Question: What is the decision making process for changing light fittings in common areas? I thought these changes need to go to a general meeting and that they require a special resolution. Am I correct? My question is about the decision making process of the strata committee. Our strata committee decided to change the…
Question: My garage is in immediate need of repair to the point of causing damage to my car. I have requested maintenance but nothing is done. What can I do? My basement garage in my strata building has no glass in its windows, just some plasterboard covering where glass should be, and the window…
Question: Is it legal to block access to a common area lift from the car park to the foyer? The Strata Committee is denying access to the elevator via the car park unless you have a doctor’s certificate stating you can’t walk up 12 steep stairs to the front entrance (which then leads to…
Question: Do we need permission to tile over the top of tiles in our townhouse bathroom and laundry? We will not be disturbing the waterproofing or original tiles? Answer: Tiles are hard surface flooring and therefore considered a “minor renovation” under the legislation. If the strata committee has been delegated the power to approve…
Question: Our neighbour drilled into our balcony to install an awning shade. What do we do now? Who is responsible if there is future damage due to the installation? Our downstairs neighbour got approval to set up an awning for her backyard. In her request she stated that drilling was ‘probably not required’, however,…
Question: How many committee members need to sign off on the approval for repairs or building maintenance work for NSW strata properties? Our new Strata Manager is approving work quotes when only one or two committee members have OK’d it verbally, without including the other committee members in any correspondence. Answer: Email direction is…
Question: Our sinking fund has run out of money and we need a lot of repairs and maintenance done to common property. the window paint has all peeled off and in some cases starting to rot, lintels are rusting, there is a very large common area window that needs to be replaced (totally rusted)…
Question: One of our lot’s water meter leaked resulting in an excess water bill. Is the affected unit entitled to claim the excess water charges from our Owners Corporation? One of our lot’s water meter leaked resulting in an excess water bill. After a report from a plumber, the insurance company has stated it…
The new defects rectification guide has been launched in NSW. The NSW Government has written a step by step guide which helps Strata Managers and property owners with identifying and then rectifying defects in apartment buildings in a seamless process. This is a first of its kind for government and it enables the government…
Question: There is no insulation under the concrete roof of my top floor apartment. On hot days, the apartment is basically unliveable. Is the Owners Corporation responsible for this problem? When the summer sun heats the concrete roof of my top floor apartment all day, that evening the concrete sheds its heat into the apartment!…
Question: A builder has confirmed I have water between my tiles and the waterproofing layer in my bathroom. I have contacted strata. What do I do now? I had noticed something wrong with the grout in my bathroom and my metal door frames are starting to get corrosion on them. I organised for a…
Question: My balcony cannot be viewed from any common property. Can I retile my balcony as long as the finish is in keeping with the building without OC approval for the renovations being asked? I appreciate that maintenance and replacement of my balcony structure and it’s waterproof membrane are the responsibility of our Strata….
Question: Who is responsible for the maintenance and repair of outdoor lights on each of the townhouse walls in both front and back yard? These external lights were installed when the townhouses were originally built. Answer: The exterior lights would likely be your responsibility. While we have not seen your by-laws or notations on…
Question: I’m renovating my unit’s flooring. The flooring has magnesite and needs to be repaired by the Owners Corporations first. Should they draft the bylaw for the renovation? I am renovating my entire Unit’s Flooring. The Strata Committee is requesting that prior to doing any flooring renovations, the magnesite needs to be completely removed…
Question: We need to shave a little off the bottom of our entry fire door to install new floorboards. Is strata responsible for modifying or replacing the fire door, since the front fire door is common property? I am installing floorboards in my apartment which will raise the existing floor levels, consequently, I may…
Question: For the past 10 years, I have been sticking down loose and drumming tiles in my bathroom. I now feel the time has come to renovate my bathroom, laundry and toilet which all have damaged and or broken tiles. Should the body corporate pay for the removal of the old tiles and waterproof and…
Question: In a duplex, we each have exclusive use of our yard and garden. Isn’t this therefore our responsibility to maintain? The other lot owner would like the owners corporation to remove a tree. I live in a duplex. Both units have exclusive use of their yard and gardens. The owner of the other unit…
Question: We (a unit block of 9) have seven original established palms growing out of a privately owned lot. A lot owner owners the trees to 2.4 m, but above 2.4m the palms are in common property airspace. Do these existing trees, or trees that have been there 5 to 30 years before a…
Question: We discovered a leak in the ceiling of our newly renovated bathroom. Strata will fix but will cover the repair hole with a vent. We’d like it returned to the condition it was in prior to the leak. I recently noticed a drip through a light fitting in my main bathroom. We completely renovated…
Question: I’m concerned about the correct process of strata approval for renovations in our scheme. Renovations involving waterproofing isn’t being considered a major work under the new legislation, and therefore not being considered by the Owners Corporation as a special resolution. I’m a member of a Strata Committee in an apartment complex which was registered…