I own an apartment in an old 1970s brick block in Sydney. The windows are original and aluminium framed. They are in need of seal replacement as they are starting to rattle and whistle in the wind.
The owners corporation is reviewing two options:
Our apartment building in Wahroonga, NSW was built in 1983. Although the balcony balustrades met the regulations at the time they were built, they are deficient in two ways:
I am on the committee of a NSW strata titled unit block. All units and common areas have vermiculite ceilings. They were in vogue when the block was built about 40 years ago.
Tenants in one unit have raised a safety concern with the vermiculite ceiling regarding the asbestos content. The ceiling seems to be failing and particles of dust are falling from the ceiling.
Is the maintenance of the vermiculite ceiling the responsibility of the lot owner or the owners corporation?
Our block of 36 units was built c1960. An owner wishes to replace their glass balcony door. The balcony door currently does not have a hob. To meet current regulations, we need to install a hob. The work will require waterproofing the entire balcony, at approx $20,000. If the owner replaces the door, does a hob have to be installed? Is compliance with the Building Code of Australia retrospective?
Our nine unit apartment recently had remedial works done for concrete spalling and painting balconies and external/internal common areas. The block was registered in 1968.
As the building was built before July 1974, are balconies the responsibility of each owner? Our capital works fund paid for all repairs.
Should our strata management have advised us of this? If balconies are the owners' responsibility, can we seek compensation from our strata managers for their failure to highlight NSW strata legislation?
Our small strata block was formed shortly after the strata law was passed in the 1960s. At some point, the original timber windows were removed from one of the units. We have no record of the change. Four of these windows need repairing or replacing. Our strata management insists we replace all 11 windows in the flat with the original timber sash windows. This will be costly as the windows must be specially made.