› Flat Chat Strata Forum › Common Property › Owner willing to pay for removal of problem tree › Current Page
If it is unequivocally shown that tree that did damage then the EC should remove it or find an alternative solution if the tree is especially valued – eg. reroute the pipe. On the other hand, in many locations, pipe damage could be due to any of a dozen trees and you would not want to lose them all. Further, tree roots only get into pipes if the pipe already leaks. Otherwise there is no source of water for the roots to follow. If the pipe is decades old then this could be characterised as expected wear and tear.
As a general principle, if something should be done on the common property then the OC should pay for it. If there is any urgency about safety or a serious loss of amenity, the EC should approve and get on with it and worry about how to fund it later.
Whether an individual owner is prepared to pay for something should not be relevant to a decision about whether some item of common property maintenance should or should not be done.