Question: Do strata managers usually charge a lot owner the same administration fee for approving a minor renovation at a simple strata committee meeting as a major renovation at a general meeting, requiring a new special by-law?
Answer: The strata manager would spend a similar amount of time assessing both minor and major applications, so a flat fee is reasonable.
NSW strata managers have differing ways of charging for their time spent processing applications by lot owners for minor renovations or renovations requiring a general meeting resolution/by law. Some may charge the owners corporation a set fee per application, while others may charge an hourly rate. Either way, the charges should be clearly set out in the management agreement between the owners corporation and the managing agent. In your case, as you have not mentioned the cost, I can’t comment on whether the charge sounds fair for the time spent.
In answer to your question on whether it’s normal for a minor renovation and major renovation application to cost the same, my experience is that the strata manager would spend a similar amount of time in assessing these applications and advising the strata committee on the correct process for approval and record-keeping etc. so for the same flat fee to be charged does not sound unreasonable.
This post appears in the April 2025 edition of The NSW Strata Magazine.
Edward Baker
Responsive Strata
E: edward.baker@responsivestrata.com.au
P: 0493 970 875

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