I checked with our sponsors Bannerman Lawyers and they confirm that this is an issue between the squatter and the owner and since the squatter has no legal standing in the scheme, then it’s the owner who must be pursued over by-law breaches.
Now, it sounds like the committee has a deal of sympathy with the owner so they may be less than keen to blitz them with notices to comply over by-law breaches. So what’s to be done.
Guerilla tactics like supergluing the lock and cutting off electricity are probably illegal. However, if the owner ASKS the strata committee to cut off the electricity , that would be a different matter.
I wonder what would happen if you got a letter from the owner saying they are worried about fire safety following a recent renovation and could you please cut off electricity and maybe even gas until it is checked.
Or how about this? With the owner’s permission, get tradies to remove the front door and take it away for “inspection” and only replace it when the squatter has left.
The problem with people who choose not to follow the rules is that they count on us to be law-abiding. Does anyone have any legal ideas for dealing with this situation?