This article discusses strata insurance for storage cages in apartment buildings. What happens if a theft occurs? Who is responsible?
Table of Contents:
- QUESTION: Who is responsible for the cost of repairing a damaged fence surrounding the common area storage cages in my apartment building? Does the strata insurance policy cover this, or is it the responsibility of owners?
- QUESTION: In our small 3 lot scheme we each have a parking space outside our garage, believed to be for our use. A new lot owner pointed out this is common property and cannot be used for parking. Is this correct?
Question: Who is responsible for the cost of repairing a damaged fence surrounding the common area storage cages in my apartment building? Does the strata insurance policy cover this, or is it the responsibility of owners?
There was break-in to my storage care area in the basement of my apartment. The fence of the storage area has been cut open and I would like to know who covers the repairs or replacement of that actual fence please (not the contents in the storage cage area).
Would you be able to advise if the owners should be responsible to pay the strata insurance excess or would the owners corporation be responsible for this? Just seeking clarification if the strata insurance excess should be coming out from the owners corporation funds or from individual affected owners?
Answer: It would depend on what rules the owners corporation put in place.
If the owners corporation has a strata policy in place, I would say the replacement/repairs to the fence would fall under the strata insurance.
This is not an easy question to answer. It would depend on what rules the owners corporation put in place. The general rule that most owners corporation would go by is if the incident occurs on common property than the owners corporation is responsible for the excess.
Lia de Sousa Whitbread Insurance Brokers T: 1300 424 627 E: info@whitbread.com.au
Question: For lot owners to rent spare storage cages in our apartment building, our Strata Manager insists they take out full insurance. Is this insurance necessary?
I’m after information regarding renting storage from the strata committee.
We have eight empty storage cages in our garage area and owners would like to rent them to store personal belongings. The committee has agreed to allow this for a small fee, however, our strata management company has informed our chairperson that an insurance policy to the value of $10,000,00 would have to be taken out by the individual renters before they can take up the rental.
Does this sound like the correct procedure? Do the lessees need this insurance? If they do not have it, can the committee be liable somehow?
Answer: It is good practice to ensure that any occupants intending to rent a storage cage have taken out the necessary insurance.
It is good practice by the Strata Committee to ensure that any occupants intending to rent a storage cage have taken out the necessary insurance e.g. contents insurance and / or liability insurance.
If the party renting the cage has no relevant cover in place, there may be some exposure to the Strata Committee in the event that loss, damage or injury occurs, particularly if the cages are located in the common area.
Lia de Sousa Whitbread Insurance Brokers T: 1300 424 627 E: info@whitbread.com.au
This post appears in Strata News #260.
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