Hi all,
I have a plan to convert a laundry in a villa to be a bathroom and laundry, just wondering if this requires owners corp approval?
The villa is a semidetached in a complex of 9 units. Has anyone done similar thing like this?
Any comments is greatly appreciated. Cheers AJAbsolutely you will need body Corp approval – which state is the property in? Is it strata or torrens title?
Below from NSW (strata schemes)
“Other responsibilities under Section 116 and 117
You must not interfere with any support or shelter provided by your lot for another lot or the common property. You must give the owners corporation at least 14 days written notice before altering the structure of your lot. The notice must describe the alterations. The owners corporation can stop alterations to a lot if it interferes with the common property or any support to the rest of the building.”I’d have an informal chat with the relevant contact to see if what you’re contemplating is possible, if I were you
Let everyone know the outcome!
Thanks Swampy, I've check the regulations in victoria, from consumers.vic.gov.au, basically it says:
"Lot owners in an owners corporation are entitled to renovate or refurbish the interior of their apartment or unit. A lot owner must notify the owners corporation if the renovations require a building or planning permit."
Just wondering if anyone has done this before and is it considered as a major value adding reno?
CheersIf you are going to alter your drainage by installing a floor waste , new basin, wc pan or plumbing with a cistern, showerhead etc then you may be affecting common property. What if: the drainage is inadequate for the extra fixtures? Or triggers BCA compliance issues for the remaining building?
You may need to read the Act rather than a leaflet as this work is more than decorating/r or refurbishing.
I recently spoke to a building surveyor in the council where I'm looking at purchasing a deal for renovation. Am considering in that house to add a shower and vanity to the laundry area, already an existing WC there and huge floor space. Without mentioning the address of the house in question, I phoned the council to ask if adding a shower and vanity to an existing wet area with plumbing required approval, given only partition walls would be erected, nothing structural, and plumbing already existed. He mentioned it would most likely be fine but that one other point of interest was current building codes and ceiling heights and ventilation considerations. He did not end up confirming if it did require a building permit or not… When the building inspection is done tomorrow I'll make a point of discussing this to see if the room could be converted in line with Aus Building Codes.
So just thought I'd share that in case its relevant.
Thanks for your input wisepearl, would be really keen to see how you go with inspection.
Hey Wisepearl
How is that reno going?? Be good to hear
oops, missed this post…
the offer has gone unconditional and now in the process of getting quotes etc. no further progress yet on idea of adding shower/vanity to existing laundry, waiting to get the plans off council and analyse. not sure if i can get it to come in under the budget price if i do add the second bathroom, but if it appears to significantly add value to the sale price then i will consider raising the budget. needs a bit more research first.
so for now, reno is just in planning stage. but on its way!
i all
As stated in one of the posts. In victoria you are not required to get permission from the Owners Corporation unless the renovations you do to a lot is going to affect the outward appearance or enjoyment of the OC (e.g. installing a pink fence at the front of your lot or a massive satellite dish). Any renos within your lot should be fine unless the OC has made additional rules. In the first instance you should contact your manager first and run it by them and ask if any rules have been amended. The common one is installing floor boards. Some apartments make rules to not allow floorboards because of the noise it creates when people walk on them.
Honey Owners Corporation Management – http://www.honeyocm.com.au – Owners Corporation (Body Corporate) manager for Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat and Western Suburbs region.
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