I would love to know how this issue with the damp in the kitchen and the owner knowing about a problem ends up.
We have a similar problem. An owner sent an email to the EC saying “we have a problem with our unit and we need an engineer”. We responded that of course we were responsible for common property areas of the unit, so where is this problem and what is the problem. No response.
Then the owner next to this one goes to the strata manager and says there is a damp problem under their unit. The first owner then pipes up and say that the EC were told of this problem earlier. The first correspondence did not mention damp, mould, water, damage nor any of the wheres or why fors.
We did get an engineer. We had a report done. The first owner doesn't like what has been said in the report. We tried to get another inspection done but this first owner would not allow access on day as they were “busy”.
So, years down the track, the problem still exists. The owners say it is bad, the engineer says it isn't. The problem of mould in the properties could also be attributed to the owners maintenance of this area (in a store room, not a habitable area). And in all these years, except for the initial email, there has been NOTHING in writing from the owners stating there is a problem (and that first email did not really give an indication). Any complaints, requests have only been verbal on the part of the owners. I really feel that, should these owners want repairs done that we should argue that their inaction played a part in any damage that may have occurred.