I own a unit near the beach and the windows are old and pitted… I have talked to strata about possibility of replacement, however I haven’t progressed because nobody can work out how bad they have to be to warrant replacement. – Mark, NSW

I own a unit near the beach. The windows are old and pitted, probably from sea air etc.

I have talked to strata about possibility of replacement, however I haven’t progressed because nobody can work out how bad they have to be to warrant replacement.

I guess the other problem is the strata committee don’t want to pay for the expense. If I offered to pay there may be no problem.

– Mark, NSW

Answer: Hi Mark,

This will depend on whether the issue is cosmetic or functional. If the old and pitted nature of the windows are allowing water to enter, there is a strong obligation for the owners committee to address it. This is because it can lead to consequential damage that is tougher to deal with down the line. If the old and pitted windows only look unpleasant, but are structurally sound, there will be less of an obligation for the owners committee to fix them.

Either way, windows are mostly considered common property, and would therefore be an owners corporation matter. If a resolution to change the windows does go ahead, we recommend considering a solution that will ensure longevity, so as to avoid frequent window replacements and repairs.