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[Bobbi]

I’m the owner of a unit in a block of 36 in Perth. Apart from the 36 units of identical configurations there are also front and back gardens, both a tenants and a guests carparks, a sundeck adjoining the side of the complex and a storeroom under this sundeck. It is my understanding that as an owner I also have a share in every part of the entire complex. When I bought my unit 10 years ago I was told that the storeroom is for the use of owners to store various items they don’t care to keep in their units. And for a few years I did keep a few personal things in there. Approximately 3 years ago we were ordered to remove all personal items from this common-property storeroom. The order came from one person only who was a member of the committee. Since that time the storeroom has remained empty and unused.

In a few weeks I’ll be travelling overseas for some time and renting my unit out as a furnished property. I’d like to store my personal items – kitchenware, some clothing, some personal items – in the common property storeroom but this has been refused to me.

So my question is what right does the committee or a member of the committee have to remove a section of common property from general use by the owners? If a committee member can legally take away the use of the storeroom like that then what next? Maybe next I am told we can’t sit in the garden, or we can’t park cars in the carpark. Or the sundeck is now out of bounds.

So do I/we have any rights to contest this matter? Can I complain and to whom?

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