Renovating an apartment might seem straightforward, but navigating building regulations, managing trades, and making key design decisions can quickly become complex. In NSW, major apartment (Class 2) renovations now require licensed professionals to carry out and oversee the work.
At Henry May, we specialise in high-quality apartment transformations. With deep knowledge of the regulatory landscape, we ensure every element of your renovation meets compliance standards — reducing risk and giving you peace of mind that your home is not only beautifully finished but built to code.
Complete apartment Renovation Specialists
A refreshing and holistic approach to major apartment renovations.
As licensed builders and registered architects, we take a holistic approach to every major renovation — ensuring your vision is not only achievable but fully compliant. From concept to completion, we manage every detail: assessing buildability, coordinating trades, and guiding you through material and finish selections to bring your space to life.
To minimise disruption and keep your project running smoothly, we communicate clearly and consistently — with you, strata, and the owners committee. Our dedicated Site Manager ensures common areas stay clean, noise is kept to a minimum, and any issues are resolved quickly.
If you’re ready to transform your apartment with confidence and less stress, we’re here to help.
Services
Apartment Renovations
FAQs
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Class 2 refers to apartments and the legislation is triggered when works exceed $5,000 in value, involves structural changes, waterproofing, fire safety systems, façade upgrades, or any work that requires development consent.
As with all building works the extent of the scope will determine if it’s categorised as an Exempt Development, Complying Development or Development Application. In the instance of a Development Application, on its approval a Construction Certificate is then required.
Under NSW legislation, works to apartments must be designed and built by a registered practitioner under the Design and Building Practitioners Act. Before construction begins, you’ll need a fully detailed and coordinated set of construction documents, along with a Design Compliance Declaration. These must be lodged via the NSW Planning Portal
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We start by assessing the scope of work to determine whether your project requires a Complying Development Certificate (CDC) or Development Approval (DA). From there, we review planning requirements set by your local council and your chosen Principal Certifying Authority (PCA) to identify which specialist consultants are needed — such as Town Planners, BCA Consultants, or Fire, Waterproofing, and Acoustic Consultants.
These experts provide project-specific requirements based on your site conditions, which we incorporate into the design documentation. During construction, key elements are inspected at defined stages to ensure the build aligns with regulations and can be properly certified.
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We specialise in full apartment renovations — including reconfiguring layouts and creating entirely new kitchens and bathrooms as part of a broader transformation.
If you’re looking for more minor or cosmetic updates only, we’re happy to recommend trusted trades who can help.
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You can read about our transparent and collaborative process here.