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Space is tight in my one-bedder and since I’ve sold my car I’ m wondering how I can get a lockable bike cage in my car space. The BC management committee isn’t very helpful on other issues – do I need permission ( as different from letting them know what I propose) but as two people seem to have storage access in the meter room, I’m hopeful that I can have a slimline cage. What are my chances,do you think ?
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Storage access to the meter room doesn’t sound like a good idea. Eventually someone will put (say) a leaky LPG cylinder under a pile of old clothes. A circuit breaker throws a spark, kerbang-fizz, and the whole building needs rewiring or even structural repair.
Storage access to the meter room doesn’t sound like a good idea.
I suppose you could leverage that if you apply for permission and they say no. But the worst response you might get is if they reject it and say it’s visually not in keeping with the rest of the parking spaces. If that happens, and they ignore the veiled threats about the storage in the meter room, then it’s off to Fair Trading, then NCAT (where you would probably win).
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Have you checked your by-laws by any chance? As you may have one that states that that only motor vehicles / bikes can stand in the car space, to avoid people storing furniture in the space. I’d suggest you check that and ask to have it on the next agenda and request that you join the meeting to discuss it with the committee members.
Storage in a meter room does not sound like a good idea. I was once involved with installing some large equipment in a room that housed a large distribution cabinet. The footprint of the equipment impinged by only a cm or two into the clearance that is required around such a cabinet and we had to get the equipment moved.
Unless a by-law specifically excludes bicycles, I recall reading previously they can be classified as “vehicles” when it came to them being “parked” on common property.
By-laws also usually permit an owner to install fixtures for security/safety without OC consent. Would this cage need securing to a floor or wall?
Unless a by-law specifically excludes bicycles, I recall reading previously they can be classified as “vehicles” when it came to them being “parked” on common property.
My block’s by-laws say that only “roadworthy motorised vehicles” are permitted. Wait till I sell my car and buy a couple of electric bikes which would be both motorised and roadworthy in some interpretations of the law and neither in others.
By-laws also usually permit an owner to install fixtures for security/safety without OC consent. Would this cage need securing to a floor or wall?
Which by-laws say that? The model by-laws say this:
2 Changes to common property
(1) An owner or person authorised by an owner may install, without the consent of the owners corporation:
(a) any locking or other safety device for protection of the owner’s lot against intruders or to improve safety within the owner’s lot, or
(b) any screen or other device to prevent entry of animals or insects on the lot, or
(c) any structure or device to prevent harm to children.I don’t think that is intended to cover storage cages, regardless of what they’re storing. However, by-laws can be and often are different. Another relevant one might be that you can’t put anything in your lot or common property that doesn’t fit with the look of the building.
The answer to this one is to apply for permission and send details of what you plan, then deal with the response. If it’s negative and unreasonable, then you can challenge it.
The thing not to do here is just put the cage in place and hope no one notices or objects. In the past, cages have been ripped down and left in a heap on the floor when the owners failed to get permission and NCAT backed the owners corp.
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