This article discusses strata skylight replacement responsibility insurance and why owner-installed skylights are usually the owner’s responsibility despite insurance cover.
Question: We have just had the 10 year plan done which mentions that skylights (which are under the strata company’s insurance) need to be replaced. Who is responsible?
I live in a strata complex of 11 units. We have just had the 10 year plan done. In it, they mentioned that of the 11 units some had evaporative air conditioners, skylights and solar panels put in after the units were built and sold. Presumably, these assets were put in by the original owners.
The skylights are under the strata insurance but the air conditioners and solar panels are not.
In the 10 year plan we were informed that the skylights need to be replaced. The strata company is saying it is the owner’s responsibility to replace them. Logically, if it is under the strata company’s insurance then shouldn’t it be their responsibility?
Answer: There is no relation between what is covered under strata Insurance and what is required under the 10-year plan.
There is no relation between what is covered under strata Insurance and what is required under the 10-year plan.
Strata Insurance can cover things that you would consider personal. Classic examples are stoves, motors for garage doors.
With 10-year plans, the act is clear: it covers only common property. Air-conditioning units, solar panels and skylights installed by individual owners are not deemed common property and would be the responsibility of the owners to maintain, repair, and replace as required. Incidentally, with these items, there should be exclusive use by-laws in place with the above-mentioned conditions attached.
This post appears in the May 2021 edition of The WA Strata Magazine.
Brian Rulyancich
StrataTAC
E: strata@stratatac.com.au
P: 0428 970 067
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