Are you thinking of renovating your apartment? Or in the midst of making your renovation plans?
Whatever the case, it’s renovation season!
Whether it be spicing up your current home with a new paint job or renovating an apartment that you’re about to move into, apartment renovations will always be an exciting and innovative creative process.
The best thing about it is that you get an apartment completely customised to your needs and personal style.
However, if you’re renovating a rented apartment or even house, you can’t just do what you want. Renovating an apartment involves gaining strata approval from the body corporate, your building manager and even the structural engineer.
But more on that below…
Before you start renovating an apartment…
Apartment renovations come in many different forms. It could be a bathroom renovation, the kitchen or the whole apartment itself.
After deciding to renovate your apartment, you might need to consider the scale of your renovations. Are you planning to do major works or make minor structural changes?
How do I start my renovation process?
Here are a few things to do when bringing your renovation plans to fruition:
- Make a checklist of the areas you want to renovate
- Start setting a budget for each specific part of your renovation process
- Source out a team of trustable and skilled apartment renovation specialists
- Familiarise yourself with the strata by-laws of your apartment complex
- Check if there are any noise restrictions established in your apartment building
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What must I consider before starting renovations?
As simple as a successful renovation may sound, there is actually more to the entire renovation process than meets the eye.
Let’s dive into the nitty-gritty stuff that cannot be avoided.
When it comes to apartment renovations, it is easy to create a whole vision board that encapsulates your wants and desires for your dream apartment.
The list of things you can do to add more value to your house is endless. They can range from building a partition in your living area, installing floor-to-ceiling windows for the illusion of space or hacking down internal walls between rooms for a more “open” concept.
Can’t I just do whatever I want to when it comes to renovations?
Simply put: No, you can’t.
Renovating an apartment is a completely different ball game from renovating a house. Your apartment complex is a common property where not only you live in, but many other residents as well.
When you execute your renovation project, it doesn’t just affect you alone. Your neighbours are affected too. Construction creates a lot of unwanted noise.
This might take a toll on your direct neighbours as the noise transfer might potentially be rather serious.
It doesn’t just stop at you deciding what renovations you want to do, it also involves gaining strata approval from the body corporate, your building manager and even the structural engineer.
Body corporate sets a certain set of rules for your apartment complex in terms of approvals to renovate your house.
A whole approval process is required for you to ensure that your renovation project is not only feasible but also if it is generally allowed according to your strata by-laws.
What are strata by-laws?
By-laws are rules that you have to obey to enjoy living with other residents in the community. If residents abide by these by-laws, more often than not, they will be able to live stress-free.
Further information included in the by-laws is as such:
- what you can and cannot change in your apartments ⎯ the type of flooring you can use in your living areas or bathrooms, any projects relating to changing your floors or even the type of windows in your building
- what you can do to protect the common areas from damage during your renovation – if you are moving bulky items into the elevators, remember to pad the walls with cushioning!
- whether you can install new air-conditioning units
- whether you can perform hacking on internal walls
- the materials that are approved for use during your projects
It is important that you find out what these are, otherwise, you’ll be ending up with a huge mess that you might end up paying lots of money to fix and undo.
Also, the laws do differ from state to state, country to country and vice versa. So, if you are moving interstate and planning on doing unit renovations, do take note of the changes.
What happens if I renovated without strata approval?
Unfortunately, if you renovate your apartment without the appropriate approval, this might incur financial penalties.
In another worst case scenario, you will be asked to undo the renovations and restore it to the original form.
If you find yourself in this situation, speak to your strata manager. It is important that you be as transparent as possible and show that you are willing to provide whatever details are required.
It is difficult to figure out the chances of strata management asking you to undo your renovations as it will be hard to restore the common property. After all, if any renovations have been done, the original fixtures would have probably been destroyed.
The main point is: Have an open line of communication with your strata manager.
What types of renovation are there?
Just an FYI, different projects that you decide to take on fall under different categories. Depending on which category your project falls under, you will require approval from different bodies of authority.
Apartment renovations do get really complicated and a lot of information can be quite hard to comprehend. But, fret not! We are going to help you to understand it a little better.
There are three categories when it comes to renovations:
1. Cosmetic work
They involve jobs like painting the walls of your apartment, filling up existing holes and cracks in the walls, laying out carpet flooring and adding various appliances and furniture to enhance your apartment. Adding balcony screens for privacy are also considered cosmetic.
They are essentially surface upgrades made to the interior of your bedroom and bathroom.
Who do I go to for approval of cosmetic work?
Cosmetic work does not require approval from the council, owners corporation (a.k.a. body corporate) and the strata committee. But, here are some temporary wall ideas for renters in case you wanna be safe.
The owners corporation typically changes their by-laws to classify certain jobs as ‘cosmetic’ so that owners do not have to constantly seek approval from them or gain council approval.
2. Minor renovations
Minor renovations are jobs that do not affect the external appearance of buildings and do not lead to any structural changes. Most of the popular renovation processes that homeowners engage in fall under this category.
A few examples are changing wooden flooring, kitchen renovations and replacing internal walls.
Who do I go to for approval of minor renovations?
Owners corporations usually delegate approval power to the strata committee regarding minor renovations. If the strata committee does not have the power to do so, you will need to seek approval during an Annual General Meeting (AGM).
To gain approval for any minor renovation, you need to provide a floor plan from your contractor, your intended schedule for the work done, an acoustic certificate if it involves soundproofing and the contact details of your contractors and tradespeople.
3. Major renovations
Many homeowners ask if they can renovate the bathrooms in their apartments.
The answer is yes! You absolutely can.
Renovations done to your bathroom or anything that requires waterproofing is considered a major renovation and it simply requires approval from your strata management. More information is provided down below.
Other works that fall under the ‘major renovations’ category will be structure-related changes, additions that affect the outer appearance of a building like adding an access ramp and lastly, any changes that require approval under other laws i.e. council approval.
Who do I go to for approval of major renovations?
Approval of major renovations is done by a special resolution which means that the job must be approved by at least 75% of the owners corporations.
Homeowners also need to provide a detailed scope of the work to be done to the owners corporation at least 14 days before work begins.
With regards to any category of renovation, if you are a tenant, do write to your landlord for permission before getting any work done.
Who can guide me along my renovation journey?
If you feel lost or unsure as to where to start with your renovation plans, do consider getting help from professionals.
Renovation jargon can be very unfamiliar to many individuals, especially if they are new to renovations. So, getting the right help is essential in your journey! You don’t want to blindly agree to terms that you do not understand.
By engaging with an interior designer, they are usually the one-stop do-it-all point for you when it comes to apartment renovations. They deal directly with the contractors and tradespeople and ensure that your apartment renovation goes as smoothly as possible.
Discussing a budget with your them will also roughly give you an estimation of all the work you can potentially do to flip your apartment.
The professionals will also be the best source of advice for you with regards to making sure that all the decisions you make are feasible and sound.
Lastly, enjoy the process!
Start gathering inspiration for your renovations either from interior design magazines or social media sites like Pinterest.
Making these small or major changes in your home can really breathe new life into your existing living spaces. An old bathroom can be flipped entirely to look like a bathroom straight out of a hotel.
The opportunities are endless!
Remember, you don’t get to renovate your homes every day so make it as fulfilling and enjoyable as possible.
FAQs on renovating an apartment
Can I claim renovations on my rental property?
Yes, you can claim renovations on your rental property as an investor. Capital works depreciation covers the costs of building construction or significant improvements, like adding rooms or upgrading bathrooms. These deductions are typically claimed over 40 years at an annual rate of 2.5%.
Can a landlord do renovations while occupied in Australia?
Yes, a landlord can do renovations while occupied in Australia but this depends on the agreement. During a tenancy, any installation of fixtures, renovations, alterations, or additions to the rented property requires consent from the other party. The tenancy agreement typically outlines the tenant’s rights regarding these changes.
Is it worth renovating an investment property?
Yes, renovating your investment property can significantly increase its value along with natural market appreciation. In a rapidly rising property market, even minor renovations can quickly enhance capital growth.
Should you renovate a house before renting?
The timing and extent of renovations depend on your relationship with the tenant, the nature of the work, its benefits to them, and potential disruptions. Your property manager can offer the best advice on when to conduct renovations and what improvements might enhance your investment.
Are you looking to renovate your investment property?
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