Home renovations in South Melbourne
A South Melbourne terrace usually has good bones and a bad back half. Somewhere along the way a lean-to became the kitchen, the bathroom ended up off the laundry, and the whole house turned away from its own yard. Renovating is mostly a matter of undoing that, and doing it in the right order.
What we take on
- Whole-house renovations, staged so you can stay in part of the house where that works
- Kitchens, including moving the kitchen to where it should have been
- Bathrooms and ensuites, waterproofed and certified properly
- Laundries, often the last room anyone thinks about and the one used daily
What these houses are like to work on
Old inner-city houses hide things. Stumps that have moved. Wiring that predates the safety switches the current rules expect. A floor that has been levelled twice with packing rather than fixed once.
The terraces here are narrow and deep, and the back half usually carries the evidence of every shortcut taken since the house was built. Services were run wherever there was room. Floor levels step down where an old skillion was bolted onto the back. What looks like one structure is often two or three eras of work joined together.
On any house of this age, we look under and behind before the work is set out. That shows what is actually there, so the work is designed around the house rather than assumptions.
Access is its own question for extensions as much as renovations. Narrow frontages, shared boundaries and little or no side access shape how materials come in and where demolition spoil goes. It can influence whether the work is built out, built up or staged in smaller sections.
Planning and permits in Port Phillip
A planning permit and a building permit are different things, and you may need either or both depending on the work and the controls that apply to the property.
The City of Port Phillip sets out the difference plainly: a planning permit allows a change to the use or development of the land, a building permit is approval to construct, alter or extend a building, and where a planning permit is needed it must be in place before a building permit can be issued.
You may need a planning permit to renovate or extend a house. A building permit is needed for demolition, extensions, and most structural alterations, and in Port Phillip it can be issued either by the council's municipal building surveyor or by a private one.
Other approvals can sit alongside them. An asset protection permit may be needed before work starts to protect the footpath and nature strip. Your building surveyor will confirm the full list once the application has been assessed.
How the job runs
- Initial enquiry. Brad answers directly. He asks what you are planning, where the house is, and what you want it to do.
- Site visit. Brad comes out himself and looks at levels, access, what is behind the walls, and what the property will realistically allow.
- Scope. The work is set out in writing before anything starts, so you and Brad are building from the same document.
- Construction. Brad is on site and on the tools, as your one point of contact from start to finish.
- Handover. We walk through the finished work together and sort anything outstanding.
Questions we are asked
Do I need a planning permit to renovate in South Melbourne?
Possibly. It depends on the proposal and the controls that apply to the property. The City of Port Phillip's own guidance is the place to start, and their planning team can confirm the position for your address.
What is checked before the work is set out?
The things old houses hide: stumps, wiring, floor levels, and what previous alterations did to the structure. It is a proper look under and behind, so the work is designed around what is actually there.
Can we stay in the house during the renovation?
Often, yes. Where that works, the job is staged so a working kitchen or bathroom stays usable for as long as possible.
Who handles the permits?
We prepare the documentation and coordinate with the building surveyor and, where needed, the council's planning team. You always know which approval is with whom.
Start a conversation
BOS Construction is registered with the Building and Plumbing Commission, BPC DB-U 38574, and is a member of Master Builders Victoria, with 20 years of experience. Brad O'Shea is the owner and builder, and he stays directly involved on site and on the tools.
If you are planning a renovation in South Melbourne or the inner south, call 0425 808 840 or email info@bosconstruction.com.au. Bring whatever you have, even if it is only a rough idea of which rooms are failing you.
A good place to begin
Share a few details and Bradley will be in touch.