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Topic
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I have never lived in or owned an apartment before, however I am about to do so soon.
I was wondering is someone could explain what is & what isn't common property?
What do I need to seek approval for?
For example:
1. the doors within an apartment, can i change them or do i need approval?
2. Timber flooring with the apartment, can I change it for another type of timber flooring?
3. The kitchen, can I put in a new one.
4. The outdoor terrace am i able to have it landscaped e.g. vertical garden attached to 1.7m front terrace wall https://www.homeimprovementpages.com.au/article/vertical_gardens_for_apartments? can I cover the tiles with timber decking?
5. Can i enclose a section of the front entry terrace with low visability cat mesh, so that my cats can have some outdoor space, with disturbing neighbours or soiling common areas.
https://www.catmax.com.au/clearnet-enclosures.php
6. Can i add a feature wallpaper to a couple of internal walls?
7. Can i install any type of lighting i want internally?
8. can i wall mount cupboards in the living room, wall mount a tv?
Would appreciate any help thanks.
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Replies
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A reasonable starting point is here:
https://www.ocv.org.au/pdfs/API_Article_Dec07.pdf
The rules can vary from state to state (or territory) but all interior decorating should be OK.
Thanks Austman
For NSW, go HERE to find similar material.
To answer Deliria1's questions (as best I can) there are three levels of notification and permission you have to consider.
For minor alterations – painting the inside and maybe even changing internal doors (as long as you don't affect the integrity of common property structures) – you can pretty much go ahead. Strict interpretation of some by-laws would mean you couldn't even nail a picture hook to a common property (external or adjoining) but nobody really pays any heed to that and some strata plans have used a permission provision to remove walls entirely.
The second level is where you are doing major work that doesn't affect common property in any significant way (like installing a new kitchen, for instance). The law requires you to give two weeks notice to your executive committee. A good EC or building manager will come back to you and negotiate work times etc in exchange for cincessions like allowing your tradesmen to use visitors parking exclusively, for instance.
Finally there are works that involve significant changes to common property (like tiling your balcony, for instance) which will require a special resolution at a General Meeting allowing you to do the work in exchange for taking ongoing responsibility for its repairs and maintenance.
Confused? Welcome to strata. But don't worry, it's mostly all common sense.
On question 1, I'd say as long as it's non-common property doors, you are OK to go ahead. But remember balcony doors are probably common property.
2. Tricky. This is one where you have to weigh the risk of doing the right thing – telling the EC you are doing it – with the very real possibility they might try to stop you if they have had previous problems with timber floors. However, if you can show your floor will be better insulated than the existing one, you should be OK. Check your by-laws and talk to your strata manager, building manager or nearest EC member. Or get creative and call it a repair job
But don't whatever you do skimp on the insulation, regardless of what's currently there. Badly insulated timber floors mean a world of pain for your neighbours and ultimately, you.
3. Yes you can but you have to tell the EC you are doing it. Note, this is not seeking approval, just letting them know. However, there may be issues with common property so be open about this. Everybody wants to renovate sooner or later so nobody's going to block you on principle (and if they do there are ways round that).
4. If the terrace is common property (check your floor plan) you may need permission to cover the tiles. Whether or not that requires a special resolution is another matter. Also check for any by-laws that require your terrace to be visually in keeping with the rest of the block.
5. Strictly speaking you will need EC approval at the very least, and possibly a special resolution. Or you could test how low the low-visibility really is. Put it in and see if anyone notices. Personally, Id go the former route, if only to maintain good relations for all the other stuff you want to do.
6. Yes, you can hang wallpaper on internal walls.
7. Yes, provided the installation doesn't seriously affect the integrity of common propery (such a cutting a lighting track flush into a ceiling).
8. Cupboards yes (with the previous provisos), but careful with the TV. If it has powerful inbuilt speakers, it could end up using an adjoining wall as a sound board and your neighbour will have something to say. But a TV mounted on the wall with free standing speakers will not be a problem in itself.
There are variations on all this and I'm sure other Flatchatters will pitch in where I'm off the mark but this is a reasonable starting point for you
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