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From Cliffy:
We are purchasing an off the plan apartment, with final inspection due shortly.My question is: how should we address defects in the common areas?For a new development, who is responsible for identifying, notifying and tracking these, how is this done, and at what point in time?
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If I was in your shoes … Before you take formal possession of your apartment you should obtain an independent professional assessment of the quality and fitness-for-purpose of building workmanship and materials. I would make sure that this assessment also includes the common property. Owners should act before the developer has totally left the scene.
There are three levels of checks that need to be done.
The first, by an inspector employed by the lot owner, should be a check of fixtures, fittings and finishes in their own lot that they can demand the builder fixes there and then.
They should also note issues with common property – ceilings, walls, floors, windows, balconies, front door etc etc – that they can report to the Owners Corps when it is formed.
The next level is non-major defects and major or structural defects and there will be an item on the agenda of the first AGM to ensure the Owners Corp at least considers having a professional inspection done ( and they would have to be totally insane not to do so).
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