This article discusses the rules and risks surrounding DIY repairs by owners on common property in Queensland strata schemes.
Question: Are there rules in Queensland that prevent a committee member from carrying out DIY repairs on common property?
Our chair regularly undertakes DIY roofing and minor building repairs, even though they are not a qualified tradesperson. They claim it saves the body corporate money, but the roof still leaks. Are there guidelines or restrictions in Queensland about unqualified people doing repair work on common property? It is a false economy and a potential risk.
Answer: Jobs conducted by lot owners should be treated like any other maintenance work. They should be assessed and authorised by a majority of the committee.
There is nothing in the legislation that prevents owners from undertaking repairs to their body corporate.
If they want payment for their time, that can be more complicated, but if they are volunteering and being reimbursed for any materials, they are generally permitted to do that. Please verify coverage with your specific insurance provider.
While it may be fine for owners to replace a light globe or do some minor repairs to the garden, I’d be more concerned if they are taking on more dangerous tasks, such as roof work.
We don’t know what your roofs are like, but is the chair following the same safe works practices that professionals would adhere to? From your description, probably not, and that could cause problems.
As above, ask your insurer and see what they think. If the chair fell from the roof, it would likely lead to a complicated situation for the body corporate. Has the committee considered how it would manage the situation? Is it comfortable relying on its insurer to bail it out in that circumstance? Put questions like this to the committee, and see what they say.
Here’s a factsheet on safe work practices on roofs. Perhaps share that and ask if these guidelines are being followed, especially if the chair is handling the work.
Jobs conducted by lot owners should be treated like any other maintenance work. They should be assessed and authorised by a majority of the committee. Is that happening? It sounds like the chair does things, and the other committee members approve them. Does your committee think that is good practice?
Are you on the committee? If so, you could bring this up with all members. It sounds like the roof is the main issue, so address that directly but politely. Say that you appreciate the chair’s efforts to rectify the roof, but for issues like this, you believe it is important to bring in a professional contractor. If necessary, you can meet the contractor to obtain a quote. Once you have a quote, request a vote to approve it formally.
If you are not on the committee, you could submit an owners motion, possibly including the quote, to have the matter considered by a vote.
Try to move the conversation away from money. People become overly fixated on the idea of saving or not wasting money, which leads to numerous distortions in decision-making. Try to focus on the need to have the work professionally attended to, the legislative requirement to ensure the body corporate maintains common property in good condition, and the insurance risks associated with not maintaining the property or if a lot owner falls from a roof.
William Marquand
Tower Body Corporate
E: willmarquand@towerbodycorporate.com.au
P: 07 5609 4924
This post appears in the November 2025 edition of The QLD Strata Magazine.
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Read next:
- QLD: Q&A Authorising Common Property Changes or Improvements
- QLD: Q&A Can the body corporate recover costs from lot owners?
- QLD: Q&A Body corporate, tradespeople and contracts?
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