Owners Corporation Unreasonable?

Does anyone else agree that the Owners Corporation is being unreasonable?
Any suggestions for how to get around them without going to court?

We are renovating our 90 SqM Strata unit which is in a 1930s heritage-listed building, constructed in concrete with a concrete slab between floors and brick façade. The work is mostly decorative (new K&B, repair ceilings & redecorate) but we plan to remove 2 internal walls between bedrooms and add a separate WC by bocking off a hallway. See below
http://www.renovateforum.com/attachm...1&d=1238909207

We obtained a specification from a structural engineer on the structural changes we are making which are to remove two internal walls to expand the master bedroom, expand the height/width of the doorway to the balcony and extend the wet area of the bathroom into the hallway which we will block off to create a separate WC.

The Owners Corporation have insisted that we obtain 5(!) additional reports to approve the extension of the wet area and certify that it will have NO IMPACT (sic.) on the rest of the building or plumbing (we changed this to no adverse or unreasonable impact):
- Structural Engineer
- Hydraulic Engineer
- Acoustic Engineer
- Strata Building Plumber
- Secondary Building Plumber

We have employed an architect to produce plans to obtain the DA, and planned to use a certified Builder as the main project manager. Plus the Structural Engineer will supervise the structural work is done to his spec and certify it has been done.

However, the Owners Corporation are insisting that we employ the architect to supervise the entire development. However, neither he nor we are interested in the time and expense of this given the size of the job and lack of architectural input.

The owners corporation is also insisting on seeing the detailed specification of the materials for the renovation despite this being part of the Construction Certificate and not the DA which we have to obtain first.

As we're on the top floor we have we originally planned to install ducted aircon through the pitched roof space above but the Owners Corporation would only lease the space to use for 5 years for $15K as they "might want to add an additional floor to the building" (Duh! it's heritage listed! :doh:) - so we dropped the A/C from the DA and will revisit it later.

This has been going on for 3 months and every time we submit a plan or meet their requirements they come up with another demand! :~

Attached Thumbnails http://www.renovateforum.com/attachm...1&d=1238909207



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