Forum Replies Created
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Hi All,
So what if you are in a mixed developement? I previously looked into and there was some measure of drama and confusing information and no clear instructions. Response from the commercial premises was clearly negative. What if you have a laundromat or cafe or some other business that has high water usage in a mainly residential building? Would love to see some forward thinking and straightforward guidance from government in implementing seperate water usage in all apartment blocks.
Cheers,
CBF
Hi All,
So ,what happens when you ban cigarette smoking on Common Property is this.. smokers smoke inside their homes, most apartment properties have an internal ventilation system so therefore the cigarette smoke is now inside your homes via the internal ventilation system! Rather than just a waft through the balcony door. We ban smoking in Common Areas but that does not include peoples living areas.
Live and let live.
We are all consuming numerous carcinigous agents through most of our products, travels and living in general.
Cheers,
CBF
Hi All, I am a bit of course but have a slightly related topic on blocked plumbing. I just heard some interesting information, not sure how true it is. I have heard that some pest inspectors have some device that searches for white ants via an infra red detector that can also detect blockages in pipes. Someone I know has an annual pest inspection that includes searching for blockages in pipes! How cool is that!? I have to do some research for Sydney as the report comes from up north but how much trouble would it save as to have an annual inspection for pests and plumbing? Has anyone else heard of this service?
Cheers,
CBF
Hi All, agree, so nasty! We recently had two sewer pipe explosions on our property and the filth! And…the bizarre objects! And the cost! kentstreet should seriously be persuing the OC over this. Why should you have to pay for damage that is caused by an issue with CP? Having said that, our plumbers were able to identify where the blockage on our lot was coming from. We immediately sent out a notice to all residents without targetting any one person, so therefore we were accepting responsibility, but advising them of what not to put down their toilets. STRONGLY ADVISING. In the future if a blockage comes from the same area we will I imagine put the onus on that lot for repair. There were items such as nappy bags, tampons, kitty litter, whole vegetables. Luckily the caps on the top of the sewer pipes were loose (plumbers often do this to avoid explosions in lots) so the explosions were downstars rather than in the apartments that had the blockages. If they are tight the explosion is usually in the bathroom floor waste. I think regular checks on pipes may be difficult? And the cost prohibitive? So good luck and I am bloody glad I am not in kentstreets shoes! Touch wood….
CBFHi All, Yes agree with Jimmy, you are now having your fire safety checks so be relieved.
We have our inspections twice a year, I don't care what the cost is, we are talking about fire! Could destroy your life and dear possesions,pets, including your property! How is your insurance? A notice is sent to all to be available or pay yourself if you are not for an extra visit as is Jimmys. The inspections are held in the morning before most head off for work and take 5 minutes and the hard wired smoke alarms inside lots are taken on as OC responsibility. If the battery is flat most replace at their own expense I think they are around $8, but faults and replacement OC covers. I recently had a faulty alarm and sent an email to the strata manager who promptly sent out a technician and replacement alarm. This works well for our building. Mind you I have been working hard over a few years to make our plan functional and harmonious and some are not so.
Cheers CBF
Agreed JT, bloody bad luck and expensive! Hopefully jeffk you may still be able to claim on your home insurance? Outrageous outlay, I am sure you are not able to name the company that you called out due to legal reasons but I wish you could so as our plan never use them! I keep a spare remote which I have programmed for emergencies. I have though been stuck previously with my remote not working and luckily found a neighbour home who gave me the code to enter into my remote.
Good Luck.
CBF
Hey jffk,
Agree with Jimmy, your home and contents may cover.
Could have saved yourself a load of $ and bought a new remote from Jaycar for $70.
If the OC were re
sponsible you could have sent on the receipt for reimbursement.My block has recently had a spate of stolen and lost security keys also remotes for the parking area and these are NOT the responsibility of the Owners Corporation and with good cause. If the OC is responsible for all lost keys and remotes our levies would be more outrageous than they already are. These items are your personal responsibility and carried generally on your body, you need to take responsibility. I imagine you will be charged for the $700 call out?
No offence but if you were in my Plan I would put the costs back onto you.
Best of Luck
CBF
Hi building bulldog, My feeling is you pretty much got a
basic bylaw if that is in place in your building nailed in your first paragraph, 'impacting on other residents peaceful enjoyment of their property'.Make your complaint in writing to the Strata Manager, copy the EC in if you have their email addresses, you have a right to the peaceful enjoyment of your property and any strata manager worth their salt will pursue this for you, hopefully a more informed person will give you some more concrete advice.
Good Luck.
CBF
Hi Nixie,
I live above a ground floor unit that has both timber floors and a courtyard and underneath a unit with timber floors and a balcony.
In fact all our units were originally built with timber floors, only 8 years ago.
I find the noise from below to be as bad as the noise from above and also just as bad from each side. Especially late at night or early mornings when there are not too many other building noises.
Most residents are aware of the noise transference and remove shoes but when going out or entertaining people wear shoes, and the clacking of hard soled shoes can be more than a nuisance.
Having said that I still love timber floors. Using rugs throughout certainly helps muffle the noise.
Cheers CBF
Hi Jimmy, as you said on ABC radio the other day, our childrens safety is of the utmost importance, but there is also a regard to the appearance of a building. We all want our children to be safe. But we also invest a lot of money and time in buying into well kept and attractive buildings and keeping up the appearance of said buildings. For our own satisfaction and of course to keep the value of our property. If there was perhaps a more attractive alternative that is not such an an eyesore and is not at all intrusive or detracts from the buiding perhaps there would be more interest. There will be so many variances, older buildings with fewer lots may suit the old fashioned security bars and newer buildings with more lots will need some type of less intrusive model but I am sure as this issue is discussed variations will evolve and eventually…solution.
Very prickly subject matter, but there you go.
Cheers CBF
Jimmy T you are a man of your word.
I listened to you on ABC this arvo, wrote down the industry group website you were discussing, you suggested to a caller you would have this site posted by close of office or words to that effect and within minutes, there it is. Posted. Just another reason to have confidence in Flat Chat and the creator.
Big Fan,
CBF
Dear Unexpexted Leigh,
Apologies if they are necessary, I assumed from your reply and question in recent post to struggler and considerate band fair “I wonder why Committee Members put their hands up? that you had not been involved in your building. I assumed if you had been on a Committee you would know why people put their hands up. I now see that question from a different perspective. I now see more information from your most recent post which changes my understanding of your situation. I still believe you have an incompetent Strata Manager, is it possible for you to do some door knocking? You clearly need to make some changes if you can within the building and of course last course of action you can request another 'change of the guard' via CTTT.
Best Of Luck As Always,
CBF
P.S. Best of luck, have fun in Saigon Jimmy. Thinking of you and soooo jealous!
Struggler, JT, Easty, Gilgal 1, DITTO…….
Unexpected Leigh,
The reason I put my hand up to be on the EC in my plan was because I WAS and AM prepared to accept a certain amount of responsibility including helping the Strata constituents as need arises. I meet the quoto and criteria and then some. There is a point where one goes above and beyond and has to draw a line somewhere. Committees volunteer time and efforts without pay. It can be very stressful. And as above have jobs, family etc. Strata managers depending on what they are engaged to do get payed for STUFF. I do agree there are Committees and Managers that do not step up.
I am assuming you are not on the Committee? Try getting involved somewhere along the line if you aren't already. Have you attended AGM's? Are you on the EC and if not why not? Great opportunities for you to have your say. And perhaps be on the other end of the stick. If you have engaged one of the 'big firms' as you say in your original post they should be held to task. Perhaps you could look to the SSMA or some publication on DOFT website to give you a definition of the responsibilities of the EC but remember as an Owner you are also responsible so maybe you could volunteer some of your time to get the building back on track. As with my original reply to you I wish you the best of luck.
CBFDear All,
I also have been on Committee for a number of years and found that residents do knock on your door at all hours about the most mundane issues especially if you happen to have the role of Secretary. For some reason residents believe the Secretary runs the building,and or the EC should be dealing with these mundane issues 24/7 and maybe that is the case in some plans but not exactly the Acts definition.Our plan finds what works is a notice on board with contact details for Strata Manager and Emergency Numbers for electrical etc,all complaints and issues that are not emergency are directed in writing to the Strata Managers office then forwarded on to Committee for instruction.But that does not solve Unexpected Leighs problem. I feel Unexpected Leigh has an incompetent Strata Manager and should therefore contact her EC possibly by letterbox? Do you have a BC letterbox? Or you could do some door knocking. Do you have a notice board as EC minutes show the EC Members or if you are an Owner your recent AGM notice/ minutes will tell you who the members voted in are and should also contain financials which include lot numbers, names etc. Or perhaps you could email a complaint to DOFT and cc the Strata Manager if you don’t have the EC email addresses? That may move some butt!Good Luck!
CBF