it will be big help. I know I screwed up big time.

I bought a unit at auction but when the bank did the valuation that's what they said

"As discussed, the subject property shows obvious signs of non-compliant building codes issues (ceiling height). We are aware property has been registered and have investigated further.

The property was certified by a private certifier by the name of Anthony Allen, who we have confirmed was reprimanded on 03/05/2016 on a separate issue regarding a strata development.

This is very concerning and affects the certifiers credibility. We are not willing to accept this certifiers recommendations and request cancellation of report.

As per my Solicitor Conveyancer:

This is the email I received from my solicitor Conveyancer which will explain everything in detail.

I understand from Kathy from —- bank that the findings of the bank's valuer about the unit you have purchased does not comply with the BCA due to the ceiling height being 1.8 meters from floor to ceiling and therefore, due to the bank's valuer assessment, your loan application has been declined.

Unfortunately, you have exchanged contracts under auction conditions and under the contract must complete the contract upon the vendor's solicitor serving notice of registration and an occupation certificate.

We were notified by the agent that the strata plan was registered as Strata Plan —— on the 18 November 2016.

To date, the vendor's solicitor has not formally served me with notice of registration nor the occupation certificate.

I note your instructions that you will continue to apply for another loan to secure adequate finance to purchase the property and at the same time, you wish for me to obtain more information about the original development application of the building, so we can determine what was approved by council. This morning I have sent to council an Informal Access Application under council's Government Information Public Access (GIPA) to obtain copies of the original Development Approval and other documentation that may assist.

I note that you have also instructed me to obtain a Building Certificate, a copy of the application is attached herein.

In order to terminate the Contract, we must determine that the contract is a latent defect that is a fault in the property that could not have been discovered by a reasonably thorough inspection before the contract was entered into. This can be challenging as if you conducted a building inspection prior to the auction, the issues may have been discovered before you purchased the property. Furthermore, terminating the Contract will lead to court action and you will need to consult a qualified solicitor who has experience in these sort of matters.

The problem here is that if we are served with an Occupation Certificate then you must complete the contract as the certificate certifies that the property as being fit for habitable occupation and further, the vendor will rely on the contract to enforce your obligations under the contract. As far as the vendor is concerned, he would say that he went through the right channels to obtain strata subdivision and obtain an occupation certificate.

The whole process in trying to prove that the property is not a unit but a storage space will take time as you will need to prove that the error or misconduct or failure is on the part of the certifier or the vendor.

If you purchase the Building Certificate perhaps we can try to prove that the property sold is not a unit but a storage space and therefore, the contract is misleading on the part of the vendor as you did not get what you bargained for, that is, a unit. The other alternative is that if we establish that it is a storage space, that the contract price reflect the true value of a storage space and therefore, the price should be reduced, however, this alternative is not recommended as you may not be able to obtain a loan for a storage space.

The other alternative is to approach the private certifier and ask him to explain what evidence he has to deem Lot 10 as being a unit.

I highly recommend that you seek the advice's of a qualified solicitor to discuss your legal rights should you wish to terminate the Contract.

If someone can please explain what can be done here then it will be big help. I don't have enough knowledge about all this stuff but just wondering anyone think if there's any chances for me to win this case if i go to the court?

Thanking you all in advance.

Regards and best wishes
Imdad

Comments

    • +1

      The OP has probably gone and got legal advice, and hopefully part of that advice would be to stop posting about this online until the matter is resolved.

    • He is probably busy checking out other bargains here.

      • OP replied… !!

  • +4

    I have a cubby house with a ceiling height of 195cm if anyone is keen to buy it and rent it out

  • +3

    Having All of the upstairs Plumbing in your face :/ just wow OMG you would hear everything.

    • +2

      Make a hole in the plumbing, collect it, use it as evidence of illegal crimes?

      LOL

      -Turd

  • +1

    Ask the admins to remove this thread. You've made far too many admissions of fault in this thread which will work against you once its noticed by the vendors.

    • +3

      Too late. Google has a cached copy of this page.

      https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:voQmWD…

      Never put online what you do not wish the whole world to know. The Internet never forgets.

      • LOL

        Doesn't matter though the people who built this or allowed for this should be in the wrong and OP is just at the very sorry end of this.

        Strata Managers wonder who they are. Councils? Maybe Salim's mates

  • +2

    I find it funny how there are curtains in the bedroom and bathroom but no actual window or anything, it is just there for show.

    LOL!!! These are dodgy REAs!!

    • +1

      When I was in China a few years ago I stayed in a hotel room with no windows but they put on this 'decorative' curtain on the wall which was just hilarious. Couldn't change rooms either because all the ones with windows were booked out for the entire two week period I was there. Sure it was cheap at around AUD30 a night, but it still haunts my husband to this day and every time when I ask him if he wants to go to China again he just says 'yep as long as we're not staying in that room again'.

  • +7

    Is this on the ground floor? It looks like some bright spark on the committee decided to top up the sinking fund by converting a storage space and sell it off as an additional unit. Then covering the exposed pipes thus reducing height.

    If they have not been able to provide the registration chances are council probably has not signed off on it and it is an illegal structure.

    I will pm our solicitors details, they are regarded as the best in NSW, Im guessing the easiest thing to do is follow up land and title, if no title can be found, easy mode and I guess it will be easy to get your deposit back.

    If you decide to use someone else, no prob but make 100% sure that the company you pick are 100% specialized strata lawyers, regular lawyers will not cut it in this instance

    Edit: cant pm you, switch your PM on and PM me and I will reply with the details

    • +4

      Please PM just fixed my settings …. Thanks a lot guys cant believe you guys are going out of your way to help me out.. really appreciate it..

      • +3

        Says disabled user so I cant pm you, just google "best strata lawyer Sydney", you will get 2 main firms. Contact both of them to explain your situation and pick one from there. Both are good, a friend has used the other one.

        Not gonna lie, its gonna cost you and this is going to be stressful. Just let the legal system work.

        If you win based on my above comments, they should easily be able to apply for legal costs, thus minimizing your expenses to get this sorted.

    • +4

      Wow, now that's the help OP was looking for. Thanks a lot sir. At least you added some value to the post, as oppose to some who just bashed the crap out of OP.

      Everyone make mistake, I have no intention (or rather Money) to invest in rents property any time soon but this post has given me a valuable lesson.

      • Always do checks!!

  • 2014 March Listed for 2 days Rent - $280 a week.

    2016 July Listed for 624 days Rent - $460 a week.

    DAMMM!!

    • If you look at the older pictures, it looks like some form of "reno" was done to get the higher rent and the selling price paid by the OP. It looked like a sh*thole before.

      http://www.domain.com.au/property-profile/10-31-harris-stree…

      • +2

        Wow!! What a dump it was, and those photos looks doctored. Funny they put in blinds but no window.

      • wow you were not kidding.. i just feel sad now

    • ffs people pay $460 for this place ????????????? :'(

      • That is cheap compared to other places in Sydney I guess. For someone arriving from South Asia, Japan, Hong Kong, Korea this place is HUGE!

        • Especially with property prices the way they are in Sydney.

    • Who the hell pays that much a week for a place you can't even stand up in?

      • +1

        Might work for someone in a wheel chair

        • -2

          How does someone in a wheel chair afford it?

          • @lostn: As someone who has a disease which will force me into a wheelchair by the time I'm 40, hi.

            As someone who also works in Insurance, hi >:(

  • +1

    Poor OP!!

    Im interested to know the outcome!

    I want closure!! on this dodgy "Unit"

    • +3

      Looks like he disabled his account here..

      • +2

        or mods did? I dunno or ask to.

        who knows.

        But he pm'ed me etc..

        but seriously this is bigger than anything, a 'garage space' turned into a unit, dodgy with 1.8M height?? with drainage visible?? omg

  • +1

    This property is surely illegal according to building codes. IT looks like an attic space. It may be that no one will be allowed to live there if found out.

    See:

    Ceiling Heights

    Minimum ceiling heights have essentially stayed at 2.7m for habitable rooms and 2.4m for non-habitable rooms. However, the RFDC did provide for 2.25m in non-habitable rooms which has now been removed. Two storey apartments remain unchanged at 2.7m for the main living area and 2.4m for the second floor. Attic space minimum ceiling heights have increased from 1.5m to 1.8m. If located in mixed use areas, the ground and first floor minimum ceiling height is still 3.3 metres.

    https://www.jbaurban.com.au/article/nsw-apartment-design-gui…

    • Are you sure? I'm pretty sure habitable rooms are 2.4m and non-habitable ones are 2.1m.

      But, I agree with your analysis.

      • in nsw it seems for new apartments it's 2.7/2.4

        • I'm 198cm, and I think 2.7m is over the top.
          It might be nice when you have, but too much as a minimum requirement in my opinion.

          Also, this place would not only have failed on ceiling height, but also on the amount of window space.

        • The requirement is 2.4/2.1. That's in the national code. You can build higher if you want to.

  • If it is that unit in Harris Park, then the strata plan has been registered. Also approved DA, related docs and BCA compliance report etc can be seen on council tracking website… http://eplanning.parracity.nsw.gov.au/Pages/XC.Track/SearchA… I have no idea how this could have been approved if ceiling height is that low.

    • Thanks for the link!

      I'm still going through the info but:

      looks like the entire building was built in 70s by Romanous family, until strata'd in 2015.
      The strata docs suggest it was already considered 10 units pre-strata.. that no alterations would be done to make it 10 units.

      fire report suggests that units need 1.9m+ clear exits?? so perhaps slight piece of ammo there for OP.

      the docs said carpark for unit 10 is incorporated.. don't know what that means.. but maybe that could help op in terms of how the advert map displays the carpark. probably not, i suppose it means it's part of the structure that's all?

      docs said at time of strata… 'unit 10 is vacant due to a lot of comparably priced units' (lol). the docs also show photos of average unit in making case for strata, but do not, of course, mention this hellish 'lower ground' unit.

  • +3

    Interested in updates.

  • They basically bought a shed lol

  • +1

    Is this a troll? how can there be tenants in there if the occupancy permit hasn't been issued???

    • +1

      because building was owned by one family until 2015.
      possibly they had a dodgy certifier sign off on it before then.

      certifiers are humans with wallets so.. that's how :)

      • he said in his original post - waiting for settlement pending registration of subdivision and issue of occupancy permit, Plan of subdivision is registered but occupancy permit hasnt been issued. In vic you can't have anyone living at a property without an occupancy permit, im assuming this is the same for other states

        • i thought 'issued' actually meant 'handed over from vendor's solicitor'.
          it could have still been issued from council to vendor?

          if you wish to sleuth out some more info, link to some council documents can be found 4 comments above yours.

          i assumed tenants were just put in there anyway under the basis of 'better to ask forgiveness rather than permission'

  • +3

    DisabledUser204025

    Another one bites the dust

    • +2

      That's a lot of disabled users.

  • +1

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ffj8SHrbk0
    If you don't laugh you might cry

  • +14

    Jesus, looks like it would be a total death trap in a fire.

    Look at the floor plan, look where the only entry/exit is, and then remember that all the windows are at the top of the ceiling, and appear to have security bars on them.

    That people are living in a place like this, and that someone would buy it for almost $400k is a national disgrace. If this is what "affordable" housing has come to in Australia, then this country is becoming a total shithole.

  • +3

    If this apartment can fetch near 400k. I would seriouly like to know how much my apartment is now.

  • I wonder how tall is the topic starter?

  • +2

    Gandalf sends his regards.

  • +2

    Tyrion Lannister is wealthy, and the height suits him fine. Maybe get in touch?

  • If this property is deemed not approved by the Counciil, the current owner will cop a fine and the place will need to be restored to its original state. The current tenants are also entitled to a rent refund.

    • That's bad news for the OP then, since he will be the current owner soon.

      But I'm shocked it slipped past the real estate agents. Surely they'd know these laws?

      • Agents don't even know the laws they themselves are supposed to be adhering to, let alone the laws builders are supposed to adhere to…

        • They probably know, just ignoring them to make a quick buck from unsuspected buyers.

  • +5

    Shit Ive seen jails nicer than the apartment.

    • +1

      From the inside?

  • it should be brought attention to 60 minutes. …

  • +5

    So pretty much reverse cowgirl is out of the question

  • +1

    Here is an idea. Dig a hole and level the floor. call certifier to recheck the height and boom. jackpot.

    Disclaimer: Proceed at your own risk ;D

  • Pretty sure that tenancy is not even legal

    • It's good enough that people are willing to pay $460 pw for it. There's gotta be something we don't know about.

      • I will not be surprised if the tenancy agreement is fake and is only to lure investors. Nothing is stopping tenants to vacate once the property is sold.

  • if you can put down a 20% deposit, most major banks will just go off the contract of sale.
    ANZ is good with those. maybe CBA too.

  • http://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-nsw-harris+park-1…

    I'm pretty sure AB Property consultants can't post the city skyline image and lead people to believe this is the view from this other unit. The city skyline has been photoshopped in. What are those two tower things taller than centrepoint?? Absolute rubbish. Bring it to the attention of http://www.reinsw.com.au/ attention and get these d*ckheads discredited.

    AB are probably reading this thread so print out web pages or whatever.

    You are never going to be able to sell this joint, so don't buy it. Ring the bank and have the cheque you used cancelled. If too late for that call REINSW (link above) and say you have been misled. They'll go into bat for you.

    • That isnt the unit though.

      • Yes its another unit, same agents though.

        • +1

          I think it is a industry wide thing, since there is no regulation

        • Real estate industry association self police it.

    • What are those two tower things taller than centrepoint?? Absolute rubbish

      Well well, that's what most of the agents do now-a-days.

      Take a look at this. Bobbin Head is 10km from the location but that doesn't stop the agent from using the image of Bobbin Head.

      Just like Accountants, RE agents should be taking Ethics exam as well…

    • I have a qld friend who does real estate photography.

      I think he said you can photoshop the sky itself, make it look like a sunny day, add fluffy clouds, or whatever, but if you remove or add some element (trees, powerlines/powerpole) then you'll be digging your grave.

      You can play around with saturation contrast etc, which may remove blemishes, but you can't actually Photoshop something out, like a hole in the wall.

      He said you can photoshop in furniture.. there are specialists that do this.. you see it a lot.
      You can use ultra wide lenses to try and make the room look bigger.

      my recollection may be incorrect tho.

      i believe there have been some real estate agents who've lost big time in court after doctoring photos.

  • I'm missing something but why in hell do you want to go through with this purchase, any sane person would have realised that ceiling height 1.8m. would suggest some massive dodgy stuff has gone on. anyone just over average height would not fit.

    DONT TOUCH THIS WITH A TEN FOOT POLE>>>> PLEASE

    Get a lawyer. This does not meet the strata conditions set out which I presume where provided to you. it says "must meet Australian building codes" this is not a snow balls in hell this gets close.

    AGAIN DONT PURCHASE…. There is no way this a habitual space, council may restrict this in the future/ or may have already sent a letter. Call them.

    Also report mentions "Unit 10 has been vacant for sometime" no wonder. I would not be surprised if it has NEVER been rented out.

    • he already bought it auction.

      • pretty sure bugman knows it's auction conditions.
        he's advising to not go thru with settlement.

        • +1

          Correct. To purchase both parties need to follow the law and provide all document (council doc's ect)

          I have dealt with property managers/agent a lot in my life (in VIC), and to say they would sell their mother for commission is being kind. Even saying that I would be not be surprised if the agents are related or have an interest (family ties) to this unit. As I don't know any agent that would touch this shoe box. Due to the fact that it would come with massive problems due to it being built for hobbits.

        • +1

          100% the agents have ties to the seller. They are looking for Johnny Gullible to buy it. Hopefully Johhny is less than 160cms tall.

  • Are you in a wheelchair, DisabledUser? I can't fathom how somebody, anybody, did not point out to you how low the ceiling was, after they banged their head on it.

  • Get a property law specialist, pronto. Legally a house with ceilings under 2.4m can't be listed as having bedrooms, or lounge rooms, or dining rooms. It could only be sold as a house with a lot of utility rooms.

    • i heard a while back that you can actually have bedrooms etc under 2.4 if you have it signed off as having appropriate ventilation/light. unsure if this is at all factual.

  • +2

    I reckon run with it. There's a market on air bnb https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/275615?sug=51

  • -3

    i have been actively searching for a man-cave. I think this should seal the deal

  • Merged from Two-Bedroom Unit in Sydney for under 1.8m (in Case You Missed Last Time at Auction, There Was Lots of Interest on OzB)

    back on the market..

    http://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-nsw-harris+park-1…

    might go check it out on the weekend for teh lolz..

    link to original deal: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/280809

    could be a real bargain for those worried about the HIGH prices in sydney..

    • An exceptional opportunity to buy beautiful refurbished 2-bedroom unit with a large lock up garage of a boutique corner complex of 10. First home buyers, investors, downsizers and people with low mobility or disabled must come and see this tastefully updated, convenient and affordable ground floor secured unit ideally located within walking distance to Harris Park and Parramatta Station, Parramatta CBD, vibrant shopping village, reputable schools, restaurants, cafes & parks. This is your chance to live now or rent out, then reap the rewards later.

      • 2 Good sized bedrooms plus home office or study. Both bedrooms have built-in wardrobes where main bedroom has additional big spacious wardrobe

      • Spacious lounge and dining with open living area

      • Nearly new kitchen with plenty of cupboard space

      • Fully tiled contemporary bathroom

      • Extra toilet with laundry followed by additional storage space

      • Lock up automatic large garage

      If you want to invest for good rental yields or if you want to live in spotless and convenient home then this is the property for you. Be quick because this excellent opportunity will not last long. With owner determined to SELL, please contact your exclusive agent Jitender Singh (Jeet) 0410 567 777 and Atul Bhanushali on 0402961515

    • +1

      Anyone know happened in the end with the first OP and trying to get out of his contract?

      • +1

        my guess would be lost his 10% and moved on. sucks.

    • +2

      Ground floor? More like subterranean. So low you can high five the devil.

    • +2

      I misread that as 1.8 million and I still thought to myself… that sounds about right.

      • Seriously… that's a little misleading… I thought to myself, wtf is an apartment being sold for 1.8m.

        So click baity…

    • +1

      He bought it for $380k 6 months ago, and it look like he hasn't done anything to it, and he's looking to clear about 30% margin in 6 months…

    • +2

      An exceptional opportunity to buy beautiful refurbished 2-bedroom unit

      Not going by the pictures it isnt

    • +1

      Spacious (compared to Men in Black II)
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IRFYF326YQ

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