#25639
Lady Penelope
Strataguru

    High rise apartment buildings often have structural pillars which support the slabs. Very often the walls between the pillars are not structural. The structural pillars cannot be interfered with but the walls, in most cases, can be.

    I am planning to renovate my 40 year high rise apartment in Brisbane soon and this includes removing a wall between kitchen and lounge room. I obtained a structural engineers report which cost me $700. The report indicated that the wall was not structural. 

    My building by-laws indicated that the engineer’s report and the scope of works needed to be submitted to the body corporate before the renovations take place. If the engineer’s report, which was undertaken by highly skilled professionals, gave the ‘all clear’ then the body corporate committee (who are not highly skilled structural engineers) cannot overturn it. The committee would be acting unreasonably if they were to do so.

    Committees must be mindful of the scope and limitations of their responsibilities.