# Sydney couple were denied a tiny balcony over privacy fears. Now a huge extension is going up next door – and their neighbours didn’t even need council approval

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/sydney-couple-were-denied-a-tiny-balcony-over-privacy-fears-now-a-huge-extension-is-going-up-next-door-and-their-neighbours-didnt-even-need-council-approval/
- Published: 2026-11-12T20:56:10+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-12T21:19:13+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16282737/sydney-neighbours-extension-certifier-council-damage-privacy-fears.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: World

## Key points

- Couple say a neighbouring extension has damaged their Tamarama home.
- Their balcony was refused over privacy concerns.
- Council has asked the private certifier to review their concerns.

## Summary

A Sydney couple say a two-storey extension next door is affecting their privacy and safety, and has caused cracks and water damage to their home. They question why their neighbours could build a much larger addition after the couple were refused a small balcony in 2011 over concerns it would overlook nearby properties.

The neighbours’ project was approved through a Complying Development Certificate issued by a private certifier, a route intended to speed up building work when planning standards are met. Waverley Council says it has asked the certifier, Sydney Wide Certifiers, to review the couple’s concerns; the neighbours have agreed to fix damage linked to construction. The neighbouring home sold for more than $3 million last year, and NSW reforms have raised the maximum penalty for certifiers breaching conflict-of-interest rules from $33,000 to $1.1 million.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.