Question: An owner wants to renovate an existing bathroom. What documents does the owners corporation need to approve the work?
I’m planning to renovate the existing bathroom in my lot. What documents do I need to submit to the owners corporation for approval?
Answer: The owners corporation will typically need a scope of works, plans and contractor details, followed by a by-law registered at your cost.
Typically, an owners corporation will require:
- A scope of works/quotation
- Plans/drawings/diagrams/engineering certification where relevant
- Evidence of contractors’ licence and insurance
- Confirmation as to whether the original layout and services locations will be retained or modified
- In case of any drainage etc. alterations or other works requiring core penetration, slab imaging to confirm that the penetration will not compromise the structural integrity of the building
Then, the owners corporation will require a by-law to be drafted and registered on the folio of the common property at your cost (unless your particular scheme has a generic major renovations by-law).
This post appears in Strata News #813.
Leanne Habib
Premium Strata
E: info@premiumstrata.com.au
P: 02 9281 6440
We’re new to strata. What documents are required for renovations of kitchens and laundries? In our scheme each unit has a laundry inside the unit. Are the documents the same as for the bathroom renovations listed in Ms Habib’s reply of 12 October 2026?
Some owners have renovated their kitchens and did not submit a by-law. We were told that a by-law is not always necessary for some renovations. Can you please explain when a by-law is or is not required for renovations.
By-laws are only necessary for works which fall outside the categories of “cosmetic works” or ” minor renovations” as defined in the Strata Schemes Management Act, 2015 (NSW) and Strata Schemes Management Regulation, 2016 (NSW).
NSW Fair Trading provides a useful summary as per the link below:
https://www.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-construction/strata/living/renovations
What do you mean by introducing a By Law on the folio on the common property?
Apart from builders rego and insurance, Plans drafted etc.
Work conducted within internal walls, including repositioning of plumbing pipe and power points etc ! Are unit owners responsibility are they not??…. Given work is conducted by accredited trades people of course!
The folio of the common property is the Owners Corporation’s certificate of title. Even if a by-law is passed by special resolution in general meeting to authorise major works, it has no legal effectiveness until registered on the Owners Corporation’s certificate of title in the Office of the Registrar-General. However, not all works require by-laws. Some works under the strata legislation are categorised as “cosmetic works”” (requiring no approval of the Owners Corporation or “minor renovations” (requiring ordinary resolution of the Owners Corporation or majority vote of the Strata Committee if they are delegated that power).
NSW Fair Trading provides a useful summary:
https://www.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-construction/strata/living/renovations