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struggler said:
It is totally out of line to harrass someone about volunteering around the complex. You cannot make someone volunteer.
Though you should consider whether your levies will cover a third party. In our complex, when it was built and all moved in, we were all like minded people. At least 50% of us would do a bit of work here and there. Then most of these volunteers move out and left just a few. In their place were owners who expected absolutely everything done for them out of their levies. Problem was, the levies were not calculated to cover everything. So it was put to the owners that we would have to increase the levies, quite substantially if they wanted everything covered. We were met with a resounding “No increase”.
The few in the complex who continued to do a bit of work gave up. We have personally witnessed owners who will step over pieces of paper in the driveway, or at their front doors because that is for someone else to do. So we did get in third parties to do the most of the work. And we did have to increase the levies. I would estimate that our costs in maintaining this complex have risen about $7,000pa because of paying for third parties. And thats with owners/residents expected to keep the immediate area of their units clear, clean and tidy (which many don't) and with a few of us still doing extra work when necessary between visits from the teams we now pay.
Thanks everyone for your comments. I should clarify that I was more than happy to help with the gardening and in fact did so until one Committee member argued about cutting back an overgrown mile a minute fine and then slapped me which ended in court and her making an undertaking to the court never to do that again. She then claimed her legal fees under our Owners Corporation Insurance saying she was acting as a committee member when in fact we had been told by the committee and Owners Corporation it was a personal matter to be dealt with through the courts. I was then told we cannot cut back anything in the garden without EC approval. So I was more than willing to assist but that demonstration of abuse made me stop immediately and decide it was better to pay the levies and have outside people do the garden. The harrassment is because I email when there is unfairness in the complex not because I want to be a nuisance. Latest example is CP storage room. Two other apartments have requested enclosed storage should it become available (the 3 other rooms allocated the EC advise are 'full'). An owner moved into an apartment just 6 months ago (I have been there 2 years next month) and got enclosed storage space in a room that had been previously used to store paint, tiles and other building paraphenalia. This is a corrupt EC and this particular EC member is nothing but a bully, coward and unintelligent buffoon who thinks he can intimidate and harras and get away with it but I will not let that happen. I am one woman prepared to put my head above the paraput to show unfairness and injustice.
Take your complaint to the Executive Committee for urgent attention and cc the Strata Managers so they are aware. If the EC do not act, you can ask the Strata Managers to offer their advice as to the steps you should take to get this rectified. If all else fails, try mediation at Dept Fair Trading. They do listen and are very helpful. That is my experience anyway.
Try CTTT as a dysfunctional EC and report any by-laws he/she is breaking
Thank you Simone however I fear the EC Committee are about to put ‘mates’ of theirs as Strata Managers replacing our current ones so there will never be a fair go for those in the complex not currently in favour. It seems they are determined to go to any length to ensure that 2 x units do not have their legal rights to anything because they do not like us. They are however, missing the point that one day this may all turn around and bite them – particularly when they are too old and sick to be on the EC anymore. You did not mention the ‘exclusive use’ of the lockable common property that the favoured ones have as well. This onerous by-law was actually suppose to address the issue after it was raised at mediation, however they have chosen only to address the issuance of keys. It seems some do not learn their lesson but in their blind hatred, continue to dig a deeper hole for themselves. I can only hope that some other Owners start to see them as we see them and start to question their behaviour. I live in faith. If you want the background to the Lockable Common Property Areas – you can view my input under Common Property. I thank you for your input. It is most useful and encouraging.
Just thought I would pass on our experience last night. We do not have access to the common property switch room – only the Executive Chairman has access. I am in a small over 55's strata complex. Our electricity went off and all the 'alarms' started buzzing in the complex around 9pm last night. On inspection, we could smell the burning coming from the switch room situated near the lift, however, the Exec Chairman was not home so no one could open the door. We had to call 000 and the fireman came out, opened the door, smoke billowing out to find fuses had 'melted' and 4 units were affected (including ours) with ours of course being one of the apartments. We then had to phone Sydney Energy who came out so we were back online in 2-3 hours. Cold but ok. What is the moral of the story? Do we need the EC….should we all have keys? (as David said could be an OH&S issue), should someone be given a key if the key holder goes out? I thought that we handled the situation rather well but there are flaws to the process and I am not sure what the answer is.