Strata Management and Common Property

Hi All,
I have an AGM with strata management coming up next week and have just received the notice along with the accounts and expenses for the strata.

I’ve noticed that there are some seemingly extraordinary expenses such as:

1. repairs to garage doors of one unit
2. repairs to hot water tanks of one unit
3. turning electricity back on for one unit
4. repairs to sash cords of a window within one unit

Now i understand that garage doors are common property, but what about points 2-4? If the hot water tank is for exclusive use by one unit and it resides within one unit’s private area, then shouldn’t it be the responsibity of that owner?

And if a unit’s electricity needs to be turned back on, why should strata management be involved in that? Especially if it means flicking a switch back on at the meter box? Shouldnt everyone in the apartment block have a key to the meter box?

And window sash cords – those cords on either side of older style wooden windows – if your window jams, just because the window is common property, should the strata be involved in paying for the costs? I recently renovated my apartment and replaced all sash cords – can i now expense them back to the strata?

I have tried to source an online copy of strata management laws, but have not been able to find anything useful so far. I did see the Strata Living document at the Fair Trading website, but it’s quite comprehensive and doesnt get into the nitty gritty things like what common property actually includs. Any ideas of where i could source such a document?

Thanks.