I’m in a small apartment building in Australia (owners corporation) dealing with building-wide moisture/rising damp possible structural issues.
An engineering report was completed and paid for, but the strata manager delayed providing it and it still hasn’t been circulated to the full committee. The report identifies broader building issues, but there’s been no action, no plan, and no timeline.
Over the past 6+ months I’ve reported consistent building-wide signs of rising damp and moisture issues, including musty odours, tide marks and staining on walls, bubbling/peeling paint, crumbling plaster and salt deposits, warped floorboards, mould growth, and deterioration of skirting boards. These issues are present across multiple areas/units, not isolated to mine.
I stepped into the secretary role to try to get traction, but little action was taken. An engineering report was only obtained after a ceiling in another unit collapsed, and it identifies broader building issues and safety risks, including brick fencing that requires immediate demolition. Despite this, there is still no clear remediation plan or action underway.
In my unit:
- Significant damage to floorboards and walls from rising damp
- Issues appear to be getting worse
- My health is being affected
I’ve formally requested the report be circulated and asked for next steps, and contacted the chairperson, but no response so far.
I’ve temporarily left my unit due to stress and potential health impact.
Questions:
- What should I do if the manager/committee keep delaying?
- When/how do I escalate (Consumer Affairs VIC, VCAT, etc.)?
- How can I protect myself legally/financially if the building deteriorates further?
Any advice from people familiar with strata/OC issues in Australia would be appreciated.