Apartment and Strata Moves: Lifts, Insurance and Rules

Moving into an apartment or strata building takes more planning than a house move, because the building has rules of its own. Before the day you usually need to do three things: book the lift or loading dock for a set time window, give the building a certificate of currency that proves your removalist is insured, and check the move-in hours your strata allows. Get those sorted early and the move itself is straightforward. Here is what each one means, and how we handle them so you are not chasing paperwork the week you move.

Book the lift or loading dock first

Most apartment buildings only allow one move at a time, so you reserve the service lift or loading dock for a set window rather than turning up whenever suits you. You book that window through the building manager or strata committee, and at busy times, like the end of the month when leases turn over, the good slots go quickly. Some buildings also ask for lift padding to be fitted and hold a refundable bond in case of damage to common areas.

We schedule the crew around the window you are given, so the truck arrives when the lift is yours rather than when it is tied up by another resident. If your building runs a tight slot, we plan the load order in advance to make the most of it.

Sort the certificate of currency

Many strata buildings will not let a removalist start until they have a certificate of currency on file. This is a short document from the removalist's insurer confirming their cover is current, and it protects the building's common property if something is knocked or scratched in a shared corridor or lift. Buildings often want it a day or two before the move.

If your building asks for one, tell us when you book and we will arrange the certificate it needs. It is far easier to request this early than to discover on the morning that the concierge will not let the crew past the lobby.

Plan access, parking and the lift dimensions

On the day, ground-level access decides how smoothly the move runs. It comes down to where the truck can legally stop, how far the carry is from there to the lift, and whether trolleys are allowed on the building's floors. A truck can usually use an on-site loading dock or driveway without any permit, but if it has to stop on a public street, a council parking permit or a marked loading zone may be needed. We tell you which applies to your address.

Inside, narrow corridors, fire doors and tight lift dimensions shape how each piece is wrapped and carried. We check the lift's internal size against your largest items before the day, so a wardrobe or lounge is never carried up only to be turned away at the door.

A pre-move checklist for apartment and strata moves

Run through this once you have a moving date:

• Book the service lift or loading dock for a time window
• Ask the building whether it needs a certificate of currency, and by when
• Confirm the days and hours your building allows moves (some exclude weekends or evenings)
• Check truck access: on-site dock, driveway, or a street parking permit
• Measure the lift and the narrowest doorway against your largest furniture
• Collect access fobs, swipe cards or a concierge contact for the day
• Plan how you will remove empty boxes and packing afterwards, as some buildings limit bin use

Common questions about apartment moves

How far ahead should I book the lift? As soon as you have a firm date. A week or more is wise at the end of the month and around public holidays, when buildings are busiest.

Who arranges the certificate of currency? Your removalist's insurer issues it. Let us know your building's requirement and we will provide the certificate it asks for.

What if my building only allows weekday moves? We plan the date and crew around the rules your building sets, so you are never caught out by a restriction on the morning.

Do I need council approval to park the truck? Only if it has to stop on a public street where a permit or loading zone applies. Buildings with their own dock or driveway usually need nothing extra.

A well-run apartment move is mostly about getting the building's requirements handled before the truck arrives. Tell us your building and your date, and we will line up the lift, the paperwork and the access so the day itself is the easy part.