#76550
tina
Flatchatter

    Hello GreyArea

    I suggest your read Section 108 of the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015.  The full text of the Act is on the NSW Legislation web site.  I copy/pasted it here.

    108 Changes to common property
    (1) Procedure for authorising changes to common property An owners corporation or an owner of a lot in a strata scheme may add to the common property, alter the common property or erect a new structure on common property for the purpose of improving or enhancing the common property.
    (2) Any such action may be taken by the owners corporation or owner only if a special resolution has first been passed by the owners corporation that specifically authorises the taking of the particular action proposed.
    Note—
    If the special resolution is a sustainability infrastructure resolution fewer votes may be needed to pass it. See section 5(1)(b).
    (3) Ongoing maintenance A special resolution under this section that authorises action to be taken in relation to the common property by an owner of a lot may specify whether the ongoing maintenance of the common property once the action has been taken is the responsibility of the owners corporation or the owner.
    (4) If a special resolution under this section does not specify who has the ongoing maintenance of the common property concerned, the owners corporation has the responsibility for the ongoing maintenance.
    (5) A special resolution under this section that allows an owner of a lot to take action in relation to certain common property and provides that the ongoing maintenance of that common property after the action is taken is the responsibility of the owner has no effect unless
    (a) the owners corporation obtains the written consent of the owner to the making of a by-law to provide for the maintenance of the common property by the owner, and
    (b) the owners corporation makes the by-law.
    (6) The by-law—
    (a) may require, for the maintenance of the common property, the payment of money by the owner at specified times or as determined by the owners corporation, and
    (b) must not be amended or repealed unless the owners corporation has obtained the written consent of the owner concerned.
    (7) Sections 143 (2), 144 (2) and (3) and 145 apply to a by-law made for the purposes of this section in the same way as they apply to a common property rights by-law.
    Note—
    A new by-law or other changes to the by-laws for a strata scheme must be approved by a special resolution of the owners corporation (see section 141).

    Special resolution means that you hold a meeting of the owners corporation and 75% of the people voting at the meeting are in favour of the proposal.

    If the laundry wall is shared between two lots or bounded to the outside world, it is common property.  If it is an internal wall, then it is part of the lot.  I think that pipes which only service one lot are part of the lot.  You could ask a strata lawyer to help you understand whether this is common property.

    You may notice that the subsequent section 110 handles “minor renovations”.  Even though you think that a laundry reno is “minor”, there are two lists setting out what is considered a minor renovation:

    Section 110 of the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015
    (a) renovating a kitchen,
    (b) changing recessed light fittings,
    (c) installing or replacing wood or other hard floors,
    (d) installing or replacing wiring or cabling or power or access points,
    (e) work involving reconfiguring walls,
    (f) any other work prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this subsection.

    Section 28 of the Strata Schemes Management Regulation 2016
    28 Minor renovations by owners
    Work for the following purposes is prescribed as minor renovations for the purposes of section 110(3) of the Act—
    (a) removing carpet or other soft floor coverings to expose underlying wooden or other hard floors,
    (b) installing a rainwater tank,
    (c) installing a clothesline,
    (d) installing a reverse cycle split system air conditioner,
    (e) installing double or triple glazed windows,
    (f) installing a heat pump,
    (g) installing ceiling insulation.