Council Building Enforcement Resolution Specialists
You’ve Received a Building Notice. Now, Let’s Get It Resolved.
The “Show Cause” letter from your local Council is intimidating, but it isn’t the end of the world. We are Registered Building Surveyors who act as your bridge to the Council, turning legal stress into a clear, manageable plan.
Ethelden Consulting Is here to help, not judge.
You Aren’t a Criminal. You’re Just a Homeowner Caught in a Complex System.
Most of our clients come to us feeling blindsided. Maybe you trusted a builder or friend to flag the permits. Maybe a planning department staff member told you, “You don’t need a permit for that deck.” Or perhaps you’ve lived with a shed for a decade, only to be hit with a neighbour’s complaint.
Suddenly, you’re facing deadlines, legal jargon, and the threat of heavy fines. It feels like the Council is trying to break you, and the “Show Cause” process looks like a mountain you can’t climb alone.
We know how it feels to be treated like you’ve done something wrong when you were just trying to improve your home.
At Ethelden, we are here to assist you.
Why Homeowners Choose Ethelden to Handle Council Disputes
Why Homeowners Choose Ethelden to Handle Council Disputes.
We Speak “Council” (So You Don’t Have To) Building legislation is a maze that is constantly changing. We take the technical jargon and translate it into plain English. We explain exactly what the Council wants and how we’re going to give it to them.
Direct Access to the Experts You won’t be passed off to a junior or a receptionist. You deal directly with our Director, Ben, a Registered Building Surveyor (Unlimited) with years of experience in local Victorian councils. You get professional authority with a human touch.
No “Bells and Whistles”, Just Results We don’t believe in over complicating things to charge more. We provide a streamlined service focused on one goal: resolving your Building Notice or Order so you can move on with your life.
We understand the cheapest way out is to remove illegal works however if a well advised home-owner wants to retain then we will fight for them.
our process
Our 4-Step Roadmap to Resolution.
The Briefing
You send us your Council documents. We review them immediately to understand the specific “non-compliance” issues.
Fee Proposal
We provide a transparent cost breakdown for an initial inspection and a report detailing the issues and avenues for rectification.
The Advocacy
We contact the Council on your behalf. This usually “stops the clock,” giving us the time needed to prepare a proper response and keep the matter out of court.
The Inspection, Report & Proposed Pathway to Compliance
We visit your property to find ways to achieve compliance by proving the work is safe. Our goal is to submit a professional report that results in a “Letter of No Further Action” from the Council.
Qualified. Registered. Trusted.
Professional Service for real people by real people.
Rest assured, our staff are registered with the Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC), formerly the Victorian Building Authority (VBA),as Building Surveyors.
This is the highest level of registration possible (Unlimited), meaning there is no residential or commercial project too complex for us to handle. We’ve helped hundreds of Victorian homeowners resolve illegal building matters, from simple pergolas to complex structural issues.