NSW: Common property door maintenance: Do we repair or do we replace?

Question: Conflicting reports say our common property doors can be repaired or replaced, and owners are divided. How does the owners corporation decide on the right approach?

The common property doors in our building are in varying states of disrepair. The owners corporation is ready to address the problems, but the strata managing agents have obtained conflicting quotes and reports. One advises that the doors can be repaired. Another says they should be replaced.

The owners corporation doesn’t want to incur unnecessary expenditure if the doors can be repaired at a lower cost. It also doesn’t want to breach its duty to maintain the common property, given that one builder recommends full replacement.

How should the owners corporation proceed when owners also have differing opinions on whether the doors should be repaired or replaced?

Answer: Engaging an independent project manager can help resolve conflicting advice on common property repairs by providing a practical, evidence-based recommendation.

When an owners corporation receives conflicting advice about whether common property doors should be repaired or replaced, engaging an experienced project manager can provide clarity.

A project manager can independently inspect the doors and review the reports and quotes already obtained to identify where the advice aligns or differs. They can then provide a practical recommendation based on the condition of the doors, long-term performance, risk and overall cost outcomes.

In many cases, not all doors will require the same solution. It may be appropriate to replace the most heavily damaged doors while repairing others that remain in serviceable condition. This staged approach can help the owners corporation manage costs while still meeting its maintenance obligations.

Where owners hold differing opinions, an independent assessment can also assist the committee in making a balanced, evidence-based decision that focuses on the long-term interests of the building rather than individual preferences.

This post appears in the July 2026 edition of The NSW Strata Magazine.

Sam Hogg
PASG Projects
E: info@pasg.com.au
P: 0455 335 477