Hi there. Unfortunately, your question was not answered sooner by a lawyer. The LawAdvisor Research Team has picked up your question and provided some general advice in relation to your situation. Remember, you still have the option of consulting a lawyer directly at any time by pressing the “Consult a Lawyer” button.

You said that you have purchased a factory to run a dance school, but another person or organisation has made a complaint. It is not clear whether the complaint was made against your dance school or the actual factory, and what the complaint is about. You said that the council is involved and that your business may face closure or loss of income. Unfortunately, the exact nature of your legal problem is not clear from the information you provided. The information below is of a general nature only and should not be considered specific advice.

The Victorian Civil & Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) is a low-cost and accessible independent tribunal that can hear and decide matters or disputes that relate to specific areas of law. VCAT can hear matters that relate to planning and environment law, such as land developments, planning permits and how land is used. VCAT can also review decisions relating to land and property that have been made by a local council. In your situation, the complaint may have been made to a local council about how you are using the factory and that decision may now be subject to review in VCAT. You can represent yourself in VCAT without a lawyer, although you would benefit from speaking to a lawyer before attending the tribunal to understand your legal rights and how best to enforce them. More information about VCAT is available at www.vcat.vic.gov.au.

You may also want to contact your local council to find out what the complaint or dispute is about. Local councils are responsible for regulating how land and buildings within their catchment area are used. These regulations include what types of businesses can be run in particular areas, noise and traffic restrictions in certain areas, and the provision of permits for developing land or buildings. Speaking to your local council will help you understand what rules you must follow when running your dance school in the factory.