This article is about the approval process for changing a gas cooktop to electric in strata.
Question: What is the approval process and do we need a by-law to replace our gas cooktop with an electric powered stove/cooktop in strata?
I am a resident strata unit owner and general committee member in six lot building in Sydney. Do we need to approval from the strata committee and a by-law to replace our gas freestanding stove/cooktop with a similar electricity powered stove/cooktop?
Answer: If you do not need any electrical, waterproofing or other works to swap over your appliance, in our view, you do not require approval of the owners corporation.
If your proposal requires the installation of power points, your proposal will fall within the definition of “minor renovations”. These are works for installing wiring/cabling/power, which require an ordinary resolution of the owners corporation or majority approval of the strata committee (if the latter is delegated that power) PROVIDED the works do not involve waterproofing, structural works, etc. If waterproofing, structural works, etc. are required, you will require a by-law.
If you do not need any electrical, waterproofing or other works to swap over your appliance, in our view, you do not require approval of the owners corporation.
Leanne Habib
Premium Strata
E: info@premiumstrata.com.au
P: 02 9281 6440
This post appears in the April 2025 edition of The NSW Strata Magazine.
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Read next:
- NSW: Retrospective Approval of Unauthorised Works Possible
- NSW: Q&A Apartment renovations without approval. Oops … What do we do now?
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About to commence a major renovation, I was wanting to replace a gas cook top to an induction with one gas wok burner. I was informed that the Srata Committee would not allow, for above reason of possible power outages. Therefore a blanket rule by the committee, ‘only gas cooktops allowed! I then enquired if I could direct that gas to install a gas fireplace, response ‘only electric allowed’! Any suggestions greatly appreciated,
I am in Victoria and faced with the same situation – in a 1960s apartment. A bi-annual gas check has found that there is a gas leak at the meter box. They cannot find the source of the leak withougt going through common property embedded walls. I was origially advised to go all-electric. The OC has said it is not their problem. I am getting my information from Facebook who say that the 32 Amps available to the apartment could cause a shortage within my apartment and depending onthe configuration of the electricity coming and distributed to all the apartments could cause an outage on the main switchboard.
I suppose that is when it would become a OC problem?
The installation of an induction cooktop can have a similar power drain to an electric car charger. One may not be an issue, but several could have a negative effect on the building power supply, leading to ‘brownouts’ or tripping of the power supply. A full audit of the building power supply and power demands should be required.