This article discusses security lighting responsibility, explaining whether external security lights on commercial strata units are considered common property or the individual owners’ responsibility.
Question: Are the external security lights on my commercial strata units common property, or am I responsible for maintaining and replacing them?
I own four commercial strata units in a block of nine. Each unit has security night lights fitted to the front and back external walls to illuminate the walkways and car parking area. These lights were installed when the complex was first built and are controlled by day–night sensors.
The power for the lights is drawn from each individual unit rather than from a common power meter. Are these external security lights considered common property, or is each unit owner responsible for maintaining and replacing the lights attached to their unit?
Answer: As the wiring is not connected to a common power supply, the responsibility remains with the individual owners.
While the lights may have been installed when the building was built, the responsibility to maintain these lights would fall onto the owners as they are connected to the individual units.
While I understand having all the lights in working order would benefit the corporation, as the wiring is not connected to a common power supply, the responsibility remains with the individual owners.
If the corporation is concerned about security and lack of lighting, it would be recommended to investigate the option of installing common lights, which will be costly if there is no common meter.
Carrie McInerney
Horner Management
E: carrie@hornermanagement.com.au
P: 08 8234 5777
This post appears in Strata News #773.
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