Forum Replies Created
-
Replies
-
My thoughts in passing …….. – it would seem to me that, in principle, the owner can do it as long as he doesn't affect the common property.
There would be some technical items + details that the OC is probably within it's rights to get cleared up before the works go ahead, things like:
– what fixings has he made / does he intend making to attach his false ceiling and false wall to the common property roof slab and common property walls?
– has he ensured that the kitchen drainage goes to the sewer drain stack and NOT to a 'conveniently close-by' stormwater downpipe?
If you have concerns about noise being transmitted across the walls and floor to adjacent bedrooms, then the real issue is the (possibly poor acoustic resistance) quality of the original construction rather than what is happening sound-wise either side of the wall or slab. In short, why do you think that it makes a difference if his room is a kitchen and not the original bedroom? (and if he is moving his kitchen to a location that is 'surrounded' by existing bedrooms of other units, then conversely is he moving HIS bedroom to a location that will be 'surrounded' by the kitchens of those other units?)
Whale – not sure why it is irrelevant? The point is was trying to make – and obviously failed to make! – is that it is likely that every owner would be a customer, and so the Service Rules would mean that it is the responsibility of every owner – and not just the OC – to ensure that the switchroom is cleaned etc etc. I was hoping to communicate the principle that this issue, like many others, is a collective individual responsibility and cannot be dumped solely at the feet of the EC/OC,and that no single owner can passively absent themselves from responsibility for this matter.
A lot of people in this forum complain about their EC/OC – and often with good reason, it would seem – but many owners seem to believe that ALL of the responsibility for things of this nature sits with the EC and/or OC.
In any case, I'm not looking for a dispute, just some clarity, some opinions!
But while I'm here,and seeing as you appear to have a strong view, I'd appreciate your thoughts on the following electrical switchroom item – our bldg is an older bldg and the switchroom house the EA meters and the main fuses for each of the units. Is that main fuse the responsibility of the lot owner or the OC? The fuse is for the sole benefit of the lot but is housed in common property. The most practical concern is what happens if the main fuse for any apartment blows – who is supposed to fix it? Any thoughts?
PK
That abstract from the NSW Service and Installation Rules doesn't clarify who it is that is deemed to be “the customer”. If the meter room has multiple meters (ie one meter per unit plus maybe one for the supply to the common property lights and common property power outlets), then the power company would have multiple customers that are billed via meters in that room so exactly who would be “the customer”?
Would it be a singular entity (the OC) or multiple entities (ie the OC plus all lot owners) in this case?
PK
Can I add a query / thought?
What wall are we talking about? What wall is the valve in or on?
Is the pipe and/or valve BODY inside the wall itself (ie actually inside the WALL – possibly a common property all – and not actually inside the lot)?
Or is the whole of the valve (and possibly some or all of the pipework either side of the valve body) visible and physically within the lot?
For instance, there are many cases were the valve body is inside the wall with only the valve stem and handle sticking out of the wall, and to get at and fix / replace the valve you would then have to chip away concrete or brickwork etc etc.
So, to my way of thinking, the problem would be with “the inner workings” of the valve and so, depending on which wall it is, the precise location of the valve body (surface-mounted or encased) could potentially make it an OC issue?
PK