I’m in the process of purchasing an apartment I would like to renovate. Do I have to wait until I have settled? – Rebecca, NSW

Q: I’m in the process of purchasing an apartment, and I am interested in renovating the property prior to moving in. I would like to renovate the bathroom and kitchen. While I understand this would require approval, I would like to know whether I can apply to have the approval process started now or if I have to wait until I have settled.

A: You will have to wait until you have settled before you can apply for renovations. Likewise, you will have to wait for the strata manager to be formally advised, as the roll must be updated with new owner details.

However, you may be able to negotiate with the current vendor and get them to start the application process for you. This will, of course, be up to their discretion.

For more useful information on renovations—and some of the things worth considering before starting—have a look at PICA Group’s article about the challenges of renovating and how to handle them.