Who is responsible for a blocked drain in an apartment?

Strata Plumbing Issues

Generally, the maintenance and administration of plumbing issues are covered by the owners’ corporation or body corporate. However, in case of major plumbing issues like burst pipes, blocked drains, and water leaks, the rules are slightly complicated.

Who is responsible for strata plumbing issues?

Body corporate or owners’ corporation is responsible for managing the common property and any repair or maintenance costs associated with issues arising in ceilings, boundary walls, floor drains and tiles on floors and boundary drains.

Who should you talk to if there are blocked drains and what is your responsibility? For apartment owners, the first person of contact should be your building manager. The solution may not be so clear-cut until you get a plumber to check out the reasons for the blockage and where it is coming from.

The responsibility for repairing blocked drains becomes tricky when the issues in one unit cause problems in common areas and other units.

Common Plumbing Issues in Strata Living

Blocked Drains

Blocked drains are one of the most common plumbing issues. Depending on the location of the blockage, you can usually determine who is responsible for the repair.

• Apartment owners are responsible for maintaining the drains inside their property like kitchen drains and bathtubs.
• Shower drains are the responsibility of the owners’ corporation or body corp - floor drains and shower drains serve many apartments and it is difficult to determine the owner responsible for the blockage.
• Sewer drains also fall under the jurisdiction of the owners’ corporation as they serve the entire building

Burst Pipes

Responsibility for burst water pipes depends on the location of the damaged pipe. For example, the pipes underneath the floor are the responsibility of the owners’ corporation and the pipes in the walls are the homeowner’s responsibility.

If the burst pipe is located in the internal wall, the unit owner is responsible for fixing the burst pipe and the repair costs for the water damage. If the burst pipe is located in the boundary wall or the pipe serves multiple units, the owners’ corporation could be responsible.

Note : You may want to consider going for annual plumbing inspections to identify potential water leaks and blockages. Proper maintenance of your plumbing systems can help you identify and fix problems before emergencies develop. Insurance companies do not cover damage caused by wear and tear and poor maintenance.

A plumbing inspection report and regular maintenance can come in handy if you need to make an insurance claim or report plumbing problems to your strata managers.

Water leaks

Water leaks from shower heads, kitchen sinks, and taps are located inside the home so it is the responsibility of the owner to get them replaced.

If there’s dampness or mould growth in the unit from an overhead neighbour, discuss the issue with your strata managers and get advice on how to proceed.

If your kitchen or bathroom has a leak and causes water damage to the unit below you, you might be responsible for the costs associated with the repairs. Sometimes, this type of water damage can be claimed on the owners’ corporation insurance policy. For more information, discuss the issue with your strata manager.

Strata Drainage Solutions

For all your strata drainage solutions, contact Reline Solutions at 0403 355 550 or complete our online quote request form. We provide strata plumbing services throughout Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Ipswich, Toowoomba, and the Sunshine Coast.