• Read more about A neglected water feature is now causing water to seep into the basement. Can the owners corporation remove it?
• Add new comment

We have a water feature that has not been well maintained over the 20 years I have lived in the building. We now have water dripping into the basement. A group of Owners would like to close, rather than fix the issue. The water feature is an integral part of the atrium and is a selling point for the building.

If the area was either re-waterproofed or retiled as it was in 2002 and the pond motor was serviced regularly, the issues could be resolved. The cost has been worked out to be less than a cup of coffee per unit per year.

• Read more about Are there any legislative requirements to steam clean or paint common area garbage rooms?
• Add new comment

1. 1. Are there any Legislative requirements to steam clean/paint common area garbage rooms serviced by a garbage chute and recyclable bins?

1. I understand that under the OH&S requirements that a commercial property must repaint a garbage room every 7 years. Does this apply to residential strata as well?

• Read more about Who bears the costs of correcting unapproved modifications to common property?
• Add new comment

Who bears the costs of correcting unapproved modifications to common property?

A couple of lot owners in our strata have cut down the fire-rated main doors to their units to accommodate new tiling or carpet. A recent inspection by a fire certifier has now listed these doors as defective. The modifications were not approved by the Body Corporate. One door now needs to be replaced and the other needs a special attachment fitted to the bottom of the door.

• Read more about In a three lot strata with no sinking fund, can lot owners personally pay for repairs to their own townhouse?
• Add new comment

We own a townhouse in a 3 lot strata plan. There are a number of maintenance/repairs required to fix rotting timber in balconies/door frames on all three lots. The sinking fund does not currently have enough funds to cover the quoted costs, and two of the three lot owners do not have enough personal funds to contribute special levies and are therefore likely to block the vote for these.

• Read more about What happens if the owners corporation cannot carry out necessary maintenance due to lack of funds?
• Add new comment

We have just discovered that our strata building's 60-year-old roof and gutters are in urgent need of replacement within the next 12-18 months.

The building does not have enough money in the capital works fund to cover this maintenance. The ground floor lot owners do not want to approve and pay a special levy to cover the costs as they feel they do not benefit from repairs to the roof and gutters.

• Read more about What do you do if your building is flooding during a storm event, and how can you mitigate flood damage?
• Add new comment

• Read more about Our backyard floods with water coming from a neighbouring property — is drainage the owner's or owners corporation's cost?
• Add new comment

• Read more about My top floor unit ceiling has been damaged by a leaking roof — who is responsible for the repair cost?
• Add new comment

• Read more about If the owners corporation passes ongoing responsibility for common property to a lot owner, does this bind subsequent owners?
• Add new comment

3 years ago, a lot had a burst pipe requiring the kitchen to be replaced. The insurer has approved $45,000 for repairs, however, the lot owner is elderly and doesn't want the disruption associated with further work.

The insurer has offered the owners corporation a cash settlement. The OC wants to accept as it is hampering insurance until the claim is settled. The OC is having an agreement drawn up with the lot owner to ensure there is no further claim/comeback to the OC. Will this be sufficient to protect us from a new/subsequent lot owner?

• Read more about Does an owner need to create a by-law to pay for urgent common property repairs themselves?
• Add new comment

The front balcony timber steps and rails are in urgent need of repair. I know that this is understood to be common property. I have offered to have this work done at my own cost and not seek reimbursement from the owners corporation.