Fire Exit Doors vs Fire Doors in Strata Buildings: Rules, Risks and Resident Access
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I live in a residential apartment building that was originally a retirement home. There is a fire exit door on my level. Residents continually wedge the door open so they can re-enter as it is locked from the outside.
The exit leads to an outdoor stairway onto the carpark and has a security camera and intercom installed by the original owners. The door has also been fitted with some type of magnetic release mechanism with a switch next to the door. None of these functions are operational.
Old Electrical Cabling in Strata Buildings: Fire Risks and How Owners Can Push for Upgrades
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I live in an Art Deco building built in the 1930s. There are 5 units in the Building that have had rewired done in the ceilings. The committee is sitting on the decisions to carry out the rewiring in the remaining 7 units.
Do you need strata approval to change a fire door lock and which locks are allowed?
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We have been told the door to our apartment is a fire door and part of the common property. We have a master key system.
Can I change the lock on the door? As the door will not longer be opened by the master key, do I need approval to change the lock? What lock can I use so the door is still fire safe?
If accidental common property damage leads to theft, who bears the cost?
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Our complex is made up of four single one bedroom units. A delivery truck reversed into the front wooden fence, knocking down our letterboxes. We contacted the delivery company about the damage. Later that day, someone stole the four strata letterboxes while they were lying on the ground.
Who is responsible for the cost of replacing the letterboxes? Should each owner pay individually, or is this a common property expense given the letterboxes were damaged and left vulnerable due to the initial incident?
Can an owners corporation elect committee members as a group?
At an AGM, do nominees for the committee need to be voted on individually, or can they be elected together as a single group or block?
Is it usual for a strata manager to charge fees annually in advance?
Our owners corporation (OC) engaged a new strata manager who applied the annual management fee at the start of the engagement. Six months after the OC paid the previous year's fee, the manager has asked owners to pay an additional six months' fee.
It appears to be a duplication of the agreed yearly fee paid in advance. This has caused confusion about the manager's total fees.
What can an owners corporation do when an overseas owner stops paying levies?
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We are an owners corporation of 11 single storey villa units. One owner leases their lot and lives and works overseas. The owner has not paid their levies for the 2025 calendar year. They do not respond to any communication, and have not provided a current residential address. What options does the owners corporation have to recover unpaid levies in these circumstances?
Do you need approval to change a lock on a fire door?
We've been told the door to our apartment is a fire door and part of the common property. Can I change the lock on the door? Do I need approval to change the lock? What lock can I use so that the door is still fire safe and compliant?