Strata Property

What is Common Property?

Common property is defined in the Strata Schemes (Freehold Development) Act 1973 as so much of the parcel from time to time that is not comprised in any lot’.

In simple terms, the lot owner owns the airspace and everything in it within the boundary of the unit and the common property comprises the land in a strata scheme and the main structure of the building. The common property boundaries of each lot are generally formed by:

• the upper surface of the floor
• the under surface of the ceiling
• all external or boundary walls (including doors and windows)

The following is a checklist for common property:

• floor includes a ramp or stairway
• boundary wall includes any door, window or other structure within the wall and their working parts
• ceramic tiles originally attached to a common property surface (e.g. the floor or boundary wall)
• pipes in the common property or servicing more than one lot are common property
• electrical wiring in the common property or servicing more than one lot
• parquet and floor boards originally installed
• vermiculite ceilings, plaster ceilings and cornices
• magnesite finish on the floor
• balcony doors are usually common property if the strata plan was registered after 1 July 1974
• the slab dividing two storeys of the same lot, or one storey from an open space roof area or garden areas of a lot (e.g. a townhouse or villa), is usually common property if the strata plan was registered after 1 July 1974.

The owners corporation is responsible to repair and maintenance the common property as stated in Section 62 of the Strata Schemes Management Act 1996.

The owners corporation is also required to determine the likely expenditure on items of a capital nature over the next ten-year period. Therefore schemes must plan ahead for future strata property management, renewal and replacement.