@kiwipaul said:
The default QLD bylaws like those in NSW don’t allow residents to cause a noise nuisance or make a mess on the common property (or even lot property if it’s visible from the common property). Also how often do residents refurbish kitchens or bathrooms (not exactly an annual process).
A couple of points – we have those default noise and mess by-laws but they don’t prevent cowboys who don’t bother to read by-laws suddenly launching renovations or, worst of all, deciding to renovate themselves on evenings and at weekends.
Approval of a renovation schedule doesn’t require a by-law unless changes are being made to common property, in which case it does. My building has a catch-all by-law that says any changes made to common property (after the by-law was registered) become the ongoing responsibility of the owner of that lot.
The issue then becomes one of when were the renovations done and who did them. That’s why all renovations have to be approved with a schedule of works ticked off by our EC and building manager. If anyone decides to go “cowboy” on us, they suddenly find access to the lifts, garage and potentially even power to their unit is severely restricted (admittedly we are a large building of more than 130 units, with a building manager and electronic access to lifts and the garage).
How often do people renovate? Aproximately every seven years and in a building of our size which 12 years old, that means roughly one every couple of months or so. That’s why you want to be able to allow people to renovate but still control the noise and mess as much as you can