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Posted 25 August 2011
Category: Strata
Many strata managers, owners corporations and owners will now need to consider the wide ranging effect of the new Commonwealth standards which require the installation of disability access and became effective on 1 May, 2011.
An owners corporation or owner when seeking approval from council or a private certifier for works in a particular class of building or affected part to which these standards apply may be required as part of the construction certificate or complying development certificate conditions to install a wide range of disability access works, such as:
The standards apply to specified building classes under the Building Code of Australia, including commercial, retail and those parts of residential buildings used for short term rent, but excluding those residential parts not used for short term rent.
There are a number of exemptions and concessions which may be available, such as:
An existing building which is not undergoing an upgrade could still be the subject of a complaint under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) for failure to comply with the general requirement for access.
***The information contained in this article is general information only and not legal advice. The currency, accuracy and completeness of this article (and its contents) should be checked by obtaining independent legal advice before you take any action or otherwise rely upon its contents in any way.