Enter your email Address

LookUpStrata

Empowering Strata Together

advert Lannock strata finance
Australia's Top Property Blog Dedicated to Strata Living
  • Home
  • What is strata?
    • Strata Legislation – Rules and ByLaws
    • What is Strata?
    • Glossary of NSW Strata Terms and Jargon
    • Understand Strata Management with this Five-Minute Guide
    • Cracking the Strata Fees Code
    • Strata Finance
  • Strata Topics
    • Strata Information By State
      • New South Wales
      • Queensland
      • Victoria
      • Australian Capital Territory
      • South Australia
      • Tasmania
      • Western Australia
      • Northern Territory
    • Strata Information By Topic
      • By-Laws & Legislation
      • Smoking
      • Parking
      • Noise & Neighbours
      • Insurance
      • Pets
      • Your Levies
      • New Law Reform
      • Maintenance & Common Property
      • Committee Concerns
      • NBN & Telecommunications
      • Building Defects
      • Renting / Selling / Buying Property
      • Strata Managers
      • Building Managers & Caretakers
      • Strata Plan / Strata Inspection Report
      • Apartment Living Sustainability
    • Strata Webinars
      • NSW Strata Webinars
      • QLD Strata Webinars
      • VIC Strata Webinars
      • ACT Strata Webinars
      • SA Strata Webinars
      • WA Strata Webinars
    • Upcoming and FREE Strata Events
  • Blog
    • Newsletter Archives
  • The Strata Magazine
    • The NSW Strata Magazine
    • The QLD Strata Magazine
    • The VIC Strata Magazine
    • The WA Strata Magazine
  • Site Sponsors
  • About Us
    • Testimonials for LookUpStrata
  • Help
    • Ask A Strata Question
    • Q&As – about the LookUpStrata site
    • Sitemap
Home » Maintenance & Common Property » Maintenance & Common Property SA » SA: Who is responsible for apartment door locks in a strata scheme?

SA: Who is responsible for apartment door locks in a strata scheme?

Published March 31, 2026 By Carrie McInerney Leave a Comment Last Updated March 31, 2026

Share with your strata community

  • Share
  • LinkedIn
  • Email

Question: Who is responsible for the locks on our apartment door?

Who is responsible for locks on the external door to your private apartment (not the door into the main entrance). Block of apartments was built in 2017.

We recently discovered that only 1 of the 3 sets of keys provided open the apartment. The locksmith said that after years of only one key being used, there was wear on both the key and the cylinder which meant the other keys did not work. Is the $450 locksmith invoice strata’s responsibility?

Answer: Locks are considered to be an owners responsibility.

Locks are considered to be an owners responsibility. While I understand the keys did not work, you have mentioned that the locksmith has stated that due to the fact the only one key was used there is wear on the key and cylinder. As the Corporation are not responsible for maintain the individual locks the corporation cannot be held responsible for the other keys not working after a number of years.

t is highly recommended that all sets of keys should be checked when first issued to ensure that they all work initially.

This post appears in Strata News #533.

Carrie McInerney
Horner Management
E: carrie@hornermanagement.com.au
P: 08 8234 5777

Share with your strata community

  • Share
  • LinkedIn
  • Email

About Carrie McInerney

Carrie McInerney is the CEO of Horner Management and has been in the industry since 2001. Over the past 19 years Carrie has nurtured an enthusiastic client focused team, combining teamwork and systems to provide an excellent level of service to the Strata Industry.

Carrie is an active member of the SCA (SA) board and was awarded Industry Leader at the SCA Awards in 2016. Carrie connects well with others and is passionate about educating clients and others about the Strata Industry.

Carrie is a regular contributor to LookUpStrata. You can take a look at Carrie's articles here .

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search For Strata Answers

  • Advert Stratabox
  • StrataBox Advert
Subscribe banner

Why Our Community Trusts Us

"LookUpStrata should be compulsory reading for every member of a Body Corporate Committee. It provides the most understandable answers to all the common (and uncommon) questions that vex Body Corporates everywhere. Too often Committee members do not understand what Body Corporates are legally able to do and not do. LookUpStrata helps educate everybody living in a Body Corporate environment for free." John, Lot Owner

"It's the best and most professional body corporate information source a strata manager could have! Thanks to the whole team!" MQ, Strata Manager

"I like reading all the relevant articles on important issues on Strata living that the LookUpStrata Newsletter always effectively successfully covers"
Carole, Lot Owner

"Strata is so confusing and your newsletters and website are my go-to to get my questions answered. It has helped me out so many times and is a fabulous knowledge hub." Izzy, Lot Owner

Explore Most Read Topics

  • Contact a Strata Specialist on the LookUpStrata Directory
  • Ask Us A Strata Question
  • New South Wales
  • Queensland
  • Victoria
  • Australian Capital Territory
  • South Australia
  • Tasmania
  • Western Australia
  • Northern Territory
  • ByLaws & Legislation
  • Smoking
  • Parking
  • Noise & Neighbours
  • Insurance
  • Pets
  • Levies
  • Law Reform
  • Maintenance & Common Property
  • Committee Concerns
  • NBN & Telecommunications
  • Building Defects
  • Renting / Selling / Buying
  • Strata Managers
  • Building Managers and Caretakers
  • Strata Reports / Plans
  • Sustainability

Latest Q&A Comments

  • Lily on NSW: Damages Claims Against Strata & Building Managers – NCAT opens the door
  • The LookUpStrata Team on WA: Q&A Can owners make strata record requests by email?
  • Dragon Lady on WA: Can a strata company ban a resident’s motorcycle because of noise?
  • John Coyle on QLD: Can a committee secretary share strata financial information with a spouse?
  • Peter on WA: Can a strata company ban a resident’s motorcycle because of noise?
  • Liza Admin on NSW: Q&A Do the new NSW fire safety regulations affect pre 1979 strata buildings?
  • Liza Admin on QLD: Q&A Generating an Income From Common Property
  • Eliza Merks on VIC: Can you park on common property outside your strata garage?
  • k. h. ang on NSW: Q&A Who pays for repairs to a leaking internal pipe in a townhouse?
  • Michelle on QLD: Payment to committee members. What approval is required?

Quick User Login

Log In
Register Lost Password

WEBSITE INFORMATION

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions of Use
  • Terms of Use for Comments and Community Discussion
  • Advertising Disclosure
  • Sitemap

ASK A STRATA QUESTION

You’ve Found Strata Help!

Ask a strata, owners corporation or body corporate question and we will do our best to source a useful response from our network of strata professionals around Australia. Submit your question here.

Subscribe NOW

Disclaimer

The opinions and/or views expressed on the LookUpStrata site, including, but not limited to, our blogs and comments, represent the thoughts of individual bloggers and our online communities, and not those necessarily of LookUpStrata Pty Ltd. In all instances, information should not be taken as advice and independent legal advice should be consulted.

CONTACT US VIA EMAIL

Copyright © 2026 · LookUpStrata ® Pty Ltd · All rights reserved