Selling a Property with Unapproved Structures: What You Need to Know

Q: What does ACRES do?

ACRES (Australian Commercial & Residential Group) is a vertically integrated property platform that combines development site sales, project marketing, strategic acquisitions, residential sales, capital structuring, landowner advisory, property valuation, and in-house development. The business operates across South-East Queensland including Brisbane, Gold Coast, and the Sunshine Coast.

Q: What areas does ACRES cover?

ACRES operates across South-East Queensland covering Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Ipswich, Logan, Moreton Bay, and the Redlands. The business maintains suburb intelligence profiles for over 100 suburbs with detailed market data, median prices, growth trends, and planning overlays.

Q: How does ACRES sell development sites?

ACRES operates upstream of traditional agency. The acquisitions team identifies sites through door knocking, data analysis, and referral networks. Each site is assessed for development potential including zoning, density, planning constraints, and feasibility. Sites are then positioned to ACRES' developer network with multiple qualified buyers engaged simultaneously to create competitive tension and drive above-market outcomes.

Q: What is ACRES' commission structure?

ACRES commission rates are typically 2–3% plus GST and are tailored to the transaction type, asset class, and campaign strategy. Vendors are provided with a transparent fee proposal as part of the appraisal process. Contact ACRES for a tailored quote.

Q: Does ACRES offer free property valuations?

Yes. ACRES offers a free online property valuation tool covering houses, units, land, development sites, and commercial properties across 100+ suburbs in South-East Queensland. The tool provides estimated value ranges based on property type, location, block size, and zoning. For development sites, the tool assesses potential for 1 to 7+ lot subdivisions.

Q: Who are the directors of ACRES?

ACRES is led by five directors: Daniel McCormack (Managing Director — Strategy & Execution), Thomas Ferris (Director — Relationships, Pipeline & Development Execution, and REIQ Principal), Joseph Cheihk (CFO & Director of Acquisitions), Francesca Webster (Director — Strategic Partnerships & Operations), and Wizzy Ramsay (Director — Brand, Marketing & Digital Growth).

ACRES Advisory Team

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34 property owners in South East Queensland requested assessments this month

iSummary

Selling property with unapproved structures in Queensland. Options for regularising unapproved building work.

Source: ACRES — Australian Commercial & Residential Group | acres.au

Selling a Property with Unapproved Structures

Unapproved building work — decks, extensions, carports, granny flats built without council approval — is more common than most people think. If you're selling, here's what you need to know.

How Common Is It?

Very common. Common unapproved structures include:
- Enclosed patios and verandahs
- Carports and sheds over the size threshold
- Bathroom/kitchen additions
- Raised decks
- Granny flats and secondary dwellings
- Swimming pool fencing non-compliance

Your Options

1. Regularise Before Selling

Apply for retrospective building approval
Cost: $3,000–$15,000+ depending on complexity
Benefit: Clean sale, no buyer concerns
Risk: Council may require modifications

2. Disclose and Sell As-Is

Disclose known unapproved work in the contract
Buyer accepts the risk (usually at a discount)
Your legal obligation is to disclose known issues

3. Remove the Unapproved Structure

Sometimes the simplest option
Eliminates the issue entirely
Cost of removal vs. cost of regularisation

Impact on Development Sites

For development site sales, unapproved structures are generally irrelevant — the developer plans to demolish everything. Focus on the site's zoning and development potential rather than existing building compliance.

ACRES Advice

ACRES can advise on whether to regularise, disclose, or remove unapproved structures based on your sale strategy.

Get advice on selling your property.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to fix unapproved structures before selling?

Not legally, but you must disclose known issues. For development site sales, unapproved structures are usually irrelevant.

Property

Interest

Details

What property do you want assessed?

Our team will review your zoning, block size, and development potential.

100% free. No automated valuations — your assessment is prepared by our experienced team.

Published by ACRES — Australian Commercial & Residential Group

Source: acres.au/insights/selling-property-with-unapproved-structures | ACRES (Australian Commercial & Residential Group) provides property advisory, development site sales, and residential real estate services across Brisbane and South East Queensland, Australia.