I recently had a leaking tap which flooded the 2 floors of my apartment and required structural drying. The costs of this structural drying and repairs were included in an insurance claim on the strata insurance. As a result of the water extraction during the structural drying there were other common area items which were found to require repairs and were included in the claim. Now the committee are now requiring that I pay the full excess for the insurance claim. I would like to know if I am required to pay the excess or should this be covered by the strata. – Julie, NSW

I own an apartment in a strata and I recently had a leaking tap in my en-suite which flooded the 2 floors of my apartment and required structural drying. The costs of this structural drying and repairs to structural elements within the apartment were included in an insurance claim on the strata insurance.

There were other common area items which were found as a result of the water extraction during the structural drying (i.e. corroded overflow pipe running from my downstairs bathroom through the apartment below which the owner had identified as potential issue 2 years earlier due to water damage to the plasterboard surrounding the pipe, but it was not repaired at the time as there was no evidence at that time that it was still an issue), was included in the claim and the committee are now requiring that I pay the full excess for the insurance claim.

I would like to know if I am required to pay the excess or should this be covered by the strata.

– Julie, NSW

Hi Julie, accidents happen within a strata scheme and this is exactly why the scheme is covered by insurance. The damage that has occurred to common property should be covered by the strata scheme, and not an individual owner. All owners contribute to the payment of the strata insurance in their levies, and should not be held accountable to pay the excess for any damage, especially when it is not malicious.