Building compliance
Can an owner completely enclose a balcony to make another room? – Betty, NSW
Q: Can an owner completely enclose a balcony to make another room?
A: If this work includes major changes such as erecting …
The committee has decided to repaint the building, what process is required to change the existing colour scheme? – Peter, QLD
Q: The committee has decided to repaint the building, what process is required to change the existing colour scheme?
A: If your …
Can I install a divider along the cyclone fencing near my garage to keep my space clean and secure? – Kathy, QLD
Q: My garage is one of three, together with a cyclone fencing dividing each. The other two tenants keep their roller …
We are renovating our 2 bathrooms. If the tenants do not stop using the adjoining main bathroom immediately our newly tiled main bathroom will have to be demolished and redone. Our builder cannot proceed with the en-suite waterproofing and tiling. What do you advise?- Karen, QLD
Q: We are renovating our 2 bathrooms. Tiles were completely removed from both bathrooms. Main bathroom has been waterproofed and newly …
I am exploring the idea of extensively renovating my unit. Please advise – what is the standard requirements and approvals – that may need to be obtained? Can I just start work and deal with things with strata – as they arise? – James, NSW
Q: I am exploring the idea of extensively renovating my unit that is managed by PICA strata agent – involving completely …
The body corporate have approached me to install a downpipe from this guttering. The downpipe would have to be on common property to work? Could you advise me as to whose responsibility this would be please? – Margaret, QLD
Q: I live in the first stage of a cojoined town Complex built in 1993. I am in an end unit …
A shower drain was blocked and a plumber was issued with a work order by the body corporate to clear it. The plumber advised that the blockage was mainly caused by human hair. Is the responsibility for payment on the owner of the unit, or the body corporate? – Peter, NSW
Q: A shower drain was blocked and a plumber was issued with a work order by the body corporate to clear …
What is the easiest way for a townhouse extension to proceed and how can you protect other owners from future liability for the extension and the extension owner? – Vivienne, NSW
Q: Our strata includes four two-storey townhouses which are grouped together in twos. One townhouse owner has submitted plans to extend …
Is it obligatory for electricity fuse boxes installed on the exterior of a unit to be brought and installed inside? – Gloria, NSW
Q: Is it obligatory for electricity fuse boxes installed on the exterior of a unit to be brought and installed inside?
A: …
Two units in our building have refused access for fire safety checks and repairs despite repeated requests for the past 3 months. We only have a few days left to submit the FSS to council or risk being fined $1,000 per week. Can you please advise on what we can do? – Cassie, NSW
Q: I am the main contact for an owner’s corp in Sydney. Two units in our building have refused access for …
I recently bought a unit and started some renovations that I later found out fell under minor and I should have applied for approval first. I put the application in and am now concerned that they are not going to approve it. Any advice on how I can respond to strata? – Sarah, NSW
Q: I recently bought a unit and due to a lack of awareness of strata requirements, I started some renovations that …
We live in a self-managed block of strata units. If a bathroom has been renovated and taken away from its originality, is it the responsibility of the owners’ corporation to maintain this bathroom in order to keep water from penetrating into the unit below or does it come under the responsibility of the owner to maintain his premises and keep in good order. – Jeanette, NSW
Q: We live in a self-managed block of strata units. If a bathroom has been renovated and taken away from its …
Cracks started to appear in my walls and ceilings as a result of extensive renovations by new owners. When I mentioned this to the new owners, the reply was “that wasn’t us, that was the builders”. What can I do about this? – Robyn, NSW
Q: Around the middle of last year, 2019, following the death of the man in the apartment above mine, his apartment …
Our committee needs to enforce a new owner to install a hot water system like the other units, but that new owner is refusing & claiming it is a body corporate problem. What should we do to resolve the impasse? – Phillip, NSW
Q: Our strata scheme is a 14-lot holiday letting complex in NSW that was built with 13 holiday units & 1 …
We’re in a commercial body corporate, with a ‘Nil manager’ and I need to seek body corporate approval for a particular use, how does one go about that? Can one call a meeting with all owners to obtain a resolution? – Derrick, VIC
Q: We’re in a commercial body corporate, with a ‘Nil manager’ and I need to seek body corporate approval for a …
