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Navigating Victoria’s small second dwelling rules
A council letter says no planning permit is needed. The National Construction Code says your granny flat still needs a laundry. Miss it, and the exemption can disappear.
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Tiny homes in Australia and the caravan trap that just cost one couple their house
Tiny homes in Victoria promise freedom and a cheaper way to add space, and the law draws a hard line between a movable caravan and a permanent dwelling. Knowing which side of that line your plan sits on decides whether it stands for decades or attracts a demolition order.
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The "Just-In-Time" trap. Why your dream reno costs more than a website click
If you've ever compared a volume builder's advertised price to a custom design quote and wondered what you're missing, this one's for you. Rhys breaks down the real pre-build costs most people don't see coming, and what a realistic budget looks like for a major renovation in today's market.
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Small block and narrow lot design solutions for Melbourne homeowners
Narrow frontages, tight coverage limits, awkward orientations, Melbourne's western suburbs have plenty of all three. But most small block frustration comes down to looking at designs that were never intended for sites like yours. What's possible on a compact lot is often more than people expect once the right questions are being asked of the right block.
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How long does it take to build a house in Melbourne?
The construction phase is the part you picture, but it is not where most of the time goes. A new home in Melbourne involves design, council approvals, and building permits before a single slab goes down, and those earlier stages are where timelines vary most and where the real surprises tend to live.
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Section 32 Victoria. What it covers and what it leaves out
If you are buying property in Victoria with plans to build or develop, a Section 32 vendor statement is where you start your due diligence, but it is not where you finish it. The document tells you what a vendor is legally required to disclose. It says nothing about what your council will permit you to build.