Fire Safety Inspections

From 7 February 2005 it became the owners corporation’s responsibility to arrange access to all parts of the building for the purpose of fire safety inspections. Owners corporations are subject to a penalty of up to $2,200 for not complying with a notice given to them about access. However, an owners corporation can defend itself against prosecution if individual lot owners or tenants within a strata building refuse to give access after being requested by the owners corporation to do so, or are unable to be contacted. Where there is a dispute about a lot owner or tenant not giving access, the owners corporation may apply to an Adjudicator for an order against the person in question. The Adjudicator has the power to order that access be provided for a fire safety inspection.