Question: In a fire zone, are repairs to windows and special gauze screens the responsibility of the owners corporation or the lot owner?
Our unit is located in a designated fire zone that requires special gauze screens on the windows. Are repairs to the windows and these screens the responsibility of the owners corporation, or should the lot owner bear the cost?
Answer: If these gauze screens were original or installed by the owners corporation for fire protection, most likely the screens are the responsibility of the owners corporation to repair and maintain.
In NSW, the structure, windows, doors and screens that form the boundary of the lot are typically common property where they were original to the building. If these gauze screens were original or installed by the owners corporation for fire protection, it is most likely the screens are the responsibility of the owners corporation to repair and maintain.
However, you should review the strata plan and bylaws to ensure there are no notations or bylaws stating otherwise.
This post appears in the October 2025 edition of The NSW Strata Magazine.
Hugh McCormack
McCormacks Strata Management
E: Hugh.McCormack@mccormacks.com.au
P: 1300 991 825
strata building 40 years plus.
is replacing rubber seal around sliding windows the financial responsibility of OC or the unit owner
The original external flyscreen that was on my unit’s kitchen window has been attacked by birds and has a large hole in it. I bought the unit when it was new and flyscreens were fitted to all external windows.
Above it says that “If the fly screens are original, they will fall on the owners corporation to maintain.” However, when I contacted our strata management company they said it was my responsibility and that I would have to pay for it to be repaired. Where can I find out who is actually responsible?
Being that we have a by law stating we must clean accessible windows ourselves on the ground floor what happens when the inaccessible windows upstairs are cleaned by body Corp leaving the downstairs ones dirty! Should that be rectified by body Corp after all they were clean before work began upstairs.
Who is responsbile for replacing an exterior window in our strata building?
Hi Elaine
As stated in the article above: “The owners corporation has an obligation to repair and maintain common property.” For more about what is common property in your building, you can access the NSW Fair Trading’s Common Property Memorandum here.
I have lived in my unit for over 12 years – 3rd floor. The kitchen, laundry and bathroom windows are not accessible for cleaning purposes.
I’ve been asking the Strata and OC to have the windows cleaned professionally, but it has not been done for over 12 years. You cannot see much through the kitchen window anymore.
Is there a formal process by which this issue can be resolved?
Hi Liz
This article should assist. Even though it discusses Garden Maintenance, the actions are applicable:
NSW: Q&A Making Sure the Garden Outside My Apartment is Maintained
Hi – it’s my view that the committee can determine that, however second floor windows are not accessible without equipment and thus fall on the OC.
Relating to window cleaning in a Strata complex, how is “accessible” defined? We have a townhouse block only 2 levels high and windows can easily be reached with a hose. Although it is Owners Corporation responsibility to clean “Inaccessible” windows under the Common Property Memorandum adopted by our Strata Plan, who decides what is “accessible” in these cases? Individual owners or can the Committee as representative of all owners decide?
Thanks
Hi Anna – see article here – https://www.lookupstrata.com.au/nsw-pre-1974-strata-plans-centre-line-rule/
Who is responsible for the installation of safety glass ? Our building was registered pre 1974 and we have floor to ceiling window on the top floor of the block that definitely does not meet safety standard. Is it our responsibility to replace or strata?
Who is responsible for insect infestation in a villa block