- This topic has 7 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 9 months, 3 weeks ago by .
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This isn’t about neighbour noise, but it is about neighbour behaviour so it seemed the best place to post.
Long story short, some neighbours have deliberately damaged common and private property several times over the past year or so (let’s not go into why they would do this – it’s not rational behaviour). They also have a habit of hiring noisy trades without giving notice to anyone, so everyone is woken up early by jackhammers and tradies shouting to each other as they clomp around. We’ve experienced various other anti-social behaviours that I won’t go into. If anyone complains, retaliatory behaviour begins such as dog poo on the doorstep. At this point, everyone is pretty cowed.
Luckily, the anti-social neighbours have sold and are leaving. Now everyone is terrified at what they will do as a parting gift. Broken windows in the common area? Scratches in the paintwork? Damage to cars in the carpark? They most certainly won’t arrange lift protection when their furniture is moved out, or protect the carpets from removalist dirty boots.
Is there anything we can put in place to ensure they are held responsible for any final damages? I know the new owners will do a pre-settlement inspection, but unfortunately OCs don’t get involved in those so we can’t speak up and say that the previous owners just smashed the foyer windows on the way out (or whatever).
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How about an email telling owners that, because of unsavoury incidents and illegal behaviour in the past, the committee has discretely installed security cameras in common areas. They have been positioned so that they are not immediately obvious, to avoid intereference, but you can see them if you look hard in the right areas.
Then once the nasty neighbours have gone send another email saying “Sorry, we meant we were thinking of installing security cameras.”
Or find out where they are moving to and send them a letter from the committee wishing them all the very best at their new address.
Or install something like these cheap surveillance cameras
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We can’t ask for a bond the way a landlord can for a tenant…
Many buildings have a removals damage bond that has to be paid by any parties moving in or out. But you would need a by-law and they sould like they would refuse to pay it anyway.
Is there anything we can do to encourage them to leave quietly with no damage, keys all handed over, belongings removed common storage and so on?
Unreasonable people don’t listen to reason. If they do damage property, then it’s criminal damage – nothing to do with strata even if they were staying put.
The stuff left in common property is covered by the Uncollected Goods Act 1995, not the Strata Schemes Management Act. The owners corporation can remove items left on common property, but they must follow specific procedures based on the goods’ value. Goods are categorized as perishable, low value (<$1,000), medium value ($1,000-$20,000), high value (>$20,000), personal documents/memorabilia, or motor vehicles. Low-value items require 14 days’ written notice before disposal, while medium-value items require 28 days. High-value items require an order from the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT).
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I wonder if a call to the non-emergency police line citing their number plate and (if known) names might make a difference if there is any damage.
It might be worthwhile taking some “before” photos now-ish.
If you are seriously worried, find out when the removalists are going to be there and hire a couple of security guards to watch them.
And it’s not naive to hope for the best in people – but it’s unwise to assume that other share your values.
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