What Do You Need Strata Approval For? A Quick Guide for 2023
With more than 30% of Australians living in shared spaces, it’s now more important than ever to understand the roles and responsibilities of living in a strata-managed building.
Whether you live in an apartment, unit, or townhouse, living in a strata community means playing by a common set of rules and regulations to ensure that residents are able to share and enjoy common spaces – that’s where strata approval comes in.
In this article, we’ll take a look at why strata approval is important for residents, common situations that require approval, the process for obtaining strata approval, and the next steps of navigating strata bylaws and rules in Australia.
What is Strata Approval?
In simple terms, strata approval refers to the process of obtaining approval for building works and alterations or additions to a strata scheme. The strata approval process ensures that all proposed work meet compliance standards and are in-line with strata bylaws and regulations.
For residents that live in a strata building, strata approval typically goes through the strata committee, body corporate, or the applicable governing body. Once requests are submitted to the relevant strata management body, they will then review the proposed work and determine whether they are in the best interests of the building and its residents.
Depending on the nature of works, approval may also be required from the local government and relevant building departments to ensure they are meeting minimum compliance standards.
Why Is Strata Approval Important for Residents?
Strata approval ensures that residents are living in a safe, secure, and well-maintained environment – it is a vital aspect of living in a strata community. Strata approval provides a process for decision making within the community and it helps to ensure peace of mind for residents. As a resident, Strata approval allows you to stay informed, while also providing an opportunity to contribute to the decision-making process.
Legal Requirements for Strata Approval
Strata approval is a legal requirement in every single strata community. Within the community, every decision must be made in accordance with the bylaws and rules of the strata corporation. These rules are designed to ensure smooth operation of the building and to protect all residents.
Failure to obtain the necessary strata approval may result in legal disputes and fines. Therefore, it is vital that every resident fully understands what is required of them and adheres to the legal requirements. This will help to avoid any issues or complications and to maintain a harmonious community.
Maintenance and Safety Concerns
Strata approval ensures that the building, and all the surrounding areas are properly looked after and well-maintained. Effective strata approval ensures that any repairs are made in a timely manner, that common areas are sufficiently fitted-out, and the building is safe and secure.
Protection of Property Values
Strata approval is crucial when it comes to protecting the value of your property, and overall investments for each resident. Without strata approval, it can be difficult to maintain a property and even more so, to increase the value of the property through renovations and updates.
However, with strata approval, you can maintain the value of your investment and sometimes even increase it, particularly in the long-term. This is achieved through the maintenance of the building, the surrounding areas, and the completion of repairs as soon as they are needed.
Common Circumstances That Require Strata Approval
Simply put, when changes or modifications are made to a property within a strata community, strata approval is required. Let’s take a look at some of most common examples:
- Renovations – Whether it is the interior or the exterior of a unit, strata approval may be necessary. This could be any of the rooms within the home, or exterior renovations outside, such as a garden or decking upgrades.
- Constructions and Extensions – For the construction of new buildings, or the extension of existing buildings, strata approval is required.
- Use of Common Areas – If you’re looking to host a barbeque or use a common area for storage, it is important to first seek approval.
- Installations – This includes the installation of any new fixtures such as security systems, air conditioning units, or flooring.
- Parking – If you’re looking to allocate parking spaces or even add new spaces, then strata approval is required.
- Changes to Landscape – Any changes to the landscape such as planting new trees or removing existing ones will first require approval.
- Pets – If you would like to add a furry friend to your home, strata approval is required. This includes cats, dogs and any other animals.
What is the Process for Getting Strata Approval?
The process of obtaining strata approval varies depending on the specific building and body corporate management, but there are some common stages you can expect when you seek approval:
1. Preparing a Proposal for Strata Approval
Before submitting for strata approval, it is vital that you review the bylaws and fully understand what is required from your side. Through this preparation you will first discover if approval is even needed and then if so, what this process will entail for you as a resident.
From here, you will prepare a proposal that outlines the planned changes and detail how they will comply with all the relevant bylaws and regulations.
2. Submitting a Proposal for Strata Approval
Once you are happy with the proposal prepared, you then need to submit this to the Strata Committee for review. Normally you will send it to your Body Corporate Manager who will forward it onto the Committee on your behalf. It is essential that you complete a clear, detailed, and well-prepared proposal to maximise your chances of gaining approval.
3. Attending a Strata Committee Meeting or General Meeting
Once you have submitted your proposal, it will be reviewed by the Strata Committee and you will be invited to attend a meeting. At the council meeting, you will have an opportunity to further discuss your proposal, provide additional context, and answer any questions that the council have.
It is very important that you are prepared and professional at this meeting and that you can speak confidently and honestly about your proposal.
4. Strata Approval or Rejection
Then comes the moment of truth. If your proposal is approved, you will be notified, allowing you to proceed and make the proposed changes.
If your proposal is rejected, the strata management team will explain to you the reasons as to why it was rejected and will offer you with suggestions to address their concerns. It is important to take these suggestions on board, carefully consider what is needed and follow any instructions provided to later gain approval.
5. Implementation
Once your proposal has been approved, it is time to finally implement these changes, as you outlined in your proposal. It is essential that you follow these approved plans and do not change anything within the implementation phase.
Furthermore, make sure that you adhere to all the appropriate bylaws and regulations within the strata community.
Navigating the Challenges of Strata Approval
Understandably, strata approval can sometimes be a difficult process and it certainly can come with challenges. Below are some of the most common challenges that occur and how you should deal with them.
Dealing with Objections from Other Residents
Dealing with objections from other residents or even a rejected proposal can be very difficult. It is essential that you take the feedback respectfully, listen to their concerns and communicate with the community in a professional way.
Delays in the Strata Approval Process
Delays in the strata approval process can be very frustrating. The most important thing you can do is to determine why this delay has occurred.
If it’s because they require more information from you, make sure to get this done as quickly as possible, following all the instructions. If you are unsure what the reason is, contact the strata manager directly to understand how you can potentially help to speed this process up.
Costs Associated with Strata Approval
Before starting a proposal for strata approval, it is vital you understand the associated costs. Potential costs include fees for the strata meetings, legal fees, or professional fees.
Final Thoughts
Strata approval is crucial for all property owners and residents within a strata community. Fundamentally, it ensures that all community members are living in a safe, secure, and well-maintained environment, providing peace of mind for all residents.
However, strata approval can be complicated if you don’t follow the rules – it is vital that you are aware of all the regulations, processes, and management involved to ensure you’re doing it all by the book.
Leveraging the expertise of a professional is often the best way to navigate this process. As Australia’s best strata services provider, our team at Strata Data are here to help.
