There may be trouble in the future without Owners Corporation approval. Our OC had problems in a unit with unapproved alterations to fire-rated ceilings (common property) made by a previous owner. The current owner sought to have the ceilings reinstated by the OC. It went to the CTTT and here is their decision:
“On the evidence before it the adjudicator is not able to make the orders sought by the applicants. If the alterations to the common property were carried out by the previous owner of the lot, the applicants (who are successors in title) are responsible for ensuring that the by laws of the strata plan are complied with. The adjudicator is not able to make orders that the Owners Corporation carry out repairs to common property that are as a result of alterations made to the common property by a lot owner.”
The current owner is now responsible for the reinstatement of the fire-rated ceilings in their unit, not the previous owner who did the unapproved works.