In New South Wales, renovations can be classified into three categories – cosmetic, minor and major. Each of these renovation types have a unique approval process. When planning to remodel your property within a strata scheme in Sydney, it is essential to consider what kind of renovation work you will do and at what point you need your owners corporation approval.
Strata Renovations in Sydney fall into one of three categories:
Cosmetic Renovations
Any superficial changes you would like to make within your own property, to modify its look and feel, could be a cosmetic renovation. To make these changes, you need not seek the approval of the owners corporation. For example, cosmetic work includes painting, laying carpet or installing or replacing hand rails.
However, while making cosmetic renovations within your property, you should remember that you would be responsible for any harm to common property because of the renovations.
Minor Renovations
For minor renovations, approval is needed from the owners corporations. These renovations could include changing recessed light fittings, replacing or changing common infrastructure such as wiring, cabling or power or access points, plumbing and installing a heat pump to name a few. The owners corporation is permitted to impose reasonable conditions on the approval of such works. The owners corporation may likewise ask you to pay for and maintain the hardware or infrastructure you change. They will have particular by-laws outlining these aspects of minor changes – so ensure you are familiar with these by-laws before you begin any renovation work.
Major Renovations
Major Strata Renovations could affect the very structure and system of the property. So they warrant a significantly more stringent approval process. To begin with, the work needs an exceptional resolution vote before it can move ahead. Next, before the work starts, the owner must give the owners corporation written notice at least 14 days, describing the proposed alteration in detail. Dissimilar to minor renovations, the owners corporation can’t delegate approval for major renovations to the strata committee.
Major renovations include basic changes, fire-safety, waterproofing, cladding and insulation, changes influencing the outside appearance of the property, such as an access ramp, work that requires approval under other laws.
The Strata Collective 