The Coronavirus – COVID-19 and Its Effects on Strata Corporations in South Australia and Australia.

Stratarama The Coronavirus – COVID-19 and Its Effects on Strata Corporations in South Australia and Australia.

Stratarama was a finalist in the SCA SA 2020 Small strata management business award

Tony Johnson won the SCA SA Essay 2020 award recognising an insightful essay surrounding a matter of topical interest to the Strata sector. This particular essay was on the effects of Covid-19 on the strata industry and Owner. This is the second time Tony has won this award, backing up his 2018 essay on communication and education of and for Strata and community owners.

COVID-19 has turned the entire world upside down. The one bright side is the ability to connect and share through the wonders of technology. Strata Corporations (or equivalent) in South Australia and around the Nation have had their own set of issues around the Covid pandemic.

Australian health organisations such as SA Health have provided as much guidance as possible around these complex pandemic issues whilst governing bodies such as the SCA have sought to provide much support and information around manoeuvring in this strange new world. 

As with most industries, Strata Management Companies have needed to quickly adapt to continue assisting their clients, but above all to ensure safety for Clients and Staff. With teams working from home, and many Strata Corporations unable to physically meet in person for their Annual General meetings, Companies have rapidly piloted new platforms for telephone and video conferencing. This has ensured groups continue to meet their requirements under the Strata Titles Act 1988 / Community Titles Act 1996 and relevant Acts Interstate, continuing to make decisions that are vital to the Corporations ongoing maintenance, costs and safety.

For some, this technological change has been welcomed and many will continue to utilise it for years to come. Members can choose to attend meetings from the comfort of their home, benefitting those who are interstate or have some distance impeding attendance. Even Members who do not have a smartphone, tablet or laptop, have been encouraged to join meetings through a phone call. This technology has allowed many groups to continue holding Annual Meetings in the set timeframes, make essential short-term decisions, managing finances and budgets, and set required insurance levels. The Strata industry may even see a reduction of Proxy voting as Owners gravitate towards remote attendance.

Communication has always been the building block of any successful Corporation with or without management. Since the introduction of reduced public gatherings and travel, undoubtedly Managers have been affected by increased telephone contact and emails. With some Owners now home permanently and perhaps unemployed, they have had greater personal opportunity to consider their Strata needs and works.  This increased interest may increase a Managers workload but should set the group for better engagement into the future.

Repairs and Maintenance

Due to COVID-19, protocols have changed, are regularly adapted and imposed differently around the Nation. For this reason, some maintenance and repair works have been halted by individual Corporations. Many works however cannot be stopped as emergencies and urgent situations arise daily. Contractors are now being engaged more so on these urgent repairs rather than on upgrades or long-term maintenance that can be postponed. This is partially due to the funding issues of some Strata Members and the continued uncertainty around the economic impacts of the virus.

Some routine items are also required to continue to ensure safety. Some examples include lift maintenance, fire safety inspections, intercom/Gate maintenance, security doors and exit lighting and air-conditioner maintenance.

Contractors who are still being engaged themselves have a new set of precautions to follow. Safety is the priority and so Contractors must ensure they do not work if unwell, maintain social distancing, clean areas well when working on-site and adhere to all other government regulations around COVID19.

Residents – Safety and Cleaning

Now more than ever, and particularly in Buildings with shared facilities and spaces, everyone is being asked to consider the safety of others. Group Members have been encouraged to consider wearing masks, increase the regularity of cleaning, provide hand sanitiser in common areas and disinfect frequently. As mandated across the country, owners should stay inside their unit if unwell and be tested if necessary. Committees should increase the cleaning regiment for high traffic areas or frequently touched objects, such as door handles, in terms of both frequency and coverage.

With the Corona pandemic and people staying at home to reduce the spread, creating awareness about how the virus spreads has been a key element to keep people safe. Some element that Residents have needed to consider include:

• Avoiding the use of common areas or shared facilities, as these are areas highly susceptible to germs and viruses
• When using the laundry, washing hands before and after using the facility. Ensuring the use of detergent and hot water washing and using the dryer. Remembering, to maintain social distancing
• Arranging for parcel deliveries to be left at the front door of the apartment – or the lobby area, where necessary. Using gloves to take receipt of packages and disposing of the packaging immediately. When signing, using their own pen.
• Remembering to stay up to date with information from the Australian Government, SA Health and following all restrictions around what facilities people should and shouldn’t be using. 

The future of Body Corporate Developments

As people isolate at home under direction of our various Governments, Developers will be considering the impacts on future developments. Strong considerations will need to be made around design of communal spaces, outdoor areas, more private subsidiaries and accommodations for social distancing. The impact of the pandemic on real estate developments won’t be known in the short term but could have lasting long terms impacts on design and management.

Final Words

The Covid19 virus has impacted how the strata industry and individual Corporations/Committees operate both in the short and long term. Residents and building support have had to work together to ensure that they stay virus free and to provide for ongoing maintenance works despite economic issues effecting many Corporation Members.

As Managers (and Community Members), we anxiously await further changes and developments of concern, such as the Towers which were locked down in Victoria and how we can prevent or limit exposure and safety risks for our Body Corporate Members in the future.

We are all in this together. It is Your Community.

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How do I contact Strata management?

Stratarama How do I contact Strata management?

In some instances, a Strata or Community titled group of units may actually be self-managed (being run by the Corporation Members, without any employed Body Corporate Manager. In these instances, the Members are managing the property themselves, so all contact would need to be made to the Corporations Presiding Officer, Secretary or Committee. Where a Strata Corporation or Community Title Corporation has engaged a Manager it would be expected that an Owner would contact that Manager directly through one of the various Strata Management Companies based here in Adelaide, South Australia.

If you know who the Managers are, reach out to them on whatever platforms they have available to you. These communication platforms may include, telephone, attending their office, email or even an online portal provided by several strata management SA companies. In the event that you do not know who your Manager is, you could also speak with the Corporation Secretary or Corporation Presiding Officer to get these details. If you do not know who the current Owners/ Presiding Officer or Committee Members are, you could give it an old fashioned door knock of some of the units in your group (of course several of these units may be tenanted, but even then, their Owners or Property Managers will likely have some contact information for the Strata Management.

When you purchase into a Strata or Community Corporation, the Conveyancers handling your settlement should pass on your basic new Owner information to the current Managers (who prior to sale, were hopefully asked to provide search documents with a raft of information about your property so that you can make an informed decision about the purchase). This information will allow the Managers to reach out and welcome you to the complex, providing you with all their contact information. If you did receive a set of search documents at purchase, flick through the documents provided, amongst them should be some minutes of the last two meetings, which will note the current Managers.

If you are still unsure who your Management Company is, after exhausting these avenues, you may simply need to start contacting the local SA Strata management companies to see if this unit group is a part of their portfolio. Not all Strata management Companies are members of the SCA (Strata Community Association) however many are paid Members who conform to the SCA Member requirements of ongoing training, industry support and code of conduct. As such starting your search for your current Managers details and obtaining their contact information, would be best commenced by searching for through the South Australian members of the SCA and hopefully, this Strata management directory assists your search.

If you find that the group does not have a Manager and that the legal responsibilities of the Corporation are not being met, then you may wish to consider obtaining a quote from Stratarama for management services, where we can discuss what we can provide for the group and where we specialise. Even if the group elects to continue self-managed, you will have commenced processes to highlight the requirements and responsibilities of the Strata or Community Members of your Corporation. Tony Johnson of Stratarama is always pleased to assist you with any queries on your rights and actions needed, even if you are not managed by us.

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What is the difference between a Strata Manager and a Property Manager?

Stratarama What is the difference between a Strata Manager and a Property Manager?

In what ways does a Strata Manager differ from a Property Manager?  In each State of Australia, the services provided or required by management differ in accordance with the individual legislation. We will concentrate on South Australia.

To begin with, a Strata Manager is appointed not by one Owner but rather is engaged by a Strata Corporation (a group of unit/ lot owners in a Strata complex). These combined Owners are responsible for common property and the collective of the complex. The common property needs will vary from property to property (Strata complexes may consist of units, apartments, townhouses, homettes and other forms of multi-property dwellings).

The collective of Owners is responsible for matters such as common lighting, common plumbing, common water, common maintenance to driveway, roofs, fences and other maintenance which is common to all Owners and not for the exclusive use of any one unit. The Owners may well consist of some investment Owners who could potentially employ a Property Manager directly, however, that Property Manager would be responsible only to that Owner and not the collective of Strata Owners.  Their role as a Property manager may include tasks such as rent control, property leasing, internal maintenance on items that belong and are used solely by the property individually, and much more.

Strata Manager in South Australia is engaged by the Strata Corporation (all Owners).

Vs

Property Manager in SA is engaged by an Individual Property Owner (i.e one unit or home)

The Strata Manager for the group not only makes sure that the group is running in accordance with the Corporation’s legal responsibilities such as Annual General meetings, collective insurance policies, maintenance and more but also are utilised as a mediator between residents, Owners and even Property Managers. You will find in our other articles many further details about a Strata Managers role.

A Property Manager is often called upon to ensure that the Tenant complies with their Tenancy agreement, and complies with the Residential Tenancy Act.

A Strata Manager is called upon by the group to ensure all Owners and members comply with the Strata Titles Act, Articles of the Corporation and any policies or house rules created (and/ or amended) by the Members.

Whilst it is easy for someone to say “Isn’t it your job?” or “what do I pay you for”, the reality is, it very well may not be their job. If you own a Strata unit (or even a Community Title unit), it is in your best interest to familiarise yourself with what Property Managers and Strata Managers responsibilities are and who they are working for. The differences are quite clear from our notes above and if you are an investment owner, you may well have a need/ or be part of engaging both types of Managers.

As an Owner, there is no requirement to have either a Strata or Property Manager. The group may or may not collectively engage a Strata Manager and if they don’t, the group will be responsible for all the requirements under the Strata Titles Act that we mentioned earlier.

There may be some overlap in the roles, and good Property Managers and Strata Managers who understand clearly their own roles and responsibilities will go a long way to ensuring all your needs are met.

It is easy to see why there can be some confusion by Owners with respect to the differences, but we hope we have gone some way to explaining some of the main points. If you are not sure, reach out to us for further information or guidance. At the end of the day, each Manager is a specialist in their own field and despite the similarities, the differences are also stark.

You wouldn’t hire a Lawn Contractor to cut your hair, even though they both use blades to trim growth.

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Cracking In Strata Building

Stratarama Cracking In Strata Building

Cracking in buildings is a very common issue faced by the people of Adelaide and South Australia. The effects and issues arise throughout the property and not simply in Strata Title of Community Title properties.

What Is Cracking?

Buildings and other constructed structures are moving constantly, yet for the most part, these movements occur at such a slow rate that it is often unnoticeable. These movements can occur for many different reasons, ground movement, failure or deterioration in the structure, natural or unnatural subsidence, etc. On occasions the structures (depending on age, level of movement, etc will crack whether it be superficial, aesthetic and hairline in nature or more extreme and even structurally concerning. The presence of these cracks and deformations can be outwardly unpleasant visually to Residents, but the more serious cracks, if not taken care of properly, can influence and undermine the steadiness of the structure and cause safety concerns for those with-in or surrounding the building.

In recent years we have seen a number of structurally concerning Buildings in the Eastern States presented in the News and the ramifications showing how these large structural cracks have undermined those buildings and resulted in extreme financial hardship for Owners and Body Corporate Members.

Some Common Reasons Of The Cracking:

A few of the common causes are discussed below. Keep reading to find out more about them.

• Soil Issues:

Cracks in buildings may occur as a result of movement in the soil, soils shifting and allowing the building to move. Some of these movements are natural and will expand and contract each year to an extent depending on the moisture levels of the soil. Changes to surrounding soils can play an impact (i.e lack of moisture or removal of trees), etc. Certain areas in South Australia are more prominent for soil movement due to the types of soils and clays in those suburbs.

• Contraction Of Clay:

When the clay found underneath the property shrinks, cracks are likely to appear. When this clay or soil contracts or shrinks, cracks are likely to appear. When you are in a dry area for example (and as Australia has seen plenty of droughts in recent periods) you can physically see how the top layers of clay crack and open up then may contract again. In some areas, Buildings are sitting on soil just like this, sometimes deeper into the ground and just as the soil moves, the building sitting on top may move along with it.

• Due To Changes In Weather Or Temperature:

Thermal or seasonal cracking is another common cause of cracking in a building that occurs due to changes in weather and temperature. As South Australia faces extreme weather throughout the year, a lot of property owners in Adelaide especially experience seasonal cracking in their buildings due to constant changes in weather. These buildings including Strata and Community Title properties will shrink or expand as the temperature increases or decreases because moisture or humidity keeps on changing throughout the year. As a result, some minor cracks may appear and can disappear as the temperature changes. Depending on the size and location of these cracks, however, dirt or moisture may get into these cracks. It may not be viable to continuously patch these aesthetic cracks.

• Due To Chemical Reactions
• Due To Moisture Present In The Homes.

How Everyone Is Affected By It?

Major cracks can cause immense problems to the people living in these buildings if not looked after properly. They can make the building structure weak or unsafe for the people living there. Also, if this issue is not resolved in due time, serious damages can result in owners of these buildings facing large financial losses.

What Needs To Be Done?

Although it might scare you to find a crack in your house or building, you do not need to worry about it in most cases. If you feel that this might risk your Strata or Community Titled unit or building then you should raise this with your Strata Manager of Management Committee.

If the damage is severe, there may be a need to engage either an Engineer or Plumber to determine if there is an underlying cause to the cracks that require structural repairs or repairs to prevent further cracking, such as repairing a cracked or broken pipe.

Minor aesthetic internal cracks are the responsibility of the Unit Owner and you may choose to patch these cracks for aesthetic reasons

It’s Your Community.

Linked video – Tony Johnson from STRATARAMA chats to James Cibich from IMPARTA ENGINEERING about cracking.

https://youtu.be/H2gd3dXGjKQ

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Insurance Valuation Reports for Strata Corporations

Stratarama Insurance Valuation Reports for Strata Corporations

Owning a strata property comes with certain responsibilities. There is a requirement upon all Strata Corporations that the property is collectively insured for full replacement value at all times. This is a legislated requirement simply to protect each Member of the Strata Corporation, ensuring that the whole site is insured. This is in reference to Section 30. It is clear that the responsibility is on the Corporation to insure for the correct replacement value of the entire complex, and include all costs which the group may experience in a total loss, for example; surveying, architectural, engineering works or associated and incidental costs. This is very important because, in a total loss, you may find that there are significant costs associated with ensuring that the replacement buildings and structures meet the current building code requirements.

What is the full replacement value insuring?

We talked above about some of the factors which go into determining full replacement value but what are you insuring against? The Strata is insuring against the worst-case scenario, which would be the total loss or destruction of the strata property caused by any number of factors, including but not limited to fire, flood or a natural disaster.

Division 4—Duty to insure

30—Duty to insure

(1) A strata corporation must keep all buildings and building improvements on the site insured to their replacement value.

(2) The replacement value of buildings and building improvements is the cost of their complete replacement including the cost of any necessary preliminary demolition work, any necessary surveying, architectural or engineering work and any other associated or incidental costs.

(3) The insurance must be against—

(a) risks of damage caused by events (other than subsidence) declared to be prescribed events in relation to home building insurance under Part 5 of the Insurance Contracts Act 1984 of the Commonwealth; and

(b) risks against which insurance is required by the regulations.

(4) Any money to which a strata corporation is entitled under a contract of insurance in relation to damage to buildings or building improvements must, subject to any contrary order of the Court, be applied by it in reinstating or repairing those buildings or building improvements.

What is valuation?

Insurance valuation is a report which is carried out by a professional insurance Valuer who is qualified and experienced to review the Strata Corporations body corporate site and determine what the required full replacement value is, taking into account all the various works and incidental costs we mentioned above. These reports are important and when carried out periodically can assist the group in determining the level of insurance a Strata Corporation may require. Members of a Corporation are required annually to consider their insurance needs and determine the level of cover required, but being unqualified to make such an assessment could be detrimental to the group. A valuation undertaken periodically gives the group a solid base from which they can make these determinations.

The valuer will look at the improved valuer of the property and include other factors such as inflation, professional fees, cost escalations, compliance with regulations of building development at current standards, demolition, cost of external items (pavements, fencings, recreation facilities which are on-site) and lastly, the removal of debris. Once they have calculated these items, they will land at a suggested insurance value.

It is important to note that the valuation does have no basis or bearing in relation to the current market value of the property or its existing condition either. The job of an insurance valuer is to value the cost of replacing the building with a new (assuming worst-case scenario that the property must be replaced). The cost to buy or sell your Strata unit or lot is not the value for insurance purposes.

The insurance valuer must apply their industry knowledge which he/she possesses and incorporate the various construction cost guidelines into it.

Why is a Valuation Important?

Insurance valuations ideally occur on a recurring and periodical basis to make sure that your property is insured from any unforeseen circumstances.

An insurance valuation is a prudent risk management strategy as it provides for an expert to determine the level of cover required to hopefully ensure the group is insured adequately, thereby removing the additional risk of being underinsured in a total loss.

If a Strata Corporation is under-insured with insufficient value to cover the total loss of the property, then the Members of the group could find themselves needing to bear the liability and costs associated with any rebuild.

An insurance revaluation is highly important to keep your property insured from any circumstances that can occur out of the blue. The value of the insurance required tends to increase with time, as you put different materials, construction costs and professional fees increase each year, these factors must be altered in your coverage to reflect the changes and ensure the group remains adequately covered.

Below is a youtube video which was a chat between our Strata Manager Tony Johnson and one insurance Valuer.

Further below is a link to a document created by SCI insurance which details some of the risks and concerns with underinsurance and the need for valuations.

SCI LINK : https://stratacommunityinsure.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/SCI-018_Valuations-Underinsurance_05_WEB.pdf

Startarama Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npYdKNxtUOI

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Strata Insurance Claims

Stratarama Strata Insurance Claims

Strata insurance claims are on the rise annually across the industry based on a variety of reasons. Naturally as the industry total of claims rises, so too does the total costs of claims paid.

In order to minimize costs of claims and the number of claims themselves, Owners and Strata Corporations are best placed when they are aware of the most common insurance claims, how to prevent them, and maintain the common spaces for the community.

Let’s take a look at some of the types of different insurance claims that lot owners, tenants, and corporations need to be aware of. Not only will this help in figuring out what the most common insurance claims are, but also how to prevent them through adequate maintenance from both the owners of the lots and Body Corporate.

The Most Common Insurance Claims

As a strata owner, figuring these types of claims and what to look out for beforehand ensures that you are well-equipped with what you have to deal with. Here are some of the most common insurance claims that Strata and Community Strata Titles Members lodge.

1. Weather And Natural Damage: South Australia is known to be susceptible to some harsh weather,  particularly in certain areas. This is under no one’s control, yet there is a multitude of insurance claims based on damage of property through weather and storm events or fire events.
2. Fire Damage: Another common insurance claim that prevails in strata is fire damage. Damage caused by fire can be one of the most costly. These can be caused both naturally or from various other reasons, including arson or simple accidents caused by a Resident in the living spaces of a unit, issues with heaters, candles, stovetops, and wiring can all create an unwanted spark, which can in some cases cause extreme damage not only to that unit but which may spread to others. There are so many possibilities that can result in a small or large fire.
3. Accidental Damage: Accidental damage that occurs on the common property or inside a Strata unit is frequent and as suggested, are accidental, however sometimes some preventative actions can minimise the risk of such accidents taking place.
4. Water Damage: Water damage is the most common type of strata insurance claim. These take over 40% of the total strata insurance claims as people regularly deal with a multitude of water-related issues. These are either caused by unexpected leaks and bursts in pipes, roof leaks water retention, and water seepage. Sometimes water-related claims could have been mitigated where the Strata / Community Corporation or individual unit owner had undertaken regular preventative maintenance. Water damage can be extremely difficult to trace the source of damage as water runs.

These are some of the most common insurance claims that people make though far from the only claims. Due to the sheer number of people living in a complex of units, flats, apartments, or other dwellings with common property, as you may imagine, the risk of a claim is significant.

How To Limit/Prevent Them With Proper Maintenance

The best solution to ensure that claims are limited is by regular maintenance. More often than not, insurance claims are created because of a form of resultant damage. If proper steps are considered when it comes to the maintenance of strata residences, then it will become easier for both the corporation and the lot owners. Here are a few things that can be considered when it comes to maintenance.

• Frequent Checks On Water Damage

This goes for both strata corporations and the lot owners. Since water damage is a major issue, it is best to ensure that both parties are doing their best to minimise the damage. By keeping checks on possible leaks, water levels, stains, and formation of moulds to try and avoid excessive water damage.

• Adequate Prevention For Weather Changes 

Weather changes are in no one’s control, but the group can look at what these weather changes can cause by way of hazard – i.e Doe the surrounding trees drop a lot of leaf matter in the gutters that need cleaning before wet weather seasons? If living in a fire-prone area, what actions should you take to limit seasonal fire damage? Is the group’s stormwater system able to cope with the seasonal deluge?

• Availability Of Fire Extinguishers And Devices

To minimize the damage created by Fire, there must be adequate measures in places such as fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, fire alarms, and other similar items that are regularly maintained to assure effectiveness. Some of these requirements may be legislated, others may simply be additional actions you can take to not only limit damages caused but to assist in ensuring the safety of all residents. What is the best practice as opposed to what is the minimum requirement?

• Security Placements

There’s a risk of security as well; break and enter damages or malicious damage and vandalism. Smart locks can aid in making sure that unknown people remain away from the entry to common property areas. Individual owners can ensure their current locks are operational. Residents to make sure that alarm codes and keys are looked after privately and not given out. Are the window screens secure, common gates locked, and/ or operational.

Water Damage Claims

Water damage claims – There’s a high number of these claims. Often water damage may not appear straight away and maybe as a result of a slow leak which is causing ongoing and unnoticed damage. Damage could be behind cupboards or inside walls. Tracing these claims can also be costly as the Contractors need to find the source of the water to prevent it from continuing to cause damage. Some Residents also overlook small leaks until the issue is largely visible by which time the damage is far greater and the costs associated with the claim have risen exponentially.

It is important to remember that paying insurance is not an alternative to maintenance both preventative and routine. Insurance will not protect the group for damages caused by wear and tear and in fact, claims could be rejected on the basis that the group had not maintained the property which would be of further cost to the Strata or individual unit owner.

Other Types Of Insurance Claims

The group will find that outside of building cover there are other covers required to be held, which are in place to protect and assist the group in the event of claims of other natures such as –

Public Liability, Fidelity Guarantee, Office Bearers cover & more.

In all instances, the group is prepared, and considering in advance, how the Strata can protect themselves from such claims being made is the best policy. For example, ensuring adequate lighting and there are no tripping hazards on-site to prevent possible claims being lodged against the Corporation’s public/ legal liability covers.

It’s your Community. 

This article and the information provided represents general advice and does not take into account any specific financial situations, objectives, or needs of an individual or Body Corporate/ Strata Corporation. Before you make any decision about whether to acquire a certain product, you should read the relevant product disclosure statement, policy wording and/or consult your Insurer

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Water Issues In Strata Buildings

Stratarama Water Issues In Strata Buildings

Strata buildings are complex. There are common and individual wiring and pipes throughout the structure of the building. And as with everything, the more you have of anything, the greater the chance of something going wrong. Who pays for the water damages? Is it the lot owners or strata, what types of water damages are there?

Types Of Water Issues

When it comes to the type of water damages that can occur in strata buildings, there’s a long list. The possibility of leaks is extremely common. The possibility of seepage throughout the building that can further damage more elements in the structure. Here are the most common water-related damages that occur in strata buildings:

• Leakages of plumbing, taps, or pipes
• Seepage from cracks in the foundation
• Mould, rot, or corrosion from seepage
• Ruptured water pipes
• Roof flashing, tiles, and shingles and rusted roof sheets in need of repairs (including gutter and downpipe leaks and blockages)

With varied pipelines running within the structure often in between walls and underground, it can be difficult to inspect and trace for some leaks (unlike others where the leak may be as a result of saying a washer or toilet seal). In some instances the inspection necessary may require more than just a Plumber, you may require an Engineers or Leak detection specialist or other professional to get to the sources of leaks and bursts in the structure of the buildings.

Maintenance Needs Vs Insurance Claims For Water Issues

When it comes to water issues, there’s no answer that fits all questions. In some instances, water damage may be as a direct result of neglect in relation to maintenance by lot owners or the strata collective. Other times a pipe may burst for no expected cause, and cause damage which is not visible for some time. Insurance has a part to play where appropriate, but it is not in place as a means of replacing routine maintenance.

With a clear indication that there is a leak coming from common property, the strata must get it fixed as soon as possible to prevent and limit any damages that water may cause. The same is said for a Unit Owner.  However, this does not mean that lot owners can wait for small leaks to turn into major issues. It is best to take responsibility as soon as possible to prevent the bigger loss, bigger insurance, or maintenance costs. Preventative maintenance is always best where possible. Both the strata and the unit Owners must ensure that they are doing their best to maintain the building and private property.

Therefore, if there is a visible leak, proper maintenance must be carried out at the right time. Insurance claims can only be of assistance in certain circumstances and only once the cause of the water damage issue has been resolved. Moreover, insurance claims are not entertained when there are obvious signs of lack of maintenance on the lot owners or tenants’ side.

Insurance claims are covered mainly where there are sudden accidents or bursts. If leakages or moulds are growing over time, then it is upon the lot owner to get it checked out by a professional beforehand.

How Water Issues Affect Buildings

Water issues can cause immense damage to the structure of the buildings. If there are prolonged issues that lot owners or strata have overlooked, then there will be issues for those living within the buildings.

Proper maintenance is essential to ensure that the living conditions of the buildings are not obstructed. Water issues can severely affect the conditions of different spaces throughout the buildings. If they are not paid attention to, then these might result in excessive repairs and the inability to use homes for owners or tenants.

Walls, ceilings, and roofs might need to be removed and repaired. This is a long process.

The Effect On Future Insurance Premiums And Excesses 

Water issues create the majority result of insurance claims and the number of water-related claims continues to rise year on year. As claims histories grow the policy holder (the strata) faces the likely possibility of increased future insurance premiums and excesses or specific excesses imposed on water damage claims in order for the insurer to be able to offer a policy.

The best solution for water issues is that strata and lot owners actively put in balanced efforts to resolve issues when evident and work to undertake any form of preventative maintenance required. With better maintenance at both ends, the group can hope to be less heavily impacted not only by insurance claims and premiums but also by emergency works and repairs.

Tony Johnson of Stratarama chats with Imparta Engineers about Water Issues / Causes / Damaged to Body Corporates

 It’s your Community. 

This article and the information provided represents general advice and does not take into account any specific financial situations, objectives, or needs of an individual or Body Corporate/ Strata Corporation. Before you make any decision about whether to acquire a certain product, you should read the relevant product disclosure statement, policy wording, and/or consult your Insurer.

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