Option 3 would be my preferred option. It would be unreasonable to have half of the owners receiving a ‘free’ air conditioner whilst the remainder not only pay for their own air conditioner but also the other owner’s air conditioners. Different owners run their air conditioners more or less frequently than others and this would impact on the maintenance required and the longevity of the unit.
Can you provide additional information please ….
What do your by-laws say about air conditioners? How and when was the initial approval given to the owners to install their air conditioners on common property? What reason has the SM given for his opinion that the individually owned air conditioners are the responsibility of the OC to maintain? At whose instigation was the clarification sought from the SM in 2010 – was it from a committee member who would have gained a ‘free air -conditioner’?
The statement from the SC meeting of 2010 is merely an opinion. The OC maintenance and repair (and including replacement) of individual owner’s air conditioners on common property is not something that can be decided by the SC.