March 19, 2025

The Design & Building Practitioners Act: What It Means for Your Apartment Renovation

By Scott Pearse · 3 minute read

Here at TightKnit Building Design, we specialise in apartment renovations anywhere in NSW, especially when it comes to making apartments more liveable and functional. But lately, we’ve been fielding a lot of questions about a big change in the approval process: the Design & Building Practitioners Act (D&BPA). So, let’s break it down in plain English - why it exists, why it’s suddenly affecting your 80-year-old apartment, and how to find the professionals you need to get your reno approved.

What Is the Design & Building Practitioners Act, and Why Was It Introduced?

In short? To crack down on dodgy construction work. You might remember the Mascot Towers debacle - a prime example of why confidence in apartment buildings took a nosedive. To fix this, the NSW Building Commission introduced the D&BPA, which put the legal heat on more consultants in the construction process. The goal? Ensuring future homeowners had someone to hold accountable if things went pear-shaped.

Before this, developers would often "phoenix" their companies - closing up shop and disappearing before anyone could sue them for shoddy work. Now, more responsibility (and liability) is placed on registered design and building practitioners. Good in theory, right? Well…

If It’s About New Buildings, Why Does It Apply to My 80-Year-Old Apartment?

Excellent question! And honestly, it seems like no one who wrote the legislation thought much about the thousands of apartment renovations happening every year in NSW.

Essentially, the same strict approval process that applies to a brand-new 40-storey high-rise also applies to your humble bathroom upgrade. So yes, the paperwork for the waterproofing under your new tiles is now comparable to what’s required for an entire new apartment building. Sounds fair, right? (No, not really.)

What Are the Consequences of the D&BPA?

One word: cost.

Approvals now require more consultants, more paperwork, and more fees. One of our clients in Sydney recently went through this with a simple balcony waterproofing project. Back in 2018, it cost $18,000 to approve and complete. Today? They’ve been quoted $78,000 for an identical balcony in the same building. While construction costs have gone up about 30%, the bulk of that increase is due to consultant and approval fees.

BUT the D&BPA has also increased homeowners' ability to find someone to pay for the remediation or to fix the work - should it fail. With 80% of all insurance claims in apartment buildings being the result of water - flooding, leaks, rising damp - this new level of protection for consumers is welcome but at what cost?

So What Should I Do? Give Up on My Apartment Renovation?

Absolutely not. Everyone in NSW is in the same boat. So yes, there are more upfront costs, but we're also finding that the requirements are producing better drawings with less chance of mistakes being made in construction. We’re finding that people who take the plunge and crack on are seeing the value of their apartments increase far beyond their investment. This legislation has put a handbrake on a lot of projects, so renovated apartments are attracting a premium and will continue to do so. And it’s hard to put a price on living in a space you love… Actually… if you give us a call we can help you do that.

Can I Just Go Ahead and Do My Apartment Renovation Without Having to Worry About All This Stuff?

Yes, if you keep the changes you're making within "exempt development" you can avoid a consent process and the D&BPA. One of TightKnit Building Design’s specialties is designing for exempt development, helping you navigate the rules while achieving your renovation goals. But if you choose to move ahead with illegal works, all it will take is one neighbour mentioning to the council that you've built without permission or, worse, if you go to sell and don’t disclose the illegal works, it can be very costly.

How to Find a Registered Design Practitioner

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t worry - we’ve got you. You can search for or verify a registered design practitioner here: NSW Government Licence Check.

Or, you know, you could just chat with us at TightKnit Building Design. We’re registered, experienced, and - best of all - we actually understand what’s going on and have worked through the process multiple times.