#27617
Mr Wong
Flatchatter

    A friend who is went to the same SCA meeting where the suggestion to insert a Minor Renovations by-law was suggested, pointed out to me that my draft is too all-encompassing. “All minor renovations need a by-law?” is pretty much the spanner they put in my works. And they are quite right.

    How do I differentiate between a major ‘minor’ renovation like ‘reconfiguring’ a wall by adding a doorway through a common property internal brick wall or moving plumbing pipes around inside those walls VERSUS changing a light switch.

    Future generations of owners must be responsible for repairs and maintenance so that the expense does not fall by default on the OC. A current owner is not responsible for undocumented and untraceable modifications. Only owners who were around when the work was initially authorised may in future recall the timing. Minutes aren’t good enough without that living memory because the new OC has to know where to look, and as the lawyer at the SCA seminar pointed out, after 7 years, with the OC’s agreement (or can it be the SC’s decision?) documents may legally be culled; not so by-laws.

    Can anyone help me with a suggestion on how to word a clause to differentiate between major ‘minor renovation’ versus minor ‘minor renovation’? It will go to a lawyer finally, but without this clause in the initial draft, is bound to be thrown out with the bathwater.

    Among other things, the new Act lists minor renovations as ‘reconfiguring walls’.

    “110 Minor renovations by owners
    (3) Minor renovations include but are not limited to work for the purposes of the following:
    (a) renovating a kitchen,
    (b) changing recessed light fittings,
    (c) installing or replacing wood or other hard floors,
    (d) installing or replacing wiring or cabling or power or access points,
    (e) work involving reconfiguring walls,
    (f) any other work prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this subsection.

    Jimmy T perhaps? I’ve heard you talk at SCA and you have a good turn of phrase.