Can an owner install privacy panels around a common property pool?

If an owner is installing a ‘privacy panel’ on a common property pool, then without knowing all the details, we’d think that is someone making an improvement to common property – and they will likely need permission from either the committee or a general meeting to do that. People cannot just annex or take over a section of common property at their choosing. There’s a process to go through.

We stress, we know nothing of these ‘panels’ or ‘fences’, so we couldn’t tell if this is, for example, a fixture or if it is something transportable. Both of those things may make a difference. Certainly your comment about ‘permanently’ suggests something is being affixed, which in turn makes us think permission would be needed for that first.

If a resident at the scheme is concerned about their privacy, or is concerned for their safety, enough to want to install something to prevent someone else from getting close to them, that’s a different issue and should be treated seriously. Police may need to be contacted.