Usually, there is no obligation to upgrade anything to current building standards if maintenance or repair is not needed. IE if something still meets the standard that it met when installed you don’t need to do anything. If you were to do new work, the new work would have to meet current standards.

Eg. When our mid-70s townhouses were built the balcony railings met the standard of the time. Now, when a unit is rebuilding a balcony due to rotten timbers, they have to meet the current standard which includes a higher railing. 

Similarly, our original windows had 3mm glass. There is no obligation to change it but if you break a window that window’s glass must be replaced with thicker or laminated glass that meets the current standard. 

If you have no roof insulation, then you would be crazy not to install some. Insulation standards might drive rewiring to current standards if the insulation would have to go over any of the wiring. 

I don’t know which bits are OC responsibility and which are lot responsibilities. I could answer for the ACT on that but will leave that question to someone else. 

@taps said:
Thank you PeterC.

i should have added that the wiring in the ceiling only services that townhouse. I looked at LPI for pre-1974 as we are 1971 building and the wording is somewhat confusing but it says something along the lines of 
if the wiring only services that lot then it’s the owners responsibility – and i have something in my head from years ago that this is still the case for this lot. Albeit this wiring is in the ceiling / roof cavity.   

I can’t speak for non-ACT, but that accords with my expectation. Here, utility connections that only service one unit are the unit owner’s responsibility to maintain. 

I do see your point PeterC that if it was ‘code’ then and doesn’t need upgrading – but i think that the building inspector who did the report was being cautious and when it comes to what is standard now to what was there is always changes.  

If anyone has some input or can point me in the right direction for the rules?  much appreciated.  

It might well be that the building inspector was making an entirely reasonable recommendation that it would be a good idea to bring old wiring up to current standard. If anything suggested that the old wiring needed maintenance work, then the maintenance would have to meet the current standards anyway. 

Adding insulation might well require a wiring upgrade anyway. 

back in post #2 PeterC said….”usually, there is no obligation to upgrade anything to current building standards if maintenance or repair is not needed. IE if something still meets the standard that it met when installed you don’t need to do anything. If you were to do new work, the new work would have to meet current standards.”

Peter’s correct, and even though the original electrical wiring is in the common property (ceiling) and is therefore the responsibility of the Owners Corporation (O/C), it doesn’t need to be compliant with current Building Codes provided it doesn’t present a hazard in its as-built form.

Of course the new owners of the lot may at their discretion seek the O/C’s consent to themselves alter any wiring for which it (the O/C) would otherwise be responsible, including within a roof-void or a common (perimeter) wall, where such consent would be routinely granted provided the lot owners engage properly licensed and insured tradespeople, and agree in writing to accept responsibility for the on-going maintenance and repair of all altered / renewed sections.

If I’m any judge, the new owners won’t be so keen to achieve compliance with current Building Codes if they have to pay for that!