A glazing upgrade funding solution
An owners corporation in Clifton Hill has developed a savvy funding model that unlocks the capacity of owners to install double glazing whenever time and budgets allow.
Retrofitting glazing in apartments can be tricky
We’ve all felt the chill coming through an old single glazed window. It feels unpleasant and can promote mold. But in apartment buildings, upgrading to double glazing isn’t always straightforward. It requires collective decision-making and a funding solution.
Windows are a structural element of the building envelope, and nearly always form part of the common property. According to the Victorian Owners Corporation Act, significant alteration to common property requires a special resolution (or to be written into the maintenance plan).
Even if owners agree that upgrading is important, there’s often disagreement about how to cover costs of the work. If there’s not enough money in the maintenance fund, a special levy could be raised, but it’s unlikely all owners will be comfortably positioned to pay the levy.
Given all this, you might think it’s best to leave the window retrofits up to the individual owners. But that creates risk in terms of quality, liability, and the potential for a jumble of different windows to be installed. The overall effect may negatively impact the visual amenity of the building.
Develop window specifications so each owner can upgrade when they want and can afford it
The owners corporation at a low rise Clifton Hill apartment block implemented a unique and replicable solution.
They wanted to keep continuity in the look of their facade. They didn’t have enough money in their maintenance fund to comfortably upgrade all windows, but they wanted to empower owners to install double glazing.
Their solution was to develop a ‘Criteria for unit window replacement’ and pass a formal resolution to ensure all owners must adhere to the guidelines. Before upgrading their windows, owners were required to submit their window plans.
The guidelines covered both the look, materials and placement of the windows. As you can see from the top photo, some owners have made the switch to double glazed UPV windows. Others haven’t yet made the investment. However, overall the look and feel of the building is still coherent.
Case study from Clifton Hill apartments, 2024. A huge congratulations and thank you to this forward thinking owners corporation for the inspiration and sharing your story!
