Providing shade on balcony

It’s not a case of “most cases” – it depends very much on the individual apartments and how strictly they enforsce their by-laws (if they even have any related to shades).  Older apartments that have over-exposure to sunlight may well have shades already.   Newer apartment block may well have more shade built in.

You won’t be able to get prmission in advance, but you could get a good idea of your likelihood of success by contacting the building’s strata committee or strata manager.

As you will be attaching the shade to common property and it will affect the outward appearance of the block  even if it is allowed there may be a restriction on the style and colour of the shade.  All you can do is ask.

downsizing wrote:

I am not sure what weight precedent carries in these things, but there are two other apartments in the same complex we are considering, one with a fixed canvas awning and the other with a retractable awning. I assume(?) this may increase the likelihood of something similar being approved?

It’s not so much precedent as previous practice. It’s hard for them to “reasonably” refuse permission if they’ve given it in the past, provided you give the usual guarantees about repairing any damage to common property caused via the installation and subsequently through wear and tear.

The only potential pitfall would be if the other awnings were installed without permission and the committee was in dispute with the lot owners – not likely but not impossible either.

I would not be seeking permission from the committee, per se, just an indication of whether or not they were dead set against awnings, with no guarantees sought.

But it sounds like you are on pretty safe ground, as it is.