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Styling Your Strata Title: How to Navigate Renovations and Remodels - House of Home | Furniture
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Styling Your Strata Title: How to Navigate Renovations and Remodels

When considering a renovation or a remodel to your home, there is much that can be required to put in place. This can be even more important when you share combined land space with other owners as part of an owner’s corporation or other communal housing agreement.  The means of trying to work out space parameters and how to keep everyone happy is one part of navigating what may feel like a minefield, not to mention having to deal with common regulations, without thinking about those that may be specific to your council region.     I can understand how all the bureaucracy can feel like an overwhelming hassle and can make you second guess about doing anything at all.    However, I am here to give you some tips and strategies on how you can navigate your renovation ideas and what can and can’t be allowed, to make sure everyone, including the council, remains in a good mood.   

Check with your strata manager

  Much like any renovation, you often have to deal with multiple types of people, including your owner’s corporation members to gather a clear indication of what you can do legally.   This is where strata consultants can help you decipher what can and can’t be done. They can also help you to get a clear idea of how things need to be managed properly according to your strata title.   In essence, having a strata consultant involved in the process relates to the person who lays out the rules for what can be done as part of shared property.    Of course, what you can do can vary, depending on your state, as there are different regulations from state to state, so please check with them and the relevant council. 

Notify your committee members 

  This is mainly important for structural renovations or outdoor repairs.    For example, when contemplating anything that may require a building or planning permit, you must notify your owner’s corp. This is critical, as any structural part of the building that connects is shared property.    You own anything of interior means as part of your lot, so that’s free reign to do as you wish, however, if renovations, even minor, are going to impact your fellow tenants, this has to be addressed.   It is wise that you do so both in person and in writing. Minor renovations can usually be agreed upon by your strata committee, without the main owner’s corp getting involved.   

Understanding the by-laws of your strata helps you

  Once again, understanding what falls into what you own and what is part of the communal property really can help with knowing how to renovate and remodel your unit, townhouse or lot space.    You technically own anything with an interior wall. However, things, such as fence height and length can come under communal, and the means of what constitutes “minor.”    This can vary from state to state, council to council, even house to house, so check with your council website, as things can be complicated.    While things such as pergolas may be exempt from necessary approval in certain states, such as Victoria, it is wise to assume that things will need to be authorised.     Certain by-laws are also put in place for the benefit of your fellow tenants, such as no power tools being used on weekends. Once again make sure you review your planning rules with your local government area.   

Get in design experts: 

  Whether it is a unit, a townhouse or a flat, it is wise to call in professionals to design the layout of the remodel.    This not only helps to make it more legit with your committee but also helps to make sure that you get the optimum impact out of what you want for your dwelling.   

Put yourself in your fellow tenants’ shoes:

  Once you get the government approval, it helps to be considerate about how you manage the project and to be empathetic.   Consider how you would feel from their perspective. Think about how you would be with drilling early in the morning, not exactly a pleasant experience is it?   Therefore, it is wise that you inform your neighbours of when your trades will be working on the property, and how certain disruptions due to the renovations will affect them so that you can all work together to make sure that they run smoothly.  

Conclusion:

  Hence, when it comes to doing a renovation of your unit, townhouse or apartment, remember these important things to make life easy.   
  • Check with the manager on what are the dos and don’ts of what can be done. 
 
  • Notify your main members to get approval for anything structural.
 
  • Understand your by-laws, such as noise and what work can be done at certain levels or heights.
 
  • Get in design professionals so that things are worked to the best layout.
 
  • Make a wise decision to make sure everyone gets along on site. A bit of thoughtfulness goes a long way. 
  Good luck to you dear renovators!