Council Building Certificate

A purchaser under a contract for sale of land can apply to council for a building certificate. This certificate, if issued, prevents the council from taking any action, within a seven year period, to have the buildings or any part of them demolished or altered, provided any change in the condition of the property is caused by other than fair wear and tear.

If the council refuses to issue the certificate but instead issues a demolition order or work order the purchaser may have a right to withdraw from the contract.

When applying for the building certificate it is necessary to supply council with a survey certificate. This may mean obtaining a new one, or if there is a survey in existence and no alterations or additions have been done to the property since the date of the survey, council will accept that survey.