The owner of two dual occupancy dwellings in Minto has been fined $3,000 for using the premises as an illegal boarding house.
Campbelltown Council will be fining the owner after it confirmed the illegal use of the dual occupancy premises at 8A Erica Lane as a boarding house.
Council investigated after receiving a complaint from a former tenant, who reported that there were 11 separate bedrooms within the property that were being rented out separately by a local real estate agent.
A report to council says a search of council records revealed that in December 2013 council approved the construction of a detached dual occupancy and subdivision of the premises into two Torrens Title allotments.
The dwellings were approved for five bedrooms in each premises.
Council’s records show that at no time had an approval been issued for a boarding house at the site, nor was there a development application being assessed by the council.
An internet search of rooms for rent verified that a local agent was advertising a room for rent in the Erica Lane dwelling for between $200 to $300 per week.
Council needs to visually verify the complaint before acting, so on August 26 compliance officers hand delivered separate notices to the occupants, the owner of the premises, and the managing real estate agent to enter both 8A and 8B Erica Lane, Minto.
The properties were inspected on August 30, with the owner present.
The report to council says the inspection confirmed unauthorised alterations and additions had been made within the dwelling and the garage to facilitate 10 separate bedrooms.
There was also evidence a partition had been removed to allow for an 11th bedroom.
Each of the rooms was separately numbered and fitted with lockable handle, the report said.
The owner of the premises was informed that this constituted the use of the premises a boarding house for which the premises had no development approval.
Council is now in the process of serving an order instructing the owner to cease the use of the premises as a boarding house and to reinstate the premises to the original development approval by removing all partitions, fixture and fittings, and to return the building to its approved state.
Two fines of $1,500 each for unauthorised works and unauthorised use offences are also being issued to the owner.
