› Flat Chat Strata Forum › Common Property › Is my rooftop terrace common property or entirely my responsibilty? › Current Page
@daveo said:
Sorry for confusing you all regarding “balcony” vs “terrace”. I ended up using the terms interchangeably. I tend to call mine a rooftop terrace but all the outside areas that are for unit owner enjoyment are labelled on the strata plan as balconies, regardless of whether they are tiled rooftop terraces or wooden decks that ‘stick out of’ the side of the building.Regardless, above my 2nd floor living room is one bedroom and, bending around the bedroom in an “L” shape is a flat, tiled outdoor area for my personal use only. The upshot is that water is coming through the membrane under the tiles and coming through the plasterboard in my living room. It’s just a matter of time until the plasterboard comes crashing down.
Thanks again, everyone. You really have helped enormously (although I’m not sure my neighbours will agree, given they’re all likely to be chipping in to fix ‘my’ terrace).
PS The building was only converted to units in June 2002.
As the building is in Victoria, the rules can be different to other states. Our OC managers in Victoria have published a guide that states that balcony tiles and waterproof membranes are the owner’s responsibility. Read it here:
https://vbcs.com.au/pdf/Elevatio/VBCS%20Elevation%20Autumn%202012.pdf
I’ve questioned if this advice it correct. It’s certainly correct for interior tiles and waterproof membranes (eg in bathrooms):
From Subdivision (Registrar’s Requirements) Regulations 2011, Part 2, 10 (4):
“(4) Unless otherwise specified on the plan, the location of any building boundary defined as—
(a) Interior Face lies along the interior face of any wall, floor (upper surface of elevated floor if any), ceiling (underside of suspended ceiling if any), window, door or balustrade of the relevant part of the building. Any internal coverings, waterproof membranes and fixtures attached to walls, floors, and ceilings are included within the relevant parcel;”
But does the same for exterior areas like balconies and roof terraces? Can Interior Face even apply to exterior areas?