WA: Wall-mounted dryer falls in apartment: Who is responsible for the damage?

This article discusses strata appliance damage responsibility in an apartment and why a fallen dryer inside a lot is the owner’s responsibility.

Question: The dryer in my apartment was installed as part of the original fit-out. It fell off the wall and damaged my washing machine. Who is responsible for the repair?

I purchased a new unit 5 years ago. It was fitted with a wall mounted clothes dryer as a part of the construction.

The clothes dryer has fallen off the wall damaging the wall and the clothes dryer and a washing machine (my own) situated below the clothes dryer.

Who is responsible for the repairs?

Answer: Internal appliances within individual lots are not common property.

Unfortunately that circumstance is not a strata company responsibility, as internal appliances within individual lots (like whitegoods as in this example) are not common property that is maintained by the strata company, even if they were installed as part of an original fit-out. We can only suggest that the lot owner refer to their own contents insurer and be guided by them accordingly.

This post appears in Strata News #603.

Andrew Chambers
Chambers Franklyn Strata Management
E: andrew@chambersfranklyn.com.au
P: 08 9200 4200