Strata window safety is a building-wide management issue. It cannot be handled properly with a few scattered maintenance notes or a resident saying that a lock “looks fine”. Owners corporations and strata managers need a clear system for identifying the relevant windows, checking safety devices, recording defects, organising repairs and keeping inspection evidence.
In NSW, window safety devices are especially important in apartment buildings where children may be at risk of falling from high windows. A complying safety device is intended to limit how far the window can open and to resist force. This means a window lock or restrictor must be more than present. It must be attached properly, operate correctly and remain suitable for the window.
Common strata problems include missing devices, devices installed on some but not all relevant windows, loose screws, damaged frames, lost keys, resident-installed changes, old photos with no inspection notes, and no record of which units could not be accessed. These issues make it hard for a strata manager to give the committee a confident answer.
A good strata inspection report should be practical. It should tell the manager what was inspected, what passed, what failed, what could not be accessed and what should happen next. It should also use photos so that committee members and contractors can see the issue without needing to revisit the whole building.
Haven Compliance is built for this type of work. We inspect child safety window locks, restrictors and window safety devices, document findings, support rectification planning and reinspect where required. We are partnered with Remsafe, the largest window lock supplier in Australia, which gives managers a practical pathway when replacement or rectification is required.
Recommended strata workflow
- Confirm building scope and number of lots.
- Review any previous window safety reports.
- Notify residents and organise access.
- Inspect accessible windows and devices.
- Record unavailable lots or windows.
- Provide a photo-backed report.
- Quote or arrange rectification.
- Reinspect completed works.
- Store the report with the building’s annual compliance records.
If your strata scheme needs a current window safety device inspection or annual compliance record, request a quote from Haven Compliance.
Why strata buildings are more complex than single dwellings
A single home may only need one owner to make decisions. A strata building is different. There may be dozens or hundreds of lots, different access arrangements, tenants, owner occupiers, managing agents, building managers and committees. That makes documentation just as important as the inspection itself.
If a contractor only leaves a short invoice or a vague statement, the strata manager may still not know which units were checked, which windows failed or which owners need to provide access. A proper strata inspection process should create a record the manager can actually use.
Access is often the biggest problem
The most common practical issue in strata inspections is access. Residents may not be home, agents may not have keys, notices may be missed and some windows may be blocked by furniture or security screens. A good report should not hide this. It should clearly list unavailable areas so the manager can organise a second access attempt.
This is important because an incomplete inspection can look complete unless the unavailable areas are documented. Haven’s process separates inspected areas from unavailable areas so the manager knows exactly what still needs attention.
Rectification should be linked to the report
Once defects are found, the next step should be practical. The manager needs to know whether the issue is a missing device, a loose fixing, a damaged frame, a device that will not operate or a window that may require a different hardware approach. Haven’s partnership with Remsafe gives clients a direct pathway from inspection finding to hardware support and reinspection.
