Question: Is it legal to block access to a common area lift from the car park to the foyer? The Strata Committee is denying access to the elevator via the car park unless you have a doctor’s certificate stating you can’t walk up 12 steep stairs to the front entrance (which then leads to…
Question: I want to install solar panels. Before I can install solar panels, I need to upgrade my fuse box. Isn’t it the responsibility of the owners corporation to pay for a fuse box upgrade? I am in a strata complex of 20 units and would like to install solar panels. Before I can…
Question: Do we need permission to tile over the top of tiles in our townhouse bathroom and laundry? We will not be disturbing the waterproofing or original tiles? Answer: Tiles are hard surface flooring and therefore considered a “minor renovation” under the legislation. If the strata committee has been delegated the power to approve…
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: To help solve our resident parking problems, we would like to convert a visitor car park into a unit car space. Our strata manager tells us we can do this without having to comply with our development consent. Is this correct? I am one of the committee members for a 65 apartment building….
Question: Our sinking fund has run out of money and we need a lot of repairs and maintenance done to common property. the window paint has all peeled off and in some cases starting to rot, lintels are rusting, there is a very large common area window that needs to be replaced (totally rusted)…
Question: One of our lot’s water meter leaked resulting in an excess water bill. Is the affected unit entitled to claim the excess water charges from our Owners Corporation? One of our lot’s water meter leaked resulting in an excess water bill. After a report from a plumber, the insurance company has stated it…
The new defects rectification guide has been launched in NSW. The NSW Government has written a step by step guide which helps Strata Managers and property owners with identifying and then rectifying defects in apartment buildings in a seamless process. This is a first of its kind for government and it enables the government…
Question: A lot owner with a dog causes nuisance to surrounding lots. What can the owners corporation do? Is there a legal way to handle this? We have a problem with a lot owner who owns a dog on our building. The dog is left for long periods unattended causing excessive barking, excrement is…
Yapping Dogs I live in a very large Strata unit complex and there is an overload of dogs here – almost like a Canine Hotel – but all in all they are well mannered but there are those, that, at times bark and yap for an hour to 5 hours at a time. I find it to…
Question: There is no insulation under the concrete roof of my top floor apartment. On hot days, the apartment is basically unliveable. Is the Owners Corporation responsible for this problem? When the summer sun heats the concrete roof of my top floor apartment all day, that evening the concrete sheds its heat into the apartment!…
Question: Can using a washing machine is after hours be considered a nuisance? Is it unfair or harsh to have a By-Law that deals with this? Is using a washing machine after hours a breach of noise / nuisance provisions? Is it unfair or harsh to have a By-Law provision that deals with when…
Question: Does the Owners Corporation have to pay sufficient money from levies into the Capital Works Fund? I have just discovered no money has been paid into the Capital Works Fund where I live for the last 3 years. Around 240 people live in the building. Answer: Yes, the Owners Corporation must pay funds…
Question: Is it possible to access a unit if the owner has not granted permission but the tenant has? This is for the sake of a dye test and roofing repairs. Answer: The occupier needs to give his consent, therefore, the committee may enter the lot because it is the occupier’s consent which is…
Question: A resident has moved into one of the units in our strata, however, she is not registered as a tenant but as an ‘approved resident’. She is considered a visitor and is able to use visitor parking etc. What can we do about this? Answer: The easiest way to regulate this visitor is…
Question: A resident pet owner does the right things cleaning up dog poo on common property but not within their own lot. How do we enforce clean up of their lot and stop the smell! A lot owner has felt it necessary to draw the Strata Committee’s attention to repeated instances of pet faeces…
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: We are selling our apartment. The purchasers have advised that our car space is shown as Common Property. What can we do? We’ve lived in the same Villa for 17 years. We decided to sell a while ago and received an offer last week, which we accepted. We received an email from our…
Question: Who is responsible for the maintenance and repair of outdoor lights on each of the townhouse walls in both front and back yard? These external lights were installed when the townhouses were originally built. Answer: The exterior lights would likely be your responsibility. While we have not seen your by-laws or notations on…