Maintenance Responsibilities Made Simple

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Posted: August 18, 2026

Maintenance Responsibilities

Maintenance Responsibilities Made Simple

Owner vs Body Corporate Checklist

Understanding who maintains what in a sectional title scheme is one of the most common sources of confusion for owners. This quick-reference checklist explains the typical division of responsibility between the owner and the body corporate, based on general sectional title principles.

Important: Always confirm responsibilities against your scheme’s sectional plan and conduct rules, as classifications may differ between schemes.

✔️ Owner Responsibilities (Inside Your Section)

Owners are generally responsible for maintaining everything within the median line of their unit.

Interior Maintenance

  • Internal walls, paint, and finishes
  • Flooring, tiles, carpets, and cupboards
  • Interior doors and fittings
  • Kitchen and bathroom fixtures

Plumbing & Electrical (Internal)

  • Taps, mixers, and sanitary fittings
  • Toilets and basins
  • Internal pipes serving only your unit
  • Light fittings and internal electrical points

Hot Water Systems

  • Geysers and hot water installations
  • Associated valves and internal connections
    (Even if located in the roof space or common areas)

Owner Alterations

Anything added or altered by an owner becomes the owner’s responsibility, unless a levy is paid to the Body Corporate for the maintenance of the alteration, including:

  • Awnings
  • Air-conditioning units
  • Security gates or aesthetic additions 

✔️ Body Corporate Responsibilities (Common Property)

The body corporate maintains all areas not forming part of an individual section.

Structural Elements

  • Exterior walls
  • Roof structures and waterproofing
  • Foundations and load-bearing structures

Shared Infrastructure

  • Main plumbing lines serving multiple units
  • Electrical reticulation on common property
  • Stormwater systems and drainage

External Areas

  • Gardens and landscaping
  • Driveways and pathways
  • Boundary walls and fencing
  • Pools, lifts, and shared facilities 

✔️ Exclusive Use Areas (EUAs)

Exclusive Use Areas are still common property but reserved for a specific owner.

Typical examples:

  • Parking bays
  • Private gardens
  • Certain balconies or patios

General rule:

  • The owner maintains the area day-to-day.
  • The body corporate retains ownership.

Maintenance obligations can vary depending on how the EUA was created (registered vs rule-based). 

✔️ Common Scenarios Explained

Leaking Pipes

  • Inside your unit → usually owner responsibility
  • Serving multiple units or common property → body corporate responsibility
  • Damage caused by an upstairs unit → that owner may be liable

Burst Geyser

  • Owner maintains the geyser
  • Often covered by scheme insurance
  • Owner may be responsible for the excess

Balcony Maintenance

Responsibility depends on whether the balcony forms part of:

  • Your section → owner maintains
  • Common property or EUA → rules determine responsibility

Windows & Exterior Changes

  • Usually require trustee approval
  • Must comply with scheme aesthetics

 

✔️ Quick Responsibility Guide

Area / Item Owner Body Corporate
Interior paint & finishes ✔️
Internal plumbing fittings ✔️
Geyser / hot water system ✔️
Exterior walls & roof ✔️
Main water pipes ✔️
Gardens & common areas ✔️
Exclusive use areas ✔️ (maintenance) ✔️ (ownership)

 

✔️ Why This Matters

Understanding maintenance responsibilities helps to:

  • Prevent disputes between owners and trustees
  • Ensure insurance claims are handled correctly
  • Avoid unexpected repair costs
  • Keep schemes compliant with legislation 

✔️ When in Doubt

Always refer to:

  • The sectional plan
  • Your scheme’s conduct and management rules
  • The managing agent or trustees

Clear communication and early clarification can prevent costly misunderstandings.

 

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