--- title: "Strata flooring rules in NSW: approval before installation" description: "In NSW, a hard floor is a minor renovation under s 110 of the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015. You need approval, and your by-laws set the acoustic rating." canonical: "https://monkeyfloors.com/strata-flooring-rules/nsw" language: "en-AU" published: "2026-09-25" updated: "2026-09-27" --- [Part of: Strata flooring rules: a clear route to a considered floor](https://monkeyfloors.com/strata-flooring-rules) # Strata flooring rules in NSW: approval before installation Quick answer In NSW, installing timber or other hard flooring, such as hybrid or laminate, in a strata lot is a minor renovation under section 110 of the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015, so you need approval from the owners corporation, or from the strata committee if a by-law allows. The acoustic rating you must meet comes from your scheme's by-laws and approval conditions, not from one state-wide number. By [Monkey Floors editorial team](https://monkeyfloors.com/about) · Published 25 September 2026 · Updated 27 September 2026 · 13 min read ## At a glance Governing Act Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 (NSW), section 110 (minor renovations) Regulation Strata Schemes Management Regulation 2016, clause 28 and Schedules 2 and 3 Model by-law No floor rule in the current model by-laws (Schedule 3). By-law 14 Floor coverings (Schedule 2) applies to schemes that existed before 1 July 1997 Tribunal NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT), usually after NSW Fair Trading mediation Approval path Written notice with the section 110(4) details, then a resolution at a general meeting, or a strata committee decision if a by-law delegates it Last verified 25 September 2026, against the Act, the Regulation, NSW Fair Trading and NSW Caselaw Start a NSW apartment renovation with a clear written brief to the owners corporation. Describe the rooms, the proposed floor and underlay, and the work needed to fit them. The approval route and the acoustic condition are separate questions. A floor may need renovation approval before anyone considers its test report. Have both settled before booking installation. ## Which laws control flooring in a NSW strata scheme? Three layers apply. The first is the [Strata Schemes Management Act 2015](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-2015-050), which sorts renovations into cosmetic work, minor renovations and changes to common property. The second is the [Strata Schemes Management Regulation 2016](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/sl-2016-0501), which adds to the list of minor renovations and holds the standard and model by-laws. The third is your own scheme’s registered by-laws, which bind every owner and occupier under [section 135](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-2015-050). Neither the [Act](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-2015-050) nor the [Regulation](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/sl-2016-0501) sets a sound rating for floors. That detail comes from your by-laws and from any conditions attached to your approval. ## Does a hard floor need strata approval in NSW? Yes, in almost every case. [Section 110(3)(c)](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-2015-050#sec.110) of the Act lists “installing or replacing wood or other hard floors” as a minor renovation. [Clause 28(a)](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/sl-2016-0501#sec.28) of the Regulation adds “removing carpet or other soft floor coverings to expose underlying wooden or other hard floors”. NSW Fair Trading’s [renovation rules](https://www.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-construction/strata/living/renovations) say it plainly: “You also need permission to change the walls, floors, or ceilings.” Laying carpet is different. It is cosmetic work under [section 109](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-2015-050), which needs no approval. At the other end, work that involves structural changes or waterproofing falls outside section 110 under [section 110(7)](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-2015-050#sec.110). Changes to common property then need a special resolution under [section 108](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-2015-050#sec.108). Fair Trading calls this a major renovation. A minor renovation needs approval “given by resolution at a general meeting”, not a special resolution ([section 110(1)](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-2015-050#sec.110)). The owners corporation can attach “reasonable conditions”, and approval “cannot be unreasonably withheld” (section 110(2)). A by-law can let the strata committee decide instead (section 110(6)(b)). Fair Trading’s [renovation rules](https://www.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-construction/strata/living/renovations) give the vote thresholds shown in the table. Approval routes for flooring work in a NSW strata scheme (Strata Schemes Management Act 2015, ss 108 to 110 and Schedule 2, and NSW Fair Trading) | Type of work | Flooring example | Who approves | Vote needed | Section | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Cosmetic work | Laying carpet | No approval needed | None | s 109 | | Minor renovation | Installing timber, hybrid, laminate or tile; removing carpet to expose a hard floor | Owners corporation at a general meeting | Resolution: more than 50% of votes cast | s 110, cl 28(a) | | Minor renovation, delegated | Same work, where a by-law delegates approvals | Strata committee | Majority of committee votes; written reasons within 3 months if refused | s 110(6) to (6B) | | Change to common property | Work that is structural or involves waterproofing | Owners corporation at a general meeting | Special resolution: no more than 25% of the value of votes cast against | s 108 | ### Your registered by-laws come first Some schemes have a flooring or renovation by-law that adds steps, such as an acoustic report before and after the work. The NCAT decisions below include several. Ask the secretary or strata manager for a current copy of the by-laws before you choose a floor. NSW Fair Trading’s [by-laws page](https://www.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-construction/strata/living/by-laws) explains how to get one. ## What does the NSW floor coverings by-law say? The standard floor coverings rule is by-law 14 in [Schedule 2 of the Regulation](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/sl-2016-0501#sch.2). It reads: “An owner of a lot must ensure that all floor space within the lot is covered or otherwise treated to an extent sufficient to prevent the transmission from the floor space of noise likely to disturb the peaceful enjoyment of the owner or occupier of another lot.” Subclause (2) says it “does not apply to floor space comprising a kitchen, laundry, lavatory or bathroom.” Schedule 2 applies to schemes that existed before the Strata Schemes Management Act 1996 commenced on 1 July 1997, together with any changes those schemes have made since ([section 134(3)](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-2015-050#sec.134) and [clause 35](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/sl-2016-0501#sec.35)). Newer schemes use the by-laws registered with their strata plan. Several schemes in the decisions below use the same words, and in [The Owners - Strata Plan No 7704 v Kim](https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/1896184f2da3ec8c56ab2ff6) NCAT described the wording as “in a form commonly found in strata schemes in New South Wales”. The current model by-laws in [Schedule 3](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/sl-2016-0501#sch.3) have no floor coverings by-law at all. Their noise rule is model by-law 6: an owner, occupier or invitee “must not create any noise on a lot or the common property likely to interfere with the peaceful enjoyment of the owner or occupier of another lot”. Model by-laws apply only if a scheme adopted them ([clause 37](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/sl-2016-0501#sec.37)). Your scheme’s registered by-laws are what count. A by-law has no force if it is inconsistent with the Act ([section 136(2)](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-2015-050)), it must not be “harsh, unconscionable or oppressive” ([section 139(1)](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-2015-050#sec.139)), and a change takes effect only when the Registrar-General records it (section 141). ## What acoustic rating will the committee ask for? There is no state-wide number. The standard by-law 14 says “sufficient” and stops there. NSW Fair Trading’s [renovation rules](https://www.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-construction/strata/living/renovations) say that if you are installing flooring, you should show “an acoustic certificate to show sound insulation”. Schemes that want a number write it into their by-laws. By-laws quoted in NCAT decisions show the range: - AAAC star ratings for each floor type. One Pyrmont scheme required a 3 star rating for hard floor finishes and 6 stars for soft finishes, plus an acoustic engineer’s report after installation ([Anderson, 2017](https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/59f79b7ce4b074a7c6e19bac)). - A single AAAC star rating. An Ultimo scheme amended its by-law 14 in 2022 to require “at least a 5 star rating” under the Association of Australian Acoustical Consultants guideline for any floor other than carpet ([Jiang v Sui, 2023](https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/18b26252886904331377a3f3)). - An impact insulation class. One scheme’s by-law required an IIC rating of 57 and certification by an engineer that the owners corporation nominates ([Norman, 2022](https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/184ea17a7d5cf5511f2feda0)). Watch the difference between laboratory and field figures. In [Kim](https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/1896184f2da3ec8c56ab2ff6), the contractor’s acoustic certificate listed an L’nT,w of 45 and an AAAC rating of 5 stars for the flooring system. The test in the actual building measured 60 and 61 L’nT,w, which the consultant rated 2 stars. A field result (L’nT,w) is measured in your building. A laboratory result (Ln,w) is measured on a standard test floor. Our [acoustic ratings explained](https://monkeyfloors.com/acoustic-ratings-explained) guide covers how the numbers relate. The [strata flooring checker](https://monkeyfloors.com/tools/strata-flooring-checker) lists what to ask your committee for in writing. ## How to get strata approval for a hard floor in NSW The steps below follow [section 110](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-2015-050#sec.110) of the Act, the meeting rules in [Schedule 1](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-2015-050#sch.1), and NSW Fair Trading’s [renovation rules](https://www.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-construction/strata/living/renovations). Section 110(4) lists the written notice you must give: details of the work with plans, its duration and times, who will do it and their qualifications, and how rubbish will be managed. Flooring approval paperwork flow. Five numbered boxes: check by-laws, choose a tested system, apply in writing, committee decision, install and keep the paperwork. The last step follows written approval. Use the process required by your building. Installation follows written approval. 1. ### Read your scheme's by-laws Get the current registered by-laws from the secretary or strata manager. Look for a floor coverings or renovation by-law, a required acoustic rating, and whether the strata committee can approve minor renovations. 2. ### Choose a floor system and get its acoustic evidence Pick the exact board, underlay and build-up, and get the acoustic certificate or report for that system. Check whether the figure is a laboratory or a field result. 3. ### Give written notice with the section 110(4) details Write to the owners corporation with details of the work and plans, the duration and working times, the installer and their qualifications, and how rubbish and debris will be removed. Attach the acoustic evidence. 4. ### Put a precise motion to the right body Ask the committee to decide if it has delegated power. Otherwise ask the secretary to put a motion on the next general meeting agenda. Name the exact product, underlay and thickness, because owners vote on the words in the notice. 5. ### Get the decision and any conditions in writing The owners corporation can attach reasonable conditions, such as a rating or a post-installation test. A committee that refuses must give written reasons within 3 months. Approvals must be kept on record for 10 years. 6. ### Install what was approved, then test if required Use the approved product and underlay. If a post-installation acoustic report is required, book a qualified acoustic consultant and give the report to the owners corporation. 7. ### If you are refused, use mediation, then NCAT Ask NSW Fair Trading for free strata mediation. If that fails, NCAT can order the owners corporation to consent where it unreasonably refused approval for a minor renovation. Steps 3 and 4 decided two of the cases below: [Gurram](https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/5bcd4fece4b06629b6c62e55) (no section 110(4) details) and [Roseby](https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/5c53c3e7e4b0196eea403ede) (a motion that described the wrong floor). ## How long does strata approval take in NSW? It depends on meetings. Notice of a general meeting must be given at least 7 days before it, or 14 days before an annual general meeting ([Schedule 1, clause 7](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-2015-050#sch.1)). A motion you ask for after notice has gone out goes to the following meeting (Schedule 1, clause 4). Owners who hold at least 25% of the unit entitlements can call a general meeting, and NSW Fair Trading’s [meetings page](https://www.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-construction/strata/living/meetings) says it must be held within 14 days. Strata committee meetings need at least 3 days’ notice to members and owners ([Schedule 2, clauses 4 and 5](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-2015-050#sch.2)). Since 1 July 2025, a committee with delegated power must refuse a minor renovation, with written reasons, within 3 months of the request, or the request is taken to be approved ([section 110(6A) and (6B)](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-2015-050#sec.110)). The [Strata Schemes Legislation Amendment Act 2025](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/pdf/asmade/act-2025-14) inserted that rule, and the [commencement proclamation](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/pdf/asmade/sl-2025-238) set the 1 July 2025 start. Fair Trading’s [owners’ guide](https://www.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-construction/strata/guide-to-strata-law-changes-for-strata-committees-and-owners) confirms that this “only applies if there is a by-law that allows the strata committee to decide on minor renovation requests.” A committee decision has no effect if owners with more than one-third of the unit entitlements tell the secretary beforehand that they oppose it (Schedule 2, clause 9(3)). If the owners corporation does nothing for 2 months after your application, it is taken not to have exercised the function, which opens the way to NCAT ([section 232(2)](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-2015-050#sec.232)). ## Post-installation acoustic testing No NSW law requires a test after every floor. A test is required when your by-law or your approval conditions say so. The by-law in [Anderson](https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/59f79b7ce4b074a7c6e19bac) required “an acoustic report signed by an acoustic engineer or other appropriately qualified person” after installation. The by-law in [Jiang v Sui](https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/18b26252886904331377a3f3) let the owners corporation ask for a consultant’s report before and after the work. Who pays depends on those same documents; we found no general rule in the Act or Fair Trading guidance. Where NCAT has ordered a test, the floor owner had to arrange it. In Jiang v Sui, the owner had to “arrange testing by a suitably qualified acoustical consultant”, and the neighbours below had to give access on 7 days’ written notice. If a floor fails, NCAT has ordered owners to fix it by a deadline, to a stated L’nT,w figure ([Kim](https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/1896184f2da3ec8c56ab2ff6)) or star rating, or to put carpet back ([Jiang v Sui](https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/18b26252886904331377a3f3)). ## What have NCAT decisions said about hard floors and noise? These are the decisions we opened and read in full on NSW Caselaw. Each one turned on its own by-laws and evidence, but together they show how NCAT approaches flooring disputes. **[The Owners - Strata Plan No 82306 v Anderson \[2017\] NSWCATCD 85](https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/59f79b7ce4b074a7c6e19bac).** An owner removed her carpet and polished the slab without consent, then did not comply with an order to install a floor meeting the scheme’s AAAC star ratings and provide an acoustic engineer’s report. The Tribunal ordered a $2,500 penalty that would lapse if she installed a compliant floor and filed the report by a set date. **[Felcher v The Owners - Strata Plan No 2738 \[2017\] NSWCATAP 219](https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/5a1cb952e4b058596cbac733).** An owner complained about footsteps on a floating floor above. Applying an objective test, the Tribunal dismissed the case because there was no acoustic or builder’s report. The Appeal Panel refused leave to appeal. **[Gurram v Owners Corporation SP 36589 \[2018\] NSWCATCD 39](https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/5bcd4fece4b06629b6c62e55).** A special by-law banned timber and tile floors in all lots above the ground floor. The Tribunal found the ban had no force because it was inconsistent with section 110. It still dismissed the application, because the owners had not given the section 110(4) details. **[Roseby v The Owners - Strata Plan No 2400 \[2018\] NSWCATCD 72](https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/5c53c3e7e4b0196eea403ede).** The motion for a hardwood floor described a different build-up from the one the owner’s acoustic report tested, and the owners corporation’s consultant recommended at least 4 stars. The Tribunal found the refusal was not unreasonable. **[Hogan v Stebnicki \[2022\] NSWCATCD 63](https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/181a3b15e854f59813b98fe0).** Under the standard by-law 14 wording, with no number, a floating timber floor tested at 3 stars with some 4 star features was found sufficiently treated. The neighbours’ application was dismissed. **[Norman v The Owners Strata Plan No 60182 \[2022\] NSWCATCD 152](https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/184ea17a7d5cf5511f2feda0).** An owner argued that a by-law requiring an IIC of 57 and engineer certification was harsh because it exceeded the building code. The Tribunal held it was not harsh, unconscionable or oppressive, because it protects other owners’ enjoyment of their lots. **[The Owners - Strata Plan No 7704 v Kim \[2023\] NSWCATCD 39](https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/1896184f2da3ec8c56ab2ff6).** A previous owner had approval for laminate “for a 5 star rating”, but a field test measured 2 stars. The Tribunal was not satisfied that by-laws 1 or 14 or section 153 were breached, but found the approval conditions were not met. It ordered the new owner to treat the floor to 50 L’nT,w (a field figure) within 56 days. **[Jiang v Sui \[2023\] NSWCATCD 127](https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/18b26252886904331377a3f3), appeal [Sui v Jiang \[2024\] NSWCATAP 128](https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/1905cd7c02ae05051a019507).** A laminate floor approved on a supplier’s 5 star certificate measured L’nT,w 51 and 54 in the owner’s own post-installation report. The Tribunal found a breach of by-law 14, and held that the scheme’s 2022 amendment requiring 5 stars applied to the existing floor. It ordered the owner to restore carpet or reach at least 5 stars, then arrange testing. The Appeal Panel refused an extension of time and dismissed the appeal. Three points repeat. Complaints fail without objective acoustic evidence. The words of your by-law and your approval conditions decide the standard. In [Kim](https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/1896184f2da3ec8c56ab2ff6) and [Jiang v Sui](https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/18b26252886904331377a3f3), the certificate supplied with the application did not match the result measured in the building. ## What happens if you skip approval or the floor is too noisy? It usually starts with a notice to comply. Under [section 146](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-2015-050#sec.146), the owners corporation can give an owner or occupier a notice, in the approved form and with a copy of the by-law, requiring compliance. A strata managing agent with delegated power can issue it without a prior resolution (section 146(4), as substituted by the [Strata Legislation Amendment Act 2023](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/pdf/asmade/act-2023-45)). Next come mediation and NCAT. Most applications need a mediation attempt first under [section 227](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-2015-050#sec.227), but penalty applications do not. NCAT can make orders to settle the dispute under [section 232](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-2015-050#sec.232) and order a person “to do or refrain from doing a specified act” under [section 241](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-2015-050#sec.241). In [Kim](https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/1896184f2da3ec8c56ab2ff6) and [Jiang v Sui](https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/18b26252886904331377a3f3), those powers produced orders to treat the floor or restore carpet. Penalties sit on top. After a notice to comply, NCAT can impose up to 10 penalty units for a further breach, and up to 20 for a repeat within 12 months ([section 147](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-2015-050#sec.147)). Breaching an NCAT order can cost up to 50 penalty units ([section 247A](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-2015-050#sec.247A)). NSW Fair Trading’s [by-laws page](https://www.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-construction/strata/living/by-laws) puts these at up to $1,100, $2,200 and $5,500. If the work damaged common property or another lot, NCAT can order the owner to repair it or pay for it, including insurance and legal costs ([section 132](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-2015-050)). If the work was done without approval, NCAT can still approve it after the event if the owners corporation unreasonably refused consent. It can take into account that the owner “did not first seek the consent of the owners corporation” ([section 126(2) and (4)](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-2015-050#sec.126)). Fair Trading’s [renovation rules](https://www.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-construction/strata/living/renovations) warn that you “may need to pay money to put the property back”. Floor noise can also raise the nuisance rule in [section 153](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-2015-050#sec.153), which bars using a lot in a way that “causes a nuisance or hazard” to another occupier. In [Kim](https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/1896184f2da3ec8c56ab2ff6), noise from “everyday, unexceptional activities” was not a nuisance. Neighbours can follow Fair Trading’s [noise in strata](https://www.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-construction/strata/living/noise) and [disputes](https://www.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-construction/strata/disputes) steps. ## Before you choose a floor Get the rating your by-laws require in writing, and check that any test result is for the build-up you will install. Then compare floor types in [best flooring for apartments](https://monkeyfloors.com/guides/best-flooring-for-apartments), and take our free strata approval checklist, below, to your committee. ## Questions, answered ### Do I need approval to install hybrid flooring in a NSW apartment? Yes, in almost every case. Section 110(3)(c) of the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 lists installing or replacing wood or other hard floors as a minor renovation, and NSW Fair Trading says you need permission to change floors. The Act does not name hybrid, but hybrid is a hard floor. Give the owners corporation written notice with the details in section 110(4), then get approval at a general meeting, or from the strata committee if a by-law lets it decide. Check your by-laws for a required acoustic rating first. ### Can the owners corporation make me remove a floor? Not by itself. It can give you a notice to comply with a by-law under section 146 and, usually after Fair Trading mediation, ask NCAT for orders. NCAT can order you to restore carpet or treat the floor to a stated rating, as it did in Jiang v Sui \[2023\] NSWCATCD 127, and can impose civil penalties. NSW Fair Trading warns that unapproved renovations may have to be put back at your cost. ### Is replacing carpet with timber cosmetic work? No. Laying carpet is cosmetic work under section 109, which needs no approval. Installing or replacing hard floors is a minor renovation under section 110(3)(c), and clause 28(a) of the Strata Schemes Management Regulation 2016 adds removing carpet to expose existing hard floors. ### How long does strata approval for new flooring take in NSW? It depends on meetings. A general meeting needs at least 7 days' written notice, or 14 days for an annual general meeting. If a by-law lets the strata committee decide, the committee must refuse with written reasons within 3 months, or the request is taken to be approved. That rule started on 1 July 2025. ### What acoustic rating do NSW strata by-laws require for hard floors? There is no single NSW figure. The standard floor coverings by-law sets no number. Individual schemes write their own: by-laws quoted in NCAT decisions ask for an AAAC 3 star rating for hard floors, an AAAC 5 star rating, or an IIC of 57. NSW Fair Trading says to include an acoustic certificate with a flooring application. Ask the committee for its requirement in writing. ### Can a strata by-law ban hard floors completely? In Gurram v Owners Corporation SP 36589 \[2018\] NSWCATCD 39, NCAT found that a by-law banning hard floors above the ground floor had no force because it was inconsistent with section 110. That is one Tribunal decision on its facts. By-laws can still set conditions and acoustic standards, and NCAT upheld a strict flooring by-law in Norman v The Owners Strata Plan No 60182 \[2022\] NSWCATCD 152. ### Who pays for the acoustic test after the floor goes in? Usually your by-laws or approval conditions decide, and there is no general rule in the Act. Where NCAT has ordered a test, it has put the job on the owner of the floor. In Jiang v Sui \[2023\] NSWCATCD 127 the owner had to arrange testing by a qualified acoustic consultant after fixing the floor. ## Sources 1. [Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 (NSW)](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-2015-050) · NSW Legislation · Accessed 2026-09-25 2. [Strata Schemes Management Regulation 2016 (NSW)](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/sl-2016-0501) · NSW Legislation · Accessed 2026-09-25 3. [Strata Schemes Legislation Amendment Act 2025 No 14 (as made)](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/pdf/asmade/act-2025-14) · NSW Legislation · Accessed 2026-09-25 4. [Commencement Proclamation under the Strata Schemes Legislation Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 238)](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/pdf/asmade/sl-2025-238) · NSW Legislation · Accessed 2026-09-25 5. [Strata Legislation Amendment Act 2023 No 45 (as made)](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/pdf/asmade/act-2023-45) · NSW Legislation · Accessed 2026-09-25 6. [Strata renovation rules](https://www.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-construction/strata/living/renovations) · NSW Fair Trading · Accessed 2026-09-25 7. [Strata by-laws](https://www.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-construction/strata/living/by-laws) · NSW Fair Trading · Accessed 2026-09-25 8. [Strata meetings](https://www.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-construction/strata/living/meetings) · NSW Fair Trading · Accessed 2026-09-25 9. [Noise in strata](https://www.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-construction/strata/living/noise) · NSW Fair Trading · Accessed 2026-09-25 10. [Strata disputes and complaints](https://www.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-construction/strata/disputes) · NSW Fair Trading · Accessed 2026-09-25 11. [Changes to strata laws](https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/fair-trading/news/changes-to-strata-laws) · NSW Fair Trading · Accessed 2026-09-25 12. [Guide to strata law changes for strata committees and owners](https://www.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-construction/strata/guide-to-strata-law-changes-for-strata-committees-and-owners) · NSW Fair Trading · Accessed 2026-09-25 13. [The Owners - Strata Plan No 82306 v Anderson \[2017\] NSWCATCD 85](https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/59f79b7ce4b074a7c6e19bac) · NSW Caselaw · Accessed 2026-09-25 14. [Felcher v The Owners - Strata Plan No 2738 \[2017\] NSWCATAP 219](https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/5a1cb952e4b058596cbac733) · NSW Caselaw · Accessed 2026-09-25 15. [Gurram v Owners Corporation SP 36589 \[2018\] NSWCATCD 39](https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/5bcd4fece4b06629b6c62e55) · NSW Caselaw · Accessed 2026-09-25 16. [Roseby v The Owners - Strata Plan No 2400 \[2018\] NSWCATCD 72](https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/5c53c3e7e4b0196eea403ede) · NSW Caselaw · Accessed 2026-09-25 17. [Hogan v Stebnicki \[2022\] NSWCATCD 63](https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/181a3b15e854f59813b98fe0) · NSW Caselaw · Accessed 2026-09-25 18. [Norman v The Owners Strata Plan No 60182 \[2022\] NSWCATCD 152](https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/184ea17a7d5cf5511f2feda0) · NSW Caselaw · Accessed 2026-09-25 19. [The Owners - Strata Plan No 7704 v Kim \[2023\] NSWCATCD 39](https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/1896184f2da3ec8c56ab2ff6) · NSW Caselaw · Accessed 2026-09-25 20. [Jiang v Sui \[2023\] NSWCATCD 127](https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/18b26252886904331377a3f3) · NSW Caselaw · Accessed 2026-09-25 21. [Sui v Jiang \[2024\] NSWCATAP 128](https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/1905cd7c02ae05051a019507) · NSW Caselaw · Accessed 2026-09-25 ## Goes well with Apartments ### [Best flooring for apartments: quiet, finish and fit](https://monkeyfloors.com/guides/best-flooring-for-apartments) Choose apartment flooring around sound, appearance, installation and scheme approval, with evidence to compare carpet, timber, laminate and hybrid. 25 min read Ratings ### [Flooring acoustic ratings explained: read the whole result](https://monkeyfloors.com/acoustic-ratings-explained) Read flooring acoustic ratings with confidence: laboratory and field results, IIC, impact sound levels, AAAC stars and the evidence a by-law needs. 13 min read Tool ### [Strata flooring checker](https://monkeyfloors.com/tools/strata-flooring-checker) Five questions about your state, building and floor. See what to ask your committee for in writing. Open