Good News, NSW Apartment Owners! Minor Renovations Are About to Get a Whole Lot Easier

Renovating your apartment in NSW? Get ready to pop some bottles (or at least a celebratory cup of tea) because, from mid-2025, minor renovations will get an automatic green light if your strata committee doesn’t respond within three months. That’s right - silence means approval!

But before you start swinging a sledgehammer, let’s talk about what this actually means.

What’s a Minor Renovation, Anyway?

First things first, “minor renovation” doesn’t mean whatever you want it to mean. You might think knocking out a wall to “open up the space” is minor, but your upstairs neighbour might strongly disagree (especially if their kitchen ends up in your living room).

Typically, minor renovations include things like:

• Installing or replacing kitchen cabinets

• Flooring changes (e.g., switching from carpet to timber)

• Air conditioning installation

• Double glazing on windows

• Bathroom renovations that don’t affect waterproofing

But here’s the catch - your specific strata scheme’s by-laws dictate what’s considered minor. So before you get too excited, check your by-laws! Or better yet, let us review your building's documentation with you to create the best path forward for your design.

What Does Automatic Approval Mean?

Under the new law, your strata committee has three months to say yes or no (and if they refuse, they must provide written reasons). If they don’t respond within that time, your minor renovation is approved by default.

This is fantastic news if you’ve ever dealt with a committee that moves at the speed of a sloth on a hot day. No more endless waiting for a decision while your dream renovation sits on hold.

But Hold Up -You Still Need to Do It Right

Just because approval might be automatic doesn’t mean you can skip the paperwork. You still need to submit a formal request and ensure your renovation complies with your strata scheme’s by-laws, building regulations, and any council requirements. Think of it like booking concert tickets -just because you got them doesn’t mean you can waltz backstage like a rock star.

How TightKnit Building Design Can Help

Understanding strata by-laws can feel like trying to read ancient hieroglyphics, but don’t worry - we speak fluent “strata.” At TightKnit Building Design, we help homeowners navigate the approval process by:

• Reviewing your strata by-laws to confirm if your project qualifies as minor

• Preparing your application so it’s clear, complete, for the best chance of approval

• Advising on what to expect from your strata committee and how to handle any roadblocks

So if you’re itching to revamp your space and want to avoid unnecessary delays, get in touch with us. We’ll help you get it done - legally, smoothly, and with as little frustration as possible.