Question: Is my landlord or the strata obliged to provide tenants with access to all common areas? We have no access to the common area rooftop. I rent in a block of 42 apartments. Although there is a common area on the rooftop, not every resident has been given a key. Is my landlord…
Question: Do we need permission from the owners corporation to install an entertaining area, including a sink and lighting, in our villa’s backyard? In a Villa complex can an owner build an entertainment area in their backyard? The structure’s roof is attached from the facia board under the eaves of the back of the villa to…
Question: The Owners Corporation is undertaking remedial waterproofing on a common property rooftop terrace which is included in our title. They have asked us to move our large pots and spa. Shouldn’t this be there cost? The Owners Corporation is undertaking remedial waterproofing on a common property rooftop terrace which is included in our…
Question: A lot owner has carried out works on his balcony and installed air conditioning without approval. What steps should the OC take to protect themselves? An owner has tiled his balcony and installed air conditioning with a visible compressor sitting on the balcony. The owner has not obtained permission and we do not…
Question: My new neighbours in the unit above uses incense in their unit every day. The smell fills up my unit and in the public passageway. What legal rights do I have? Is it all right to get the police involved? Answer: BBQ smoke, cigarette smoke and possibly incense smoke drift could potentially be…
Question: Our neighbour drilled into our balcony to install an awning shade. What do we do now? Who is responsible if there is future damage due to the installation? Our downstairs neighbour got approval to set up an awning for her backyard. In her request she stated that drilling was ‘probably not required’, however,…
Question: Does a strata committee have the authority to exempt a resident from complying with a by-law? A resident has asked the Strata Committee, on somewhat questionable grounds, to exempt the applicant from the Strata by-law banning laundry on balconies. My question is does a strata committee have the authority to exempt a resident…
Question: Are there regulations on the use of smoker BBQs on apartment balconies considering the amount of smoke and smell these produce? Answer: You must check the by-laws applicable to your scheme. The short answer is that you must check the by-laws applicable to your scheme. Many schemes have by-laws which regulate BBQ’s and…
Question: I have an apartment with a balcony in NSW and can I put artificial hedge roll on my pole for decoration? Answer: While the decorative item is easily removed, it may offend the “keeping within the appearance of the building” by-law: While the decorative item is easily removed, it may offend the “keeping…
Question: My balcony cannot be viewed from any common property. Can I retile my balcony as long as the finish is in keeping with the building without OC approval for the renovations being asked? I appreciate that maintenance and replacement of my balcony structure and it’s waterproof membrane are the responsibility of our Strata….
Question: I’m an elderly woman who needs a mobility stool outside my door. The strata manager denied my request and issued me a notice to remedy the breach. What Can I do? I am a 68-year-old woman renting a unit on the first floor of a block of seven units. I have an autoimmune disease…
Question: Can you hang your bicycle from the ceiling of the balcony in a strata apartment? We have nowhere else to store the bike. Answer: You should check your by-laws in case there is a “storage” or “balcony” by-law which might prohibit such storage. Not without the permission of the Owners Corporation because hanging things…
Question: How do we handle the other duplex lot owners who smoke outside their lot. Smoke drifts over the dividing fence and into my aging father’s lot. We are looking for information about how to handle the other lot owners who smoke in the back yard of their duplex. The smoke drifts over the dividing…
Question: Now the evenings are getting cooler, we are wondering if we can set up a small fire pit on our apartment balcony. We have units and balconies both above and below us. Since we’ve been in lockdown, we tend to spend quite a bit of time on our apartment balcony to get fresh air…
Question: Should we have a bylaw allowing residents to have a BBQ on their apartment balcony? If we have no bylaw and a BBQ becomes a fire hazard, will the Strata Committee Members be held liable? Answer: You need to check what your contract states with regard to strata manager insurance commissions. We have…
Faulty Waterproofing I live in a unit complex in Sydney and there are 76 units. My strata contracted (& paid for) a company to come fix my faulty waterproofing on my balcony. In order to access the faulty waterproofing, the company had to remove/lift the wooden deck on the balcony. During the process of repairing the faulty…
Question: What action can the Strata Committee take to impose compliance for breaches? A lot owner is amplifying her non-compliance in response to being advised to cease her hanging of washing on the balcony practices. Answer: Issue a notice to comply with the washing on the balcony bylaw and then pursue the matter through NCAT….
Question: What action can the Strata Committee take to impose compliance for breaches? A lot owner is amplifying her non-compliance in response to being advised to cease her laundry drying practices. Answer: Issue a notice to comply and then pursue the matter through NCAT. The owner is clearly in breach of the by-law, so…
Question: Due to a common property defect, my tiles were damaged in an area on my verandah. As the tiles could not be matched, the whole space must be retiled. Should the OC pay for all work? Answer: There is a strata titles case very similar to yours. There is a strata titles case…
Question: My apartment is west facing and the balcony and bedrooms are almost unliveable in Summer. My Strata Committee has declined my request to approve outside awnings without giving reasons. What redress do I have please? Answer: Because the awning will be affixed to the exterior of the building and because the awnings will change…