Topic: Can the EC reject a request if it will add to the OC’s maintenance costs? – FLAT CHAT

This topic has 3 replies, 2 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 5 months ago by .

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25/03/2012 at 5:21 pm #8016 Reply | Quote
Austman
Flatchatter
We have an owner who wants to install 3 additional skylight type fittings in the roof of their top floor apartment. Our problem is that we already have lots of skylights (over 25 skylights for the 6 top floor apartments and Common Property), vents and air-conditioning units that penetrate the building's metal roof. We have had a long history of water leaks (which cause damage to the apartment below) from these roof penetrations and are currently spending many thousands of dollars to repair them. From a maintenance point of view we really need no more.

Although the owner will of course pay to install the new skylight fittings (adding to their existing 5 skylights) we on the EC know that eventually the OC will have to maintain and repair them. It's not a matter of if but a matter of when and how much. The OC also has to pay for repairs to the apartment below if the roof leaks. This might be covered by insurance but even so our policy currently has a $1,000 excess per claim.

There's really no need for the owner to install more skylights. A few 5W LED lights will do the job (and work at night too), be a lot cheaper to install and would very low cost to run. The owner even admits this but has a 'preference' for daylight.

Can the EC refuse permission because the request will eventually cost the OC more in maintenance and insurance costs? Is this a reasonable response from the EC?
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Reply To: Reply #15087 in Can the EC reject a request if it will add to the OC’s maintenance costs?

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