Sectional Title Maintenance: Who Fixes What?

One of the most common disputes in sectional title schemes is about maintenance: who is responsible for fixing what? The answer lies in how the law defines a section.

Owners are responsible for:
– Their section, defined by the median line: the midpoint through the floors, walls, and ceilings of the unit.
The median line also runs through windows, doors, and any other structures dividing the unit from another unit or from common property.
– Internal fixtures of windows and doors – including locks, hinges, handles, and glass.
– All household contents – furniture, appliances, fittings, and personal items.
– Geysers and hot water systems – even when installed in a roof space, duct, or on a perimeter wall.

The Body Corporate is responsible for:
– The structural and external parts of the building – outside walls, roofs, stairwells, and lifts.
– Common property – driveways, gardens, parking areas, shared facilities.
– Shared infrastructure – plumbing stacks, main water pipes, electrical cabling, ducts, and systems serving more than one unit.
– Exclusive Use Areas (EUAs) – with costs recovered through EUA contributions charged to the benefiting owner.

💡 Reserve Fund & 10-Year Plan
To meet these responsibilities, every Body Corporate must have a 10-Year Maintenance, Repair & Replacement Plan and collect contributions into a Reserve Fund. This ensures money is available for major projects like waterproofing, repainting, or roof replacements — reducing the need for sudden special levies.

Knowing exactly where the owner’s responsibilities end and where the Body Corporate’s begin helps avoid disputes, ensures fairness, and protects the value of every unit.

🏢 Maintenance disputes can be avoided with the right knowledge.