Question: I’m a tenant with a cat. The Owners Corporation has a bylaw requesting a $500 Pet Bond to be paid to strata. I thought pet bonds weren’t legal in NSW. Answer: As a Tenant, you must comply with both your lease and the strata by-laws. Pet bonds are not illegal and the strata…
Question: Our hardwood floors have suffered major water damage due to common property defects. Should the Body corporate reimburse out of pocket expenses for accommodation and food while we vacate the property for repairs? Answer: The accommodation should be recoverable, but it is unlikely that the costs of food etc would be reimbursed. If…
Question: Does a resident’s right to peace and quiet in a lot (as stipulated in a bylaw) mean that people using a carpark area right outside a lot must keep their noise to a reasonable level? Answer: In our view, noise must be kept to a reasonable level. The standard noise by-law covers this,…
Question: Do I need strata approval for the renovations of my bathroom if I am simply replacing like for like and retiling over the existing floor tiles? Is this work considered a minor cosmetic renovation? Answer: It seems unlikely that your works could be carried out without any impact whatsoever on the existing waterproofing….
Question: The owner of my neighbouring unit refuses to allow access to his roof space so I can install NBN to my apartment. Can he be forced to allow access? Answer: The NBN technician will know what statutory rights. The NBN technician will know what statutory rights to access he has for his carrier…
Question: Some staff from the commercial lots in our building park in the strata visitor car parking spaces. As employees, shouldn’t they be stopped from using visitor parking? Answer: The commercial lot owner is welcome to have his staff park in his own car space(s) but not visitor parking. In our view you are…
Question: Is it allowable/acceptable to get in touch directly with strata manager for unit repairs to common property, rather than go through the executive committee? Answer: Yes, because in all likelihood, before the strata manager issues a work order for the repairs (subject to the extent of repairs), the strata manager will seek approval…
Question: Our air conditioner was installed incorrectly by the builder 5 years ago. Is the repair of the resulting leak part of the strata maintenance responsibilities? Answer: As it is likely not common property, you would need to repair it. Generally speaking and without knowing where the external unit is located, an air-conditioning unit…