Owners in an Owners Corporation are entitled to renovate or refurbish the interior of their lot. However, an owner must first notify the OC and provide the relevant documentation in relation to the renovation, in accordance with any specified requests stipulated in the OC rules.

Other works require the approval of the OC and cannot commence until that approval is granted. Works that require approval include altering common property, altering a structure that forms part of the common property, and any change to the external appearance of the lot.

Failure to notify the OC of your intention to renovate, or to seek approval, may mean that you have contravened the rules and may be required to reinstate the works undertaken.

Your Owners Corporation may have Registered Rules which are specific to your property. If your property does not have Registered Rules, then the Model Rules apply. Below is an excerpt of the Model Rules which may be applicable to any works you are looking to undertake.

Model Rule 4.3 — Damage to common property

1. An owner or occupier of a lot must not damage or alter the common property without the written approval of the owners corporation.

2. An owner or occupier of a lot must not damage or alter a structure that forms part of the common property without the written approval of the owners corporation.

3. An approval under subrule (1) or (2) may state a period for which the approval is granted, and may specify the works and conditions to which the approval is subject.

4. An owner or person authorised by an owner may install a locking or safety device to protect the lot against intruders, or a screen or barrier to prevent entry of animals or insects, if the device, screen or barrier is soundly built and is consistent with the colour, style and materials of the building.

5. The owner or person referred to in subrule (4) must keep any device, screen or barrier installed in good order and repair.

Model Rule 5.2 — External appearance of lots

1. An owner or occupier of a lot must obtain the written approval of the owners corporation before making any changes to the external appearance of their lot.

2. An owners corporation cannot unreasonably withhold approval, but may give approval subject to reasonable conditions to protect quiet enjoyment of other lot owners, structural integrity or the value of other lots and/or common property.

3. The owners corporation cannot unreasonably prohibit the installation of sustainability items on the exterior of the lot, including by prohibiting the installation of a sustainability item only on aesthetic grounds.

4. The owners corporation may require that the location of a sustainability item, or the works involved in installing it, must not unreasonably disrupt the quiet enjoyment of other lot owners or occupiers or impede reasonable access to, or the use of, any other lot or the common property.

5. The owners corporation may impose reasonable conditions on the installation of a sustainability item related to the colour, mounting and location, provided these do not increase the cost of installing it or reduce its impact as a sustainability item.

Model Rule 5.3 — Notice of renovations to lots

—. An owner or occupier of a lot must notify the owners corporation when undertaking any renovations or other works that may affect the common property and/or other lot owners’ or occupiers’ enjoyment of the common property.

All costs associated with the private building works are the responsibility of the lot owner. The cost of rectifying any and all damage done to common property as a result of the works is the responsibility of the lot owner.

The construction needs to follow any local council laws and bylaws, and any applicable building permits. This includes the restrictions on construction between designated times. Please reach out to your local council for further information.

You will need to ensure that common property is properly protected at all times whilst works are carried out.

Where an owner commissions building works, a representative of the Owners Corporation and the owner may inspect the part of the common property which will be affected by the building works — for example, the area through which building materials will be transported — prior to commencing the work to establish its state of repair, and again after the work has been completed to determine if any damage has been caused.

Suitable floor, wall and other protections should be installed in the common property before any building materials are taken through those parts of the common property.

Should building works result in common property being damaged or dirtied, the Owners Corporation will hold you liable for the associated cost of repair or cleaning, and has the right to arrange repairs and cleaning in the first instance. If the works are non-compliant with laws, codes and essential services requirements, the Owners Corporation will hold you liable for the cost of repairs and/or reinstatement.

Note: some Owners Corporations require lot owners to pay a bond prior to works commencing. Should repairs or cleaning be required, the associated cost will be deducted from the bond. Please confirm with your Manager whether a bond will apply.

• Works, either in progress or when complete, must not impede or interfere with the building’s essential services — fire sprinklers or their intended area of cover, smoke alarms, or mechanical air ventilation.
• If your OC has a heritage overlay there may be further restrictions. Check your My Property portal or enquire with your local council for more information.
• Some level of noise may be necessary to complete the works. Please ensure you are aware of noise restrictions contained within your OC’s registered rules and your local council’s regulations.
• If the noise is going to be particularly loud or prolonged, we encourage you to speak with your neighbours or leave a note ahead of time so they can be prepared.

An owner or their representative must ensure that any contractor engaged to perform approved building works complies with the reasonable directions of the OC concerning method of building operations, means of access, use of the common property, on-site management, building protection and hours of work. The owner must also supervise the works and ensure that:

• The building works are undertaken in a reasonable manner so as to minimise nuisance, annoyance, disturbance and inconvenience to other members or occupiers.
• Construction work complies with all laws of the relevant authorities.
• Building materials are not stacked or stored on common property without consent from the Owners Corporation.
• Scaffolding is not erected on the common property or exterior of the building without prior arrangement with the OC.
• Construction and worker vehicles are not brought into, or parked on, the common property except by prior arrangement.
• The exterior and common property of the building is at all times maintained in a clean and tidy state.
• All contractors and tradespeople use only the basement, lifts, lobby and areas designated by the Manager.

It is possible that your works will require smoke alarm isolations. Isolating the alarms prior to the commencement of work prevents false fire alarms, which can be caused by smoke, dust, chemical smells and humidity. Contact your Owners Corporation Manager for further information.

If smoke alarm isolation is necessary, the cost for isolation and reinstatement is the responsibility of the lot owner. If you do not arrange for isolation and a false fire alarm occurs, FRV callout costs will be on-charged to the lot.

The removal of all building material and waste must be arranged privately. These items cannot be placed into the Owners Corporation bins, and absolutely cannot be placed in the waste chute, as this may cause blockages and contaminate the bins. Please advise if you will require a skip, where it will be placed and for how long.

Asbestos may be present in buildings built or renovated between the 1920s and 2004, and can be extremely hazardous if disturbed. If you are unsure whether the building has asbestos, please confirm with your Owners Corporation Manager well before commencing works.

• Flooring — please include the acoustic rating of any hard floors you wish to install. We recommend 5 star or higher on the AAAC rating system.
• Kitchen and bathroom — where a temporary power or water shut-off affects the entire building or multiple lots, adequate notice must be provided so residents can be advised in advance.
• EV chargers — requests require a full formal proposal from an appropriate contractor before they will be considered. Please attach the proposal to this application.
• Car space additions — your Owners Corporation may have a pre-approved over-bonnet storage locker. Enquire with your Manager for details.
• CCTV and doorbell cameras — the Surveillance Devices Act 1999 governs the use of CCTV and audio/video recording in Victoria. Requests must comply with the Act and must not infringe on reasonable privacy expectations, such as intentionally directing cameras towards private property.
• Curtains and blinds — your OC may have pre-approved colours or styles, typically set out in the registered rules.