Step-by-Step Guide: How to Renovate Your Apartment in Sydney

Renovating an apartment in Sydney is different to renovating a freestanding home: you're working within a strata scheme, navigating approvals, protecting common areas, and coordinating works so neighbours aren't disrupted. This guide walks you through every stage—from idea to handover—so your project is smooth, compliant, and on budget.

Step 1: Define Goals, Scope & Constraints

• Why renovate? (resale value, rental yield, lifestyle upgrade, accessibility, energy efficiency)
• Priorities: kitchen, bathroom, storage, flooring, lighting, layout changes.
• Constraints: structural walls, services risers, fire-rated elements, acoustic performance, strata by-laws.

Pro tip from Fine Touch Group: In apartments, re-routing plumbing/electrical or moving wet areas drives cost—lock the layout early.

Step 2: Read Your Strata By-Laws & Classify Your Works

In NSW strata, renovations typically fall into three buckets, each with different approvals:

• Cosmetic: May be done without approval (subject to by-laws)
• Minor renovations: Require owners corporation approval by ordinary resolution
• Major works: Usually need a special resolution and by-law

Fine Touch Group can prepare the scope and drawings the strata manager needs.Learn more at NSW Government

Step 3: Choose the Right Approval Pathway

Some apartment works are exempt or can be fast-tracked as Complying Development via council/private certifier (CDC) if they meet the NSW State Policy standards; otherwise you'll lodge a Development Application (DA) via the NSW Planning Portal.

We'll advise the pathway and coordinate your certifier.Visit planning.nsw.gov.au

Step 4: Budget Properly (with Contingency)

• • Itemise by room and trade; separate must-haves vs nice-to-haves
• • Add 10–15% contingency for latent conditions (e.g., slab set-downs, services conflicts)
• • Plan strata costs (by-law drafting, meeting fees) and temporary accommodation if needed

Step 5: Design & Documentation

• Concept & selections: cabinetry, benchtops, tiles, tapware, flooring, lighting plan
• Compliance drawings: plans, elevations, services plan, acoustic/waterproofing details (NCC / AS 3740 for wet areas)
• 3D renders help strata and neighbours visualise the outcome

Compliance note: Wet areas must meet NCC 2022 wet-area waterproofing requirements; details often reference AS 3740.View National Construction Code

Step 6: Protect Neighbours & Common Areas

• • Book lifts, cover hallways, install dust control and lift curtains; set delivery windows
• • Communicate noisy-work hours per building rules; letterbox-drop dates and a site contact

Fine Touch Group manages all logistics and protects common property as part of our standard process.

Step 7: Verify Licences & Insurances

• Check contractor and trades licences online (builder, electrician, plumber, waterproofer).Service NSW Licence Check
• For bathroom works, waterproofing must be performed by a licensed practitioner.NSW Government Requirements

Step 8: Contracts, Deposit & HBCF

NSW Fair Trading requires key clauses in residential building contracts:

• • Plans/specs form part of the contract
• • Variations must be in writing
• • Work must comply with the NCC/BCA and any DA/CDC conditions

Step 9: Strata Approvals & By-Law

Submit to strata:

• • The scope, drawings, acoustic/waterproofing notes
• • A method statement covering: noise control, deliveries, lift protection, waste management, work hours, insurance
• • Attend the meeting (or proxy) for an ordinary/special resolution depending on the works

We handle this entire process for you.NSW Government Strata Guide

Step 10: Pre-Start Logistics

• • Finalise lead times for custom joinery, stone, tiles, tapware, appliances
• • Book skip bins (or waste contractor) where allowed, and reserve loading dock/lift times
• • Notify neighbours of start date and contact details

Step 11: Construction Phases

Typical apartment renovation sequence:

1. 1. Make-safe & protection of common areas and your apartment
2. 2. Strip-out & services rough-in (plumbing/electrical)
3. 3. Framing & sheeting, membranes, screeds (bathrooms)
4. 4. Waterproofing by licensed contractor + certificate; flood test where specified
5. 5. Tiling/flooring, joinery install, benchtops & splashbacks
6. 6. Fit-offs (tapware, lights, power, appliances)
7. 7. Compliance checks per DA/CDC/strata conditions
8. 8. Detailing & clean, then styling (optional)

Step 12: Handover, Warranties & Aftercare

Upon completion, you'll receive:

• • Operation manuals and product warranties
• • Compliance certificates (waterproofing, electrical, plumbing)
• • As-built drawings if relevant

Fine Touch Group includes a post-completion check and maintenance tips for grout, stone and timber.

Frequently Asked Questions