NSW: Does a bathroom renovation affect strata insurance cover?

Question: We’re planning a bathroom renovation in our strata unit. Do we need to tell our insurer beforehand, and could it affect our cover if something goes wrong?

We’re about to do a full bathroom renovation in our unit, replacing the tiles, vanity and shower. Do we need to notify our strata insurer before we start? Could the work affect our building insurance cover if something goes wrong during or after the renovation?

Answer: A standard bathroom renovation usually falls below the value threshold that would require notifying your strata insurer.

Most strata insurance policies include conditions relating to construction works, renovations or building alterations. These conditions vary between insurers and should always be checked before work commences.

For the insurers that Strata Insurance Solutions deals with, notification is generally only required once renovation or construction works exceed a specified value, typically somewhere between $250,000 and $1,000,000, depending on the insurer and policy. A standard bathroom renovation involving the replacement of tiles, a vanity and a shower would generally fall well below these thresholds and would not usually need to be notified to the insurer.

That said, not all insurers have the same policy conditions. Some insurers, particularly those offering policies directly to consumers, may have different notification requirements or exclusions that apply to renovation works. It is therefore important to check the specific terms, conditions and exclusions of your policy before starting the renovation.

This information is of a general nature only and neither represents nor is intended to be personal advice on any particular matter. Shandit Pty Ltd T/as Strata Insurance Solutions strongly suggests that no person should act specifically on the basis of the information in this document, but should obtain appropriate professional advice based on their own personal circumstances and the specific coverage afforded under their policy wording. Shandit Pty Ltd T/As Strata Insurance Solutions is a Corporate Authorised Representative (No. 404246) of Insurance Advisernet Australia AFSL No 240549, ABN 15 003 886 687.

This post appears in the September 2026 edition of The NSW Strata Magazine.

Tyrone Shandiman
Strata Insurance Solutions
E: tshandiman@iaa.net.au
P: 1300 554 165