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[Nibbles55]

So – I am an owner of a unit in an 18 unit building, pre 1974. After literally years of delay, the Executive Committee, of which I am a member, has finally agreed to proceed with work to repair/repaint the rusted lintels above doors and windows.

We have a new Strata Manager with whom there have been some issues we are trying to smooth out, but at the last moment he has suggested that the owners of those units with doors and windows leading out to balconies should pay for their own lintel repairs, and that amount be deducted from the bill to be paid by the OC from the sinking fund.

There are four affected units, each with one window and door onto the balcony, sharing the same lintel. Altogether there are 79 lintels being fixed, so four out of 79 to be paid for by the owners, according to the Strata Manager.

As one of the affected owners, my response so far has been to say “lintels are separate structural elements that are NOT part of the windows and doors, but are designed to support the overlying brickwork, which is common property.” Does this seem fair and reasonable?

I am also suggesting we adopt the 2011 Memorandum, “Defining who is responsible for items and areas in a Strata scheme”, so as to avoid future issues of this nature. Is this still the most current document of its type, or is there something more recent?

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