We are the only apartment without TV reception. Is it strata's responsibility to fix the cabling?

By admin,

Our unit appears to be the only one out of 70 units that has no TV signal coming out of the socket in our loungeroom wall. The fire cupboard outside our unit door has signal to it but then it is failing somewhere between there and our wall socket in the lounge room.

The aerial guy that came to investigate said there must be a splitter box somewhere inside our unit but he cannot find it. It could even be in a wall or the floor slab.

A neglected water feature is now causing water to seep into the basement. Can the owners corporation remove it?

By admin,

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.

Are there any legislative requirements to steam clean or paint common area garbage rooms?

By admin,
    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?

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

By admin,

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.

In a three lot strata with no sinking fund, can lot owners personally pay for repairs to their own townhouse?

By admin,

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.

What happens if the owners corporation cannot carry out necessary maintenance due to lack of funds?

By admin,

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.

If the owners corporation passes ongoing responsibility for common property to a lot owner, does this bind subsequent owners?

By admin,

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?

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