Australia’s property market is no stranger to high stakes, but for one retired couple, a decades-old renovation decision has spiralled into a potential six-figure dispute with their local council, threatening their very home.
Chai and Emmy Teoh, both in their 70s, are facing a nightmare scenario that could see them forced to demolish a granny flat built over their backyard pool some 25 years ago.
The Whitehorse City Council is demanding compliance, a move the couple claims could cost them upwards of $101,000 in fines and demolition expenses, potentially forcing them to sell the property they’ve called home for decades.
The Teohs, residents of Melbourne’s east, converted their disused backyard pool into a storage area and built a granny flat on top after their children had grown.
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While they admit permits should have been sought at the time, they are now pleading for leniency, citing their age and the structure’s longstanding presence without incident.
“This is… taking a very bad toll on my household,” Emmy Teoh told A Current Affair, highlighting the immense stress and financial burden.
The Teoh’s could lose their family home. Source: A Current Affair
Permits should have been sought at the time, something that eventually tripped the couple up decades later. Source: A Current Affair
Their adult son, Joseph, 41, echoed her sentiments, accusing the council of “bullying tactics” and revealing the toll the ongoing saga has taken on his father’s health.
“What they’ve (council) requested is complete demolition of the two structures, complete demolition of the pool that existed when my parents bought the property in the early 90s,” he too told the broadcaster.
Chai agrees. “Just let us live our lives … I’m coming to 80 next year, and I don’t know why they’re pursuing all this,” he said.
The council, however, maintains a firm stance on property compliance and safety.
A spokesperson for Whitehorse City Council stated they have been working with the property owners for over five years to find a “fair and reasonable solution” for the “illegal building matter.”
The granny flat was built above the pool way back in the 90s. Source: A Current Affair
The pool has been used as storage for decades. Source: A Current Affair
“Safety is our top priority, and the goal is to achieve building compliance, ensuring the property remains safe for the current and any future owners,” the spokesperson said.
They emphasised that permits are a legal requirement designed to protect residents and properties from structural and environmental hazards.
As it stands, the council has offered the Teohs two options: either engage a private building surveyor to certify the existing structures and obtain a retrospective building permit, or proceed with the complete removal of both the granny flat and the covered pool.
They claim to have provided “multiple opportunities” and “seven extensions or pauses” since 2022 for the couple to achieve compliance.
However, the Teohs argue they simply don’t have the financial means to cover the surveyor’s costs, let alone the potential demolition bill.
The prospect of a $100,000 expense is a significant blow to their retirement security, raising the very real possibility of a forced sale of their beloved home.
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