Transforming Your Home: A Friendly Guide to Strata Renovations

April 5, 2026 Insurance, Management

Renovating your home is an exciting milestone. In a Western Australian strata community, your journey is shared with your neighbors. Because certain parts of your building-like the roof and external walls-are can be common property (owned by all owners), there is a helpful approval process in place. This ensures that every upgrade remains safe, keeps collective insurance valid, and protects the value of your investment. A professional strata management team can offer guidance and expertise to support you through every step of making your vision a reality while staying compliant with the Strata Titles Act 1985.

Understanding Our Community Rules

Every strata scheme has its own unique “personality” reflected in its by-laws. While the By-laws help everyone live harmoniously, your specific scheme might have special guidelines for things like floor acoustics or where to place air conditioning units. Reviewing these early is a great way to ensure your renovation fits perfectly within community standards.

The Strata Titles Act 1985 (WA) is the primary law that helps communities manage these changes together. It groups renovations into mainly three categories:

Non Structural internal changes
Sustainability infrastructure
Structural alterations-regulated

Knowing which category your project falls into is the first step toward a successful start.

Is My Project Non-Structural or Structural?

The path to approval is based on how much your project interacts with the shared parts of the building:

Non-Structural: Internal painting, laying new carpet, or adding built-in wardrobes usually don’t require formal approval. As long as they don’t change the building’s structure or look from the outside, you’re free to begin!
Sustainability infrastructure: Projects like installing air conditioning, solar panels or blinds etc usually require an “Ordinary Resolution” or a “Special Resolution.” This type of vote would involve all owners, ensuring everyone is comfortable with any acoustic or visual changes.
Structural alterations: If you’re removing walls or waterproofing a bathroom, your project could be considered structural. It is important to note that these legally require a “Resolution Without Dissent,” meaning no owner objects. While this high level of care protects the structural safety, amenities and insurance of everyone in the scheme, it means a single objection can impact your approval.

Your Simple 5-Step Path to Approval

Let’s Talk Process: Contact your strata committee or strata management team to obtain the necessary application forms and a clear checklist for your specific project.
Share Your Plan: Submit your proposal with drawings and contractor details. The more info you share, the faster the process can move forward.
Collaborative Review: The committee will review your request. For structural work, an independent expert might take a look just to give everyone peace of mind that the building remains safe.
The Vote: Your proposal is put to a vote. This resolution provides the legal green light for your project to begin.
Start with Confidence: You will receive written notice of approval, which may include signing an indemnity or providing proof of contractor insurance or registering a By-law before work may commence.

Quality Standards for Your Protection

To ensure your home is handled with care, it is highly recommended that all contractors meet these standards:

Qualified Experts: Tradespeople must be licensed in WA, ensuring all work meets the National Construction Code and high Australian Standards.
Insurance Peace of Mind: Contractors must have current Public Liability and Workers’ Compensation. This keeps you and the community safe from any unexpected costs.
Clear Documentation: Certified plans from architects or engineers help ensure that plumbing or structural changes are done right the first time.

Being a Great Neighbor During Construction

Maintaining a friendly atmosphere during your renovation is easy with these simple “House Rules” adopted by most communities:

Quiet Times: Limit noisy work to 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM on weekdays so your neighbors can still enjoy their quiet time (your strata company may have different times).
Keep in Touch: Giving your neighbors a friendly heads-up about drilling or plumbing shutdowns goes a long way in maintaining community spirit.
Shared Space Care: Notify the strata committee or management team if you need to use the elevator for materials. They can help arrange protective coverings to keep shared areas looking great.

Why Approval Matters

Skipping the approval step can unfortunately lead to some stressful situations that you will want to avoid, such as:

Having to pause work unexpectedly until everything is reviewed.
Potential costs to undo changes if they don’t meet safety codes.
Delays when you eventually decide to sell your property.
Risks to your insurance coverage.

Helpful Documents to Have Ready

For larger projects, having these on hand will make your application a breeze:

Certified Structural Engineering reports.
Certificates of Compliance for waterproofing in wet areas.
Independent acoustic testing results for hard flooring installations.
A detailed Schedule of Finishes to ensure aesthetic consistency with the building exterior.

What to Expect for Timing

The committee generally reviews applications within 28 days, however the overall approval timeframe can vary depending on the nature of the works and the level of approval required.

As a guide, you should allow a minimum of approximately 77 days, with more complex proposals (particularly those requiring broader approval or additional documentation) potentially taking up to 16 weeks from start to finish.

To help keep things moving within these timeframes, it’s important that all required documentation is provided upfront, and that any follow-up questions or requested information are responded to promptly. Delays in providing information or completing required actions can extend the approval period.

Allowing sufficient lead time will help ensure your project can commence as planned and will minimise any unnecessary delays.

Ready to Get Started?

A successful renovation is built on clear communication and compliance. We understand that navigating strata legislation can be complex, and having the right support makes all the difference.

If you are an existing client ready to submit your application, or an owner looking for a dedicated, proactive strata management team to better support your entire building, we are here to assist.