Draw up extra room on plans

[Dolby]

So I've just learnt that in order to sell a property, you need the plans. We got mine for the property and I see the previous owner has a section that he hasn't added ...

What am I looking at financially to get the extra room drawn up?

 

[chrisc]

Really, you need (I presume approved) plans? My estate agent friend did not know this. I bought a house in December and plans were not on the required documents list

On Gumtree you can see ads from draughtsmen offering to draw house plans. Get one of them around. It will be the fraction of the cost of an architect

 

[Dolby]

I'm not sure if area to area, but in Johannesburg she mentioned I can't sell without

Will check out, thanks - hoping the added expense isn't huge

 

[Rocket-Boy]

Is the section that is missing from the plans built on the house?
i.e is there something physical on the house that isnt on the plans?

If that is the case then you will have to have a draughtsman draw it up and submit it to the council for approval and hope they dont come to inspect. If they do then they can order you to tear it down.
Once it is approved(can take up to 6 months) then you are in the clear.

They normally charge between R1-5k depending on complexity and then a fee to submit it.

 

[Dolby]

Yea - there's a whole other section built on already and been there for 25 years or so

 

[SauRoNZA]

You don't need the plans, you just need to have everything formally approved based on plans.

The plans are already at the deeds office and probably why the estate agent told you that you need plans as they don't match.

You can usually sell without them, but will take a loss as you can't include the additional space as it technically doesn't exist.

 

[etwylite]

You don't need the plans, you just need to have everything formally approved based on plans.

The plans are already at the deeds office and probably why the estate agent told you that you need plans as they don't match.

You can usually sell without them, but will take a loss as you can't include the additional space as it technically doesn't exist.

The deeds office Do Not keep copies of plans only the title deed and associated SG diagram Plans are a municipal issue and USED to be kept on file there. However the law makes it the owners responsibility to have approved plans for all structures. It is not a requirement to be able to transfer a property however an educated buyer will insist on receiving approved plans.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Yeah sorry not an expert but I know they kept it somewhere.

Recently bought and sold so knew it wasn't a requirement. Just the approval part is.

 

[Other Pineapple Smurf]

So I've just learnt that in order to sell a property, you need the plans. We got mine for the property and I see the previous owner has a section that he hasn't added ...

What am I looking at financially to get the extra room drawn up?

Busy with this and had my plans done December.

I've paid R5K to have plans drawn up and then +R3K fee for the departure fee (penalty) for my existing garage extension. (I've paid R12K in total as it we are doing this along with plans for new work next to the garage instead of separate).

It depends on the local authority what plans you need (details). The guy I'm using works by the book and checked at the municipality to see if the garage extension had been submitted before we went ahead.

The issue is not just the plans but who needs to sign them. I've got to get 17 signatures in my road as we are a dormant/not-active home owners association.

 

[Other Pineapple Smurf]

... It is not a requirement to be able to transfer a property however an educated buyer will insist on receiving approved plans.

This is the part that confused me when I bought 3 years ago. It was a requirement for the bank but they let it slide when they where informed the plans where destroyed in a fire 15 years ago (along with every plan in the town).

My seller was desperate, banks had no problem after inspection and I was buying a massive bargain so I had no issue. Seller was honest and did not believe the garage extension had plans submitted as he had his parents in law live in the house for 10 years and the built the extension.