Renovation and works by-laws

Renovating a lot almost always touches common property — walls, floors, waterproofing, services. Works beyond minor renovations need authorisation under Section 108 of the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015, usually by a by-law made by special resolution.

Common works we draft for

Bathroom and kitchen renovations (including waterproofing), timber and hard flooring, air conditioning installation and condenser placement, decks, pergolas and verandahs, wall removals and structural alterations, windows and doors, skylights, solar panels, EV charging, and combined whole-of-lot renovations covering all of the above in one by-law.

What a good works by-law does

• Authorises the works precisely, by reference to your plans and scope, so there is no argument later about what was approved.
• Sets sensible conditions — hours, access, protection of common property, insurance, and compliance with approvals.
• Allocates ongoing repair and maintenance of the altered common property, so responsibility is clear for every future owner of the lot.
• Deals with damage and reinstatement, and structures any cost-recovery terms so they remain enforceable under the current case law.

Do you actually need a by-law?

Not every renovation does. Cosmetic work needs no approval, and minor renovations need only a general meeting approval rather than a by-law. Part of our service is telling you which category your works fall into — if a $770 by-law is not required, we say so.

Already done the works?

Works carried out without authorisation can usually be regularised with a retrospective by-law approving what has been built and allocating future maintenance. We draft these regularly, including for works done by previous owners discovered on sale.