Legalities and Planning rules when building a Kit Home
Kit homes have catapulted into the interests and preferences of the modern-day homeowner. Lower costs, flexible construction times, and the personalised creative flair one can infuse into their design and pursuit for a simple, yet stylised home, are among the major reasons for the increase in kit home ownership. However, as with all building projects, it is important that planning and commissioning laws are adhered to.
Brian Best, owner of IdeasWood and veteran shed kit specialist for over 30 years, explains and informs on the legalities and planning rules when building a kit home.
“In the initial stages of building one’s kit home, the first step in the process is to make contact with the local council,” says Best. “The benefit of this enables potential kit homeowners to understand and digest all planning rules that influence and affect the project,” adds Best.
“Every council has its own set of regulations and requirements, thus careful understanding of these can help kit homeowners to decide what is best for their chosen block of land,” says Best. He goes on to say that, “while all vital information regarding building regulations is available on council websites, it is often directed to registered builders. Therefore, it is recommended that prospective kit homeowners visit their local council to understand the building regulations and legalities which they can then pass onto their kit home specialist.”
The council’s planner can advise prospective kit homeowners thoroughly on important matters such as bushfire, flood, wind, and snow regulations, house setback regulations, environmental regulations, or any other regulations pertinent to the area in which the kit home is to be built. “For example,” says Best, “if the potential cabin or granny flat is to be built on bushfire prone land, the home’s fire resistance will need to comply with Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) in the area. This could affect the budget in the form of construction costs.”
Not adhering to council building regulations in the first instance can lead to delays in planning permissions being granted, budget blowouts and even last minute design alterations. “For example,” says Best, “situating a large kit home on a small block can often lead to site coverage issues, essentially meaning that land zoning regulations may come into play, and may lead to kit home design alterations.”
At IdeasWood, kit home specialists work with their clients to seamlessly navigate them through the design process and work with them to comply with the building regulations and legalities pertinent to the council in which they choose to build. Clients may provide a drafted outline, or even propose their idea of the kit home design to specialists directly. Kit home specialists will then utilise their arsenal of expertise to accurately allocate the acquired materials and timeframe as conveniently as needed.
It’s also important to note that IdeasWood can also assist with finance for homeowners to build their dream kit home. “At IdeasWood, finance for kit homes is offered and loans are negotiated conveniently and effortlessly,” says Best. “Our administrative process toward kit home financing is simple and time-saving” adds Best. These attributes stand as the benchmark for kit home financing and facilitate smooth transitioning into the kit home establishment process.
IdeasWood specialises in the construction, financing and licensing of kit home materials and options. Browse through their wide range of standard and bespoke affordable kit home designs and services. IdeasWood specialists are keen to work with you and incorporate any kit home ideas you have in order to design the perfect kit home for you. IdeasWood- Simple living made easy!
Written and syndicated by YDMA News.
