Current Page

[haroyd]

Steel frame casement windows rusting on interior surfaces due to landlords lack of maintenance.

This is in an older 70’s era block in the north Sydney area where the owner appears to have done no maintenance since purchase.  The flat is original un-renovated and in poor condition.  The rest of the units in this block are well maintained and the OC ensures regular external painting is undertaken.

The agent has contacted our strata manager requesting we arrange rust removal and painting. The OC’s opinion is that had the owner or agent bothered to inspect the flat regularly then it would have been obvious that the window frames were in need of paint and the expense of rust removal and treatment would not have been necessary. 

An irresponsible long term lack of general maintenance at this property has resulted in extensive rust forming on all windows in the unit, yet no other units in the block have the same problem. The extent of the rust apparent on all windows in this flat is not new, it has been forming for years.

From Fair Trading web site :-

Owners corporation responsibilities for maintenance, repair or replacement

Part of the property     Who is responsible?

9. Windows               (a) windows in common property walls, including window furniture, sash cord and window                                      seal.                                                                                                                                          
   (b) insect -screens, other than those installed by an owner after the registration of the strata plan                   (c) original lock or other lock if subsequently replacement by the owners corporation.                                    

   No mention of painting the interior of window frames.
   Our strata manager feels this is the same as timber widows which in the course of the last nearly 50 years or so would have been repainted several times by previous owners in that time.

   We consider that once repainted by an owner it becomes the ongoing responsibility of that property’s owner

Topic