How to deal with apartment defects: A guide for strata unit owners

Apr 7
02:00

2022

Georgie Hawthorne

Georgie Hawthorne

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What is a strata unit? A strata unit is a term that refers to any apartment or condominium in a residential property. The term "strata" comes from the word "stratification." It means an arrangement of layers, which can be used to describe how buildings are constructed. Each layer has different ownership rights and responsibilities for shared areas.

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Strata units share walls with other strata units,How to deal with apartment defects: A guide for strata unit owners Articles but they also have their own exterior walls where they may build balconies or patios on top of them. When looking to invest in a strata unit or apartment, it is best to get a strata report in Sydney or elsewhere, so that you know what their specific regulations and laws are, and what they allow and disallow on the scheme.

 

What are the most common defects in apartments and what can you do about them?

Apartments can have many defects including cracks or movement in walls, doors that don't close properly and issues with plumbing. In order to effectively deal with these problems, it is important to understand the different types of defects and how they can affect your apartment's value as well as health and safety risks. A common way to do this is through a building inspection in Sydney by a qualified inspector prior to purchasing the property. This should help uncover any major structural deficiencies which might be hidden behind drywall or under flooring such as excess moisture damage leading to mould growth inside wall cavities for example.

 

Some common defects that apartment could have include:

  • Plumbing issues.
  • Electrical problems, or inadequate electrical outlets and lighting can lead to safety risks in the apartment especially for families with small children.
  • Fireplace not working properly (frequent cleaning of chimney required).

 

It is important that you sort out these defects before moving into your new home as they could cause health concerns which may be hard to detect until it is too late. It might also cost a lot more money if you find them later on down the track when renovations are necessary. A good way to avoid this headache altogether is by getting an inspection prior to purchasing the property. This gives you peace of mind knowing exactly what condition your investment is in so no nasty surprises come up on a future date.

 

Strata defects refer to anything that damages or negatively affects your unit's structural integrity, health and safety, value as a place to live, environment quality and enjoyment, security of tenure (ease of getting out of your lease). Common strata defects include:

  • Faulty or incomplete construction; leaking roofs, faulty plumbing and electrical wiring etc.
  • Unapproved building works carried out by previous owners that have a negative impact on the value of a unit as well as surrounding units in the complex (i.e. painting over brickwork).
  • Building work completed without council consent or any inspections being done to make sure it is safe for use.

 

A lack of a strata inspection in Sydney is the number one reason for expensive rectification work being needed on units, so it is very important to have an annual or semi-annual check done. There are also some problems that cannot be seen by untrained eyes such as damage caused from leaks which may not show up until later down the track when they've already caused more damages. For this reason, all major defects should be prioritized and acted upon immediately before anything gets worse. This includes things like water leakage into your unit from another apartment or any cracks in walls due to shifting foundations with weather changes.

 

Most importantly you want to make sure that if there are any issues around maintenance found during a building inspection, these need to be addressed before you make a purchase. Knowing that these issues have been already dealt with is a great way to feel confident in your decision and avoid any major future costs.

 

It's also important to note that when buying units, there are no guarantees around the quality of fittings or fixtures inside them as this comes under building compliance which changes depending on council requirements at the time of construction. For example, while tiles may be considered standard today, if you were to buy a unit from 20 years ago built before ceramic became popular, it would need replacing immediately thus becoming an unexpected cost for buyers after they have moved in. The best approach here is to make sure all significant items such as flooring, appliances and heating systems look new so you know they won't become problems later.

 

How to deal with a leaky toilet or a clogged sink

Leaky toilets and clogged up sinks are some of the most common issues faced by strata unit owners. These can be rectified by a professional plumber or a drainage expert. However, many times these issues arise because the damage has been done by previous owners and they can't be repaired; instead, they need to be replaced, which is another unexpected cost for new unit buyers.

 

The best approach here is to completely gut check your bathroom prior to moving in so that you know what kind of shape it's in before making any decisions on whether you want to put money into fixing/replacing stuff later on down the track when problems come up, even if this means hiring an inspection service.

 

What is mould and how to get rid of it

Mould is another issue that can cause serious health problems in your home, especially if you have children or elderly people in the household. Mould can make a whole house smell bad and cause several health problems to everyone who lives there.

 

It is important for owners of strata units to be aware that they need to do what they can in order to prevent mould from growing, but sometimes it is inevitable when humidity levels are too high for extended periods of time. In this case you will want professional help because it requires special cleaning agents which should not be used by homeowners since they might damage other surfaces in their homes instead of removing the actual problem; mould stains on walls and ceilings alike.

 

How to report defective appliances, plumbing, wiring, leaks, cracks, etc

Reporting defects you find in a strata unit in terms of appliances that don't work properly, or leaks or cracks in ceilings, walls or flooring is something that needs to be dealt with right away. It is essential for the safety of residents and the building itself. The report should include photographs so that it will serve as proof when you present your case; this way it won't be possible for them to deny any issues found within the unit.

 

It might also help if you read up on what rights owners have according to their bylaws regarding defects before reporting them since some complexes are stricter than others which makes a difference in terms of how they deal with repairs and whether or not there can be financial penalties imposed upon tenants who fail to comply under certain circumstances.

 

Tips for preventing future defects in your strata unit

There are many ways to prevent future strata defects, and it is important to do so since the last thing you want when trying to sell your unit would be for prospective buyers to find out about extensive problems that will cost them a lot of money.

 

One way in which owners can prevent future defects is by hiring an experienced building inspection service; this will help ensure that there are no serious issues with structural integrity or other similar concerns that could end up costing owners thousands if they aren't fixed before selling. It is also worth mentioning that sometimes even small repairs like changing light bulbs may need prior approval from the committee depending on the type of fixture involved, so make sure to check what kind of rules apply beforehand in order not to have any unexpected surprises on.