HPA section 7

I am very confused about section 7 in the Horizontal Property Act. We live in an area with quartos, semi detached villas and villas. All having a garden. Our administrator and president says that any alteration has to be authorized by the Owners Committee. 

Reading different books this is not very clear. Got a fine book from Felix saying: The owner of each flat or premises may modify the architectural elements...........giving prior notice to the common hold representative, provided such work not..... alter ........its external image.....

What does it mean? What is included in "external image"?

- Planting a three

- Tiling the garden

- Putting up a canapé

- Putting up a shed lover than the garden o solarium walls

- Digging out under built

- Take up a new door to the side garden

All alterations above are inside the wall to common area and are not in the direc viewe of people passing the poperty.

Hi Arne

We also have a Community made up of detached villas and quad apartments with similar rules as those mentioned.  We do, as a Community have a vote at our Annual General Meetings on planning issues whenever an individual owner decides they would like to build something onto the existing structure.

General consensus is/has been that most owners have bought on our urbanisation because they liked the way it looks.  They are adamant that they will not approve any form of construction that alters this outside appearance.  However, they realise that in the current climate owners are unable to sell so they are having to enlarge/adapt their living area to be able to live here full time.  To this aim, we have as a Community voted that we will allow glass curtains on upper or lower apartment and villa terraces and one style of conservatory subject to planning permission from our local town hall. 

Gardens may be landscaped to the owners preference but nothing, such as sheds, spars, pergolas or hottubs for instance, may be placed without the written consent of all the neighbours concerned.

We are finding that with this approach no one is falling out and neighbours are helping each other with quotes and recommendations etc.

I think that the Admistrator is meaning the other owners when he/she speaks of an "Owners Committee"  I would say personaly that if it cannot be seen and it has planning consent from the Town Hall then it should be okay, but no harm asking for neigbour consent if this is the case.