Maintenance of Common Property - Roles and Responsibilities

Keeping common property in good shape

Regular maintenance protects property values, reduces long-term costs and keeps everyone safer. This guide includes a practical checklist to help owners and committee members identify what needs attention across the common property.

The legal obligation

The Strata Titles Act is clear about the corporation's responsibilities.

Section 25 sets out that the strata corporation must:

• Administer and maintain the common property for the benefit of unit holders and the broader strata community

• Administer all other property of the corporation

Before working through the checklist below, make sure you understand what counts as common property in your group as the boundaries differ between strata and community titles.

How to use this checklist

Walk the property with the checklist in hand. Once complete, the corporation's officers and owners should establish a priority list of what needs doing first, how it will be funded and when.

If your group has a Management Committee they can set priorities and recommend a funding approach to owners.

Practical tips

• Only engage licenced and insured contractors

• Photograph any maintenance issues as you find them

• If your group doesn't have a management committee, appoint one at the next general meeting

• Set up a sinking fund to cover maintenance works over time

Why it's worth the effort

• Lower costs: catching problems early is always cheaper than emergency repairs

• Reduced risk: fewer hazards for residents and visitors

• Property value: well-maintained groups hold their value

• Peace of mind: for owners, tenants, and committee members alike

Property observations checklist

Walk the site and record your observations for each item. Note the condition, flag anything that needs attention and skip items that don't apply to your group.

Access the interactive checklist here.

Note: This checklist is a practical tool to support regular maintenance oversight. It is not a substitute for a professional building inspection.

Whether you're putting together a maintenance plan, working through a priority list after a site inspection, or just not sure where to start, the Acacia Collective team can help. Get in touch and we'll point you in the right direction.