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