Team Talk
Property Talk
By Marc van Heerden
Are Approved Plans a Necessity?
Are Approved Plans a Necessity?
Its always great to make improvements to your home; particularly when it provides an additional
space such as a garage, bathroom, bedroom or entertainment area—but when is it necessary to get
plans for your property and what is the general process?
When do you need plans?
Plans are required when there is a structural change to your property or when an existing structure
which was previously open to the elements is now intended to be closed by means of a window, door
or wall. You will also require plans if your tool shed (aka Wendy House) is larger than 10 sqm. In
certain instances, boundary walls higher than 6 ft and pools are also required to be on plan.
What do you need to know?
An architect and builder should be able to guide you through the process, but generally you will need
certain permissions in place if you are building up to your boundary wall or encroaching onto the
pavement/roadside. A good place to start is to go down to the Municipal Offices in Govan Mbeki Rd
and request a copy of your current plans and a copy of the Title Deed. These two items will identify
any constraints either legally or structurally. Armed with these two items you will be able to meet
with your architect to discuss your plans.
Approvals:
The architect will take care of the design and layout of your plan. If there is any specialists required
such as a Structural Engineer then the architect will arrange certification requirements. You will
more than likely require consent from your neighbours if there is an encroachment of driveways or
walls to your surrounding neighbours. This will be a supporting document required for submission
and approval by the Municipality. Prior to 2012 it was not a requirement to submit Title Deeds to get
plans approved, but this has changed and if there are any constraints or restrictions (eg. You cannot
build a garage 16 meters from the roadside, but your would like to build your garage 8 meters from
the roadside) then you will require these restrictions to be lifted through either a municipal
application (up to 14 month waiting period) or a High Court application (2/3 months). The latter is
evidently more costly as it is performed via an attorney, but can alleviate time constraints in need.
Bottom-line:
Having approved plans is a requirement in order for structures to remain legal and will apply in the
event of a sale.
Handy Tips
· Do your research by having your old plans and your Title Deed in hand
· Follow the guidance of your architect to ensure you comply to building code.
For more advice on property options and the
due process of buying,
selling and investing…
Contact us on...
Marc van Heerden
Cell: 073 198 9369
Tel: 041 360 0365
[email protected]
www.sothebysrealty.co.za
Each office is independently
owned and operated
Luke 18:27
“But He said, "The things that are impossible with people are possible with God."
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