On 2 December 2018 the Owners Corporations Regulations 2007 were replaced with the Owners Corporations Regulations 2018, providing new owners corporations regulations which include amendments to the model rules for an owners corporation in Schedule 2 of the regulations.

A notable amendment to the model rules concerns changes to the external appearance of a lot and notification requirements for renovations to a lot.

Rule 5.2 requires lot owners to obtain the written approval of the owners corporation before changing the external appearance of their lot. An owners corporation cannot unreasonably withhold approval, but may give approval subject to reasonable conditions to protect the quiet enjoyment of other lot owners and the structural integrity or the value of other lots and/or common property.

Rule 5.3 provides that an owner or occupier of a lot must notify the owners corporation when undertaking any renovations or other works that may affect the common property and/or other lot owners’ or occupiers’ enjoyment of the common property.

The commentary and relevant precedents in the By Lawyers Conveyancing (VIC) guide – and the applicable sections of our very popular Reference Manual 1001 Conveyancing Answers (VIC) – have all been updated accordingly in consultation with our Victorian conveyancing author Russell Cocks.