Is it too Expensive to Renovate an Apartment?

At TightKnit Building Design, we live and breathe apartment renovations. And if there’s one thing that always surprises people, it’s the cost of getting consent. So, I recently ran a LinkedIn poll to see what people think it costs to get approvals for an apartment renovation - and the responses were pretty interesting!

What the Poll Said

I asked: How much do you think it costs to get consent for an apartment renovation project? A couple of voters said $15k, some went with $30k, and just one person picked $50k.

If I had voted, I’d have gone with $30k - because, in our experience, consenting usually costs around 10% of the total build cost. That said, I totally get why people think $15k is the right answer - it’s what it should be in a perfect world. But, as we all know, reality doesn’t always match expectations.

What Industry Insiders Know

The only person who voted for $50k? Another design practitioner who, like me, specializes in apartment renovations. And honestly, they’re not wrong. Since the Design & Building Practitioners Act came into play, we’ve seen quite a few projects under $300k in build value that ended up costing up to $50k just to get consent.

There’s a real gap between what people think consent should cost and what it actually costs, especially in apartment renovations. Regulations are tighter, and compliance is more complex than most homeowners realize.

How to Keep Consent Costs Down

So, what can you do to avoid spending more than necessary? Here are a couple of key strategies:

• Avoid work that requires consent. Structural changes and exterior modifications will almost always trigger approvals, which can drive costs way up.

• Be smart about your application. Too often, we see projects including works that don’t even need consent, which just adds to the bill. By working with someone who knows the system inside out, you can make sure you’re only applying for what’s actually required.

Final Thoughts

Planning an apartment renovation? Knowing upfront what consent will cost can help you budget realistically and avoid nasty surprises. While we all wish approvals were cheaper and easier, the rules are there for a reason. The key is to be strategic - work with experienced professionals, and don’t pay for unnecessary approvals!