BASIX: What It Means for Your Home Build or Renovation
- Paul Dolphin
- Jan 13
- 2 min read
More Than Just Another Approval Requirement
If you’re thinking about building a new home or renovating in NSW, you may hear your designer or builder mention a “BASIX certificate.” Gaining Development Approval (DA) is already a detailed process, and BASIX can easily feel like just another box to tick. In reality, it’s there to help ensure homes are:
• more comfortable to live in
• cheaper and more sustainable to run
• better suited to Australia’s changing climate
• designed with smarter layouts, better materials and more thoughtful planning
What Is a BASIX Certificate?
A BASIX certificate (short for Building Sustainability Index) is an official NSW requirement that confirms a proposed new home or renovation meets minimum standards for energy efficiency, water efficiency and thermal comfort. Put simply, new homes in NSW now need to meet a 7-star energy standard.
What Has Changed in Recent Years?
BASIX requirements have evolved significantly. The focus is no longer just on what products are added to a home, but on how the home is designed as a whole. In the past, it was often possible to “fix” a poor design by adding solar panels or upgrading appliances to boost the energy rating. While these still help, BASIX now expects the home itself to perform well first. If the layout or glazing isn’t right, approvals can be harder to achieve and more expensive to fix later.
Why BASIX Feels Stricter Now
Higher BASIX standards came into effect in October 2023 and are now being applied more consistently across councils, certifiers and assessors. There’s a much stronger focus on the home’s layout, orientation, glazing and insulation. The rules are being more rigorously enforced, which makes good design from the outset more important than ever.
Changes to the BASIX Application Process
Alongside higher performance standards, the BASIX application process itself has changed. Application forms now require far more detailed and accurate design information, including window sizes, glazing types, frame materials, insulation levels, floor areas and building systems. There is far less tolerance for estimates or placeholders, and the information must closely match the architectural drawings submitted for approval. While this adds rigour upfront, it helps ensure the approved design is what actually gets built and performs as intended.
Water Efficiency Still Matters
New homes and renovations are also being assessed more carefully for water-saving measures such as rainwater tanks, plumbing layouts and water-efficient fixtures.
The Key Takeaway for Homeowners
BASIX requirements are no longer something that can be sorted at the end of the process.
Trying to make a design comply after plans are finished can lead to unexpected costs, design changes or delays. That’s why working with an experienced and accredited building designer early on makes such a difference.
A skilled designer understands these requirements from the start and can design your home or renovation to meet BASIX naturally—without compromising how it looks or how it works for your lifestyle. The result is a home that’s easier to approve, more comfortable to live in, and cheaper to run long-term.
While the rules may sound more complicated, the upside is simple: better designed homes will perform better for the people living in them.
Comments