Tool

Approval conditions

Prepare a printable discussion draft using the owner, floor system, report and work dates. Review its conditions against the registered rules and the scheme's decision before issuing a letter.

Who it is for

Committees
Strata managers

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The conditions as text

Queensland coverage: Standard, Accommodation and Commercial modules only. Small Schemes, Specified Two-lot Schemes and other legislation need their own procedure; check the module in the community management statement first.

Sources: Which Queensland body corporate legislation applies; Enforcing by-laws in a specified two-lot scheme

JavaScript is off, so the letter cannot be filled in for you. These draft conditions include their sources and context. Review them against the registered rules and the authorised decision before adapting them for a letter.

Conditions for New South Wales

1. Install only the floor covering named in your application on the underlay named in your application, laid as described in your application and in the acoustic report named in your application. Do not use a different floor covering, underlay, adhesive or fixing.
Legal basis. The owners corporation may attach reasonable conditions to approval of a minor renovation, which includes a hard floor (s 110(2) and (3)(c)). In Kim, NCAT enforced a flooring approval condition against a later owner. Sources: s 110, Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 (NSW); The Owners - Strata Plan No 7704 v Kim [2023] NSWCATCD 39
2. The owners corporation will keep a record of this approval, with a copy of the acoustic report named in your application, for 10 years. Keep your own copy of both.
Legal basis. The owners corporation must keep a record of an approved minor renovation for 10 years (s 110(6C)). Source: s 110(6C), Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 (NSW)
3. As your by-laws require, after installation arrange a field test of the installed floor by a suitably qualified acoustic consultant using the test method and any certification requirements in your registered rules, and give the owners corporation a copy of the test report. You pay for the test.
Legal basis. This condition rests on your by-law. Where a by-law required a post-installation report, NCAT enforced it in Anderson and Jiang v Sui. The AAAC says that, for certainty, the finished floor should be tested and a certificate of compliance provided by an AAAC member. We found no general rule on who pays; it depends on the by-law, the approval or an order. Sources: The Owners - Strata Plan No 82306 v Anderson [2017] NSWCATCD 85; Jiang v Sui [2023] NSWCATCD 127; AAAC Explanatory notes regarding the impact sound insulation rating, Version 2.0 (May 2023)
4. Carry out the work only on the dates and at the times stated in your application.
Legal basis. The owner's written notice must state the duration and times of the work (s 110(4)(b)), and the approval may carry reasonable conditions (s 110(2)). Source: s 110(4), Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 (NSW)
5. Before work starts, protect the lifts, corridors and other common property the work will use, and arrange any lift or loading area booking with the owners corporation or its manager.
Common practice, not a legal requirement.
6. Make sure that any damage to common property caused by the work is repaired.
Legal basis. The owner must ensure that any damage to common property caused by a minor renovation is repaired (s 110(5)(a)). NCAT may order an owner to repair damage or pay the cost (s 132). Source: ss 110(5) and 132, Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 (NSW)
7. Before work starts, give the owners corporation the name and qualifications of the installer and a current certificate of the installer's public liability insurance.
Common practice, not a legal requirement. The Act already requires the owner's notice to give details of the people doing the work, including their qualifications (s 110(4)(c)). The insurance certificate is the common practice part. Source: s 110(4), Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 (NSW)
8. Any change to the floor covering, underlay, rooms, dates or installer needs a further written approval from the owners corporation before the change is made.
Legal basis. Approval covers the work described. In Roseby, NCAT found a refusal was not unreasonable where the motion described a different floor from the one the owner's report tested. In Kim, the installed floor did not meet the approval conditions. Sources: Roseby v The Owners - Strata Plan No 2400 [2018] NSWCATCD 72; The Owners - Strata Plan No 7704 v Kim [2023] NSWCATCD 39
9. This approval does not waive or change any by-law about noise or nuisance. You remain responsible for noise from the floor.
Legal basis. Noise by-laws still apply: model by-law 6, or by-law 1 for schemes using the pre-1996 by-laws, and the nuisance rule in s 153. In Jiang v Sui, a floor approved by the strata committee was later found to breach by-law 14. Sources: Schedules 2 and 3, Strata Schemes Management Regulation 2016 (NSW); s 153, Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 (NSW); Jiang v Sui [2023] NSWCATCD 127

Approval of a minor renovation is by resolution at a general meeting, or by the strata committee if a by-law delegates the function (s 110(1) and (6)(b)). A committee with delegated power that refuses must give written reasons within 3 months, or the request is taken to be approved (s 110(6A) and (6B)).
Source: s 110, Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 (NSW)
Approval "cannot be unreasonably withheld" (s 110(2)).
Source: s 110(2), Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 (NSW)

Conditions for Queensland

1. Install only the floor covering named in your application on the underlay named in your application, laid as described in your application and in the acoustic report named in your application. Do not use a different floor covering, underlay, adhesive or fixing.
Legal basis. The power to set conditions comes from your by-law: by-laws may regulate the use of lots, "including conditions applying to" it (s 169(1)(b)). The committee must act reasonably (s 100(5)). In McLeod, the by-law allowed conditions and the committee approved a floor on a condition. Sources: ss 100 and 169, Body Corporate and Community Management Act 1997 (Qld); McLeod v Body Corporate for Stradbroke Tower and Villas [2015] QCATA 146
2. The body corporate will keep a copy of this approval and of the acoustic report named in your application with its records. Keep your own copy of both.
Common practice, not a legal requirement.
3. As your by-laws require, after installation arrange a field test of the installed floor by a suitably qualified acoustic consultant using the test method and any certification requirements in your registered rules, and give the body corporate a copy of the test report.
Legal basis. This condition rests on your by-law. In McLeod, the order let the body corporate require the owner to show the installed floor met the figure. The AAAC says that, for certainty, the finished floor should be tested and a certificate of compliance provided by an AAAC member. We found no general rule on who pays; it depends on the by-law, the approval or an order. Sources: McLeod v Body Corporate for Stradbroke Tower and Villas [2015] QCATA 146; AAAC Explanatory notes regarding the impact sound insulation rating, Version 2.0 (May 2023)
4. Carry out the work only on the dates and at the times stated in your application.
Common practice, not a legal requirement.
5. Before work starts, protect the lifts, corridors and other common property the work will use, and arrange any lift or loading area booking with the body corporate or its manager.
Common practice, not a legal requirement. Where a scheme has no by-laws of its own, schedule 4 by-law 5 says an occupier must not damage a structure that forms part of the common property without the body corporate's written approval. Source: schedule 4, Body Corporate and Community Management Act 1997 (Qld)
6. Make sure that any damage to common property caused by the work is repaired.
Common practice, not a legal requirement. Where a scheme has no by-laws of its own, schedule 4 by-law 5 says an occupier must not damage a structure that forms part of the common property without the body corporate's written approval. Source: schedule 4, Body Corporate and Community Management Act 1997 (Qld)
7. Before work starts, give the body corporate the name and qualifications of the installer and a current certificate of the installer's public liability insurance.
Common practice, not a legal requirement.
8. Any change to the floor covering, underlay, rooms, dates or installer needs a further written approval from the body corporate before the change is made.
Common practice, not a legal requirement.
9. This approval does not waive or change any by-law about noise or nuisance. You remain responsible for noise from the floor.
Legal basis. An occupier must not use a lot in a way that causes a nuisance or interferes unreasonably with another lot (s 167), and noise by-laws still apply, such as schedule 4 by-law 1 where it applies. Source: s 167 and schedule 4, Body Corporate and Community Management Act 1997 (Qld)

The committee must act reasonably in making a decision (s 100(5)). It must decide an owner's motion within 6 weeks, or up to 12 weeks after written notice, or the motion is taken to be not agreed to (Standard Module s 58).
Sources: s 100, Body Corporate and Community Management Act 1997 (Qld); s 58, Body Corporate and Community Management (Standard Module) Regulation 2020 (Qld)

Conditions for Victoria

1. Install only the floor covering named in your application on the underlay named in your application, laid as described in your application and in the acoustic report named in your application. Do not use a different floor covering, underlay, adhesive or fixing.
Legal basis. Where the work alters common property and your rules do not cover it, model rule 4.3 lets an approval "specify the works and conditions". Otherwise the power to set conditions comes from your registered rules. Source: model rule 4.3, Owners Corporations Regulations 2018 (Vic), Schedule 2 model rules
2. The owners corporation will keep a copy of this approval and of the acoustic report named in your application with its records. Keep your own copy of both.
Common practice, not a legal requirement.
3. As your rules require, after installation arrange a field test of the installed floor by a suitably qualified acoustic consultant using the test method and any certification requirements in your registered rules, and give the owners corporation a copy of the test report. You pay for the test.
Legal basis. This condition rests on your registered rule: the Act and the model rules have no testing provision. The AAAC says that, for certainty, the finished floor should be tested and a certificate of compliance provided by an AAAC member. We found no general rule on who pays; it depends on the rules, the approval or an order. Sources: Owners Corporations Act 2006 (Vic), version 024; Owners Corporations Regulations 2018 (Vic), Schedule 2 model rules; AAAC Explanatory notes regarding the impact sound insulation rating, Version 2.0 (May 2023)
4. Carry out the work only on the dates and at the times stated in your application.
Common practice, not a legal requirement. Victorian rules may set the times within which work on lots can be carried out (Schedule 1 item 5.4). If yours do, this condition rests on that rule. Source: Schedule 1, Owners Corporations Act 2006 (Vic), version 024
5. Before work starts, protect the lifts, corridors and other common property the work will use, and arrange any lift or loading area booking with the owners corporation or its manager.
Legal basis. A lot owner must not use the common property in a manner likely to cause damage or deterioration (s 130). Source: s 130, Owners Corporations Act 2006 (Vic), version 024
6. Make sure that any damage to common property caused by the work is repaired.
Legal basis. An owner or occupier must not damage or alter common property without written approval (model rule 4.3, where your rules do not cover it), and must not use common property in a manner likely to cause damage (s 130). Sources: model rule 4.3, Owners Corporations Regulations 2018 (Vic), Schedule 2 model rules; s 130, Owners Corporations Act 2006 (Vic), version 024
7. Before work starts, give the owners corporation the name and qualifications of the installer and a current certificate of the installer's public liability insurance.
Common practice, not a legal requirement.
8. Any change to the floor covering, underlay, rooms, dates or installer needs a further written approval from the owners corporation before the change is made.
Common practice, not a legal requirement.
9. This approval does not waive or change any rule about noise or nuisance. You remain responsible for noise from the floor.
Legal basis. Noise controls in Victoria sit in the rules: your own noise rule, or model rule 6.2 where your rules do not cover noise. VCAT can order a party to comply with the rules (s 165). Sources: model rule 6.2, Owners Corporations Regulations 2018 (Vic), Schedule 2 model rules; s 165, Owners Corporations Act 2006 (Vic), version 024

Unless a delegation says otherwise, the committee holds the owners corporation's powers, except matters that need a unanimous or special resolution or a general meeting (s 11(3) and (5)).
Source: s 11, Owners Corporations Act 2006 (Vic), version 024

The testing condition belongs in the letter only if your by-laws or rules require a test. Confirm payment against the rules and approval. For Queensland, leave payment for legal review.

General information, not legal or acoustic advice. Check your scheme's registered by-laws and the requirements for your building.

How this tool works

Answer the questions for your building. The tool prepares draft conditions using the names, products, report, dates and times you enter. Review the wording against the registered rules and the authorised scheme decision before issuing a letter. A testing condition appears only if your by-law requires a test.

Under each condition the tool shows its basis: the section or decision it rests on, or the label "Common practice, not a legal requirement". Untick the box above the letter to hide these notes before you copy or print it. The legal points come from the legislation, guidance and decisions listed below, researched on 25 September 2026. Some NSW legislation and Queensland guidance were available only as archived pages; check the linked current text before relying on a statutory step.

Sources

Which Queensland body corporate legislation applies · Queensland Government · Accessed 2026-09-27
Enforcing by-laws in a specified two-lot scheme · Queensland Government · Accessed 2026-09-27
Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 (NSW) · NSW Legislation · Accessed 2026-09-25
The Owners - Strata Plan No 7704 v Kim [2023] NSWCATCD 39 · NSW Caselaw · Accessed 2026-09-25
The Owners - Strata Plan No 82306 v Anderson [2017] NSWCATCD 85 · NSW Caselaw · Accessed 2026-09-25
Jiang v Sui [2023] NSWCATCD 127 · NSW Caselaw · Accessed 2026-09-25
AAAC Explanatory notes regarding the impact sound insulation rating, Version 2.0 (May 2023) · Association of Australasian Acoustical Consultants · Accessed 2026-09-25
Roseby v The Owners - Strata Plan No 2400 [2018] NSWCATCD 72 · NSW Caselaw · Accessed 2026-09-25
Strata Schemes Management Regulation 2016 (NSW) · NSW Legislation · Accessed 2026-09-25
Body Corporate and Community Management Act 1997 (Qld) · Queensland Legislation · Accessed 2026-09-25
McLeod v Body Corporate for Stradbroke Tower and Villas [2015] QCATA 146 · Supreme Court Library Queensland · Accessed 2026-09-25
Owners Corporations Regulations 2018 (Vic), Schedule 2 model rules · Victorian Legislation · Accessed 2026-09-25
Owners Corporations Act 2006 (Vic), version 024 · Victorian Legislation · Accessed 2026-09-25
Body Corporate and Community Management (Standard Module) Regulation 2020 (Qld) · Queensland Legislation · Accessed 2026-09-25
Into Ballymore [2012] QBCCMCmr 166 · AustLII · Accessed 2026-09-25

Questions, answered

Can a strata committee attach conditions to a flooring approval?

In NSW, the owners corporation may attach reasonable conditions to a minor renovation approval, and approval cannot be unreasonably withheld. In Queensland, the power comes from your by-law, and the committee must act reasonably. In Victoria, model rule 4.3 lets an approval to alter common property specify the works and conditions; otherwise your registered rules decide.

Who pays for the test after the floor goes in?

We found no general rule in NSW, Queensland or Victoria. It depends on your by-laws, the approval conditions or a tribunal order. In one Queensland decision, the adjudicator refused a neighbour's claim for the cost of an acoustic report. For Queensland, payment remains a question for legal review. Elsewhere, confirm the payment arrangement before adding it to the letter.

Why does the letter name the exact floor and underlay?

Because the result depends on the whole floor system. In Roseby, NCAT upheld a refusal where the motion described a different floor from the one tested. In Kim, a floor approved for 5 stars measured 2 stars in the building, and NCAT enforced the approval conditions.

Does an approval stop a neighbour from complaining later?

No. Noise and nuisance rules still apply to an approved floor. In Jiang v Sui, a floor approved by the strata committee was later found to breach the floor coverings by-law, and NCAT ordered the owner to restore carpet or reach 5 stars.

Is the owner's name sent anywhere?

No. The tool runs in your browser. The name, lot and products you type are not sent to us or stored, and they are gone when you close or reload the page.

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