Can you install a roof lantern in an apartment with an owners' association?

Who owns the roof above your apartment?

In most apartment blocks the roof is one of the common parts. That applies even if you are the only one living under it. Who owns what is set out in the deed of division. The house rules often describe how decisions on changes to common parts are made.

A roof lantern means an opening in the roof structure and a new connection to the roof covering. That affects the maintenance and watertightness of the whole roof, so an association will want a say. This is general information, not legal advice: the deed and the association are leading.

What does an owners' association usually want to know?

A well-prepared proposal makes the decision easier. The association will want to know what is being installed, who installs it and who bears the cost of maintenance and any leaks later on. Put these agreements in writing.

Have the load-bearing capacity of the roof assessed by a contractor or structural engineer. In an existing flat roof a roof lantern is usually quite feasible, provided the structure allows it. The connection matters too: we supply connection details for EPDM and bitumen, so the building's roofer knows how it will be finished.

• Type, size and position of the roof lantern
• Who installs it and who makes the roof connection
• Who pays for maintenance and any damage
• An assessment of the roof's load capacity

Which type suits an apartment roof?

On a flat roof, a mono-pitch roof lantern is the obvious choice. It stays low, has a standard pitch of 8° and drains water quickly. If there is already a dome, replacing the rooflight dome with a roof lantern can be an easier proposal, because the opening already exists.

If the roof is also used as a terrace, safety and loading come into play. Read more about a roof lantern on a roof terrace.

Do you need the municipality as well as the association?

Sometimes. It depends on the local environmental plan and on whether the roof lantern is visible from the street. Approval from the association does not replace a permit, and the reverse is also true. Read the general explanation of planning permission for a roof lantern and check with the municipality.

Frequently asked questions