NSW Strata Law Reforms 2025: What They Mean for EV Charging and Sustainable Apartment Living

From 1 July 2025, major reforms to NSW strata law came into effect, embedding sustainability into the governance of every strata scheme. Under the Strata Schemes Legislation Amendment Act 2025, strata committees are now required to include sustainability as a standing agenda item at every Annual General Meeting (AGM).

For apartment owners, tenants, and committees, this marks a turning point. Topics such as energy efficiency, water conservation, waste reduction, and electric vehicle (EV) charging must now be discussed and reported on every single year.

This change builds on earlier reforms under the Strata Schemes Management Amendment (Sustainability Infrastructure) Act 2021, which streamlined approvals for installing solar panels, battery storage, and EV chargers. But the 2025 reforms go even further: by-laws that previously banned sustainability infrastructure purely for “aesthetic” reasons are no longer enforceable — unless the building is heritage-listed or located in a conservation area.

For residents, this removes one of the biggest roadblocks to installing EV chargers in car spaces or common property. If your request was once denied because “it didn’t look nice,” you now have the legislative backing to resubmit with confidence.

Why sustainability is front and centre in strata

The NSW Government’s reforms recognise that strata schemes are not just places to live — they are a major contributor to energy use and emissions. Apartment buildings consume significant amounts of electricity for lighting, lifts, ventilation, and car parks.

By making sustainability a standing AGM agenda item, the government is ensuring that every committee takes measurable steps toward a cleaner, smarter future.

From now on, committees must:

• Report on common property energy and water usage.

• Consider owner proposals such as LED lighting upgrades, solar PV systems, or EV charging networks.

• Budget for sustainability infrastructure in addition to traditional maintenance.

• Plan upgrades that future-proof buildings against rising energy costs and carbon impacts.

This is more than compliance. It is a roadmap for efficient, resilient, and valuable apartment living.

Why this matters for EV drivers

Australia is in the middle of an EV revolution. In Q2 2025, sales reached record highs with 41,146 new EVs sold nationwide:

• 29,244 Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs)

• 11,902 Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles (PHEVs)

That’s a 37% increase year-on-year, with EVs now making up 13.1% of all new car sales. Forecasts suggest that by 2026, one in four new cars will be electric.

For apartment dwellers, however, home charging access is often the deciding factor. Without the ability to charge overnight in their own building, many residents delay switching to EVs. On-street charging or public stations are not always convenient or available.

The 2025 reforms change this equation. Committees must actively consider EV charging, load management, and fair cost allocation in their planning. They cannot reject applications simply because chargers “look out of place.” This means parking areas are no longer just storage spaces — they are key to decarbonising communities.

Practical steps for strata committees

To comply with the new reforms, committees should take immediate action:

1. Audit your by-laws
   Identify and amend any by-laws that restrict solar, batteries, or EV chargers on aesthetic grounds.

2. Add sustainability to every AGM
   Include data on energy and water use in your annual reports.

3. Budget for infrastructure upgrades
   Plan for switchboard capacity, wiring, load management software, and access control systems.

4. Engage owners early
   Share the benefits of sustainability projects, explain costs, and propose realistic timeframes.

5. Review contracts
   Check that embedded energy agreements and EV charging contracts meet disclosure requirements.

By acting now, committees can avoid compliance issues and build consensus for long-term upgrades.

Making shared parking work for everyone

Installing chargers is only part of the solution. In strata buildings where parking is shared or limited, access must be managed fairly. Without planning, disputes can arise between residents over who gets to charge and when.

Smart solutions include:

• Allocating shared EV bays with booking systems to ensure equal opportunity.

• Implementing user-pays billing so that electricity costs are distributed fairly.

• Using smart parking bollards to protect EV bays from “ICEing” (petrol cars blocking chargers) and guarantee access for authorised users.

For example, That’s My Spot’s Parking Spotz system integrates bollards with EV chargers and booking software. This ensures bays remain available, costs are tracked, and residents enjoy seamless access without conflict.

Real-world example: Sydney apartment block

Ahead of the 2025 reforms, one Sydney apartment complex took proactive steps to embrace EV readiness. They:

• Upgraded their switchboard and installed load management software.

• Passed a by-law enabling owners to install private chargers.

• Installed three shared chargers with user-pays billing.

• Added smart parking bollards to protect EV bays.

• Launched a digital booking system for equitable access.

The results were immediate. With certainty around EV charging, more than 20% of residents committed to switching to electric vehicles. The system is operating smoothly, with no disputes and efficient utilisation of shared chargers.

Budgeting and staging projects

Future-proofing doesn’t need to happen overnight. A staged approach spreads costs, avoids levy shocks, and ensures long-term compliance.

Example staged plan:

• Stage 1: Conduct energy audit and EV readiness assessment.

• Stage 2: Upgrade switchboard and capacity for chargers.

• Stage 3: Install first phase of shared chargers and bollards.

• Stage 4: Expand based on demand and add solar PV or batteries.

By budgeting ahead, committees can manage costs while steadily improving infrastructure.

Why sustainability adds value

Sustainability upgrades are now directly linked to property value. Buyers and renters are actively seeking buildings with EV charging, greener common areas, and lower energy costs.

Buildings that fail to act risk falling behind — with higher vacancies, lower demand, and declining appeal. Conversely, those that invest in EV charging, solar, and smart parking systems will attract forward-thinking residents and strengthen their market position.

Next steps for your strata committee

1. Add sustainability to your AGM agenda with real usage data.

2. Commission a feasibility study for EV charging and parking upgrades.

3. Update by-laws to enable sustainability infrastructure.

4. Develop a staged funding and capital works plan.

5. Communicate clearly with owners to secure support.

How ThatsMySpot can help

At ThatsMySpot, we make sustainable parking simple. We supply remote control and smartphone-operated parking bollards that integrate with EV chargers to keep bays free and ensure fair access.

We partner with strata managers and committees across NSW to design and deliver parking solutions that meet new sustainability obligations while future-proofing buildings.

👉 Ready to make your building EV-ready and compliant? Explore our EV charging parking bollard solutions or contact us today for a free consultation.