Question: If an owner’s balcony doors/windows need replacing, is this the responsibility of the owners corporation? Must we wait until the owners corporation decides to replace all of the balcony doors/windows in the building?
Answer: Depending on the age of your building, the registered by-laws and strata plan applicable to the scheme, the balcony doors/windows will be either lot property or common property.
Depending on the age of your building, the registered by-laws and strata plan applicable to the scheme, the balcony doors/windows will be either private lot property or common property. Older buildings commonly have the balcony doors as the responsibility of the individual owner whereas newer buildings have such doors/windows as the responsibility of the owners corporation.
If they are common property, the balcony doors/windows are the responsibility of the owners corporation and the owners corporation must repair, maintain, and, if required, replace the balcony doors/windows. Therefore in theory, you should not have to wait for their replacement if they have fallen into disrepair. The owners corporation has a strict duty to repair and maintain the common property, so if the balcony doors/windows in your scheme are common property and require repair or replacement, that would be the responsibility and cost of the owners corporation.
Alternatively, if you do not wish to wait for the owners corporation to replace the doors/windows and you are happy to pay for the replacement yourself, you will need to obtain approval from the owners corporation by way of a by-law and ensure that the replacement balcony doors/windows are strictly in keeping with the appearance, look and feel of the building.
If they are private property, all repairs, maintenance, and replacement will be your responsibility. You will still need to ensure that the replacement doors match the appearance etc of the building.
Your strata manager will be able to advise you whether your balcony doors/windows are common property or your responsibility and what next steps should be.
Leanne Habib Premium Strata E: info@premiumstrata.com.au P: 02 9281 6440