Forum Replies Created
-
Replies
-
Excellent suggestions Mr Strata! I believe that to improve outcomes from the CTTT we need to look at strata legislation. Let the OC/EC handle some issues (eg parking). Let owners make some minor changes without the cost of a special by-law and without the OC being responsible for changes (eg Foxtel satellite dish on roof).
And there should be definitions of the different types of strata that exist – duplex, townhouse, villa, multi storey complex. A problem that exists in one complex may require a different ruling in another complex, depending on what type of strata it is.
Car insurance. No expert on insurance. Would think that there would be insurance in some way regarding the garage door. If there is your insurer may put in a claim to recoup.
Perhaps you could mention that your neighbours remote opener for the garage may be playing up. Had my own garage door close on the roof of my car once due to the remote button getting stuck.
A problem with a resident parking on common property is a problem for all owners, or for that matter all residents. People see one person continually parking outside their garage, then all of a sudden it will look like Westfields at Christmas time with cars everywhere, blocking everyones garage, blocking the driveway. If it is OK for one………….
We send out notices regarding parking on common property to all owners to remind everyone. We may also send the individual owners who have “forgotten” about parking their own notice “reminding” them that they have been parking there. Unfortunately, we have to send out these reminders regularly as there seems to be alot of residents with short term memory loss.
Your manager should be able to advise you of the correct way to take this matter further with the neighbour blocking your garage.
You have not mentioned if you have contacted your own insurer. I personally would claim through my insurer (must come under not at fault claim I would think) and then let them chase up where to get the money off. Let the insurance companies battle with the insurance companies. Much easier and quicker to get your car fixed!
At the first AGM for our complex we were advised that to include the by law that pets were allowed. We were told at the time by the SM that it would be too difficult to fight the no pet complex rule.
I believe the fact that we are a pet friendly complex is the reason why units sell on the first open day and for whatever the asking price is (or more)! New owners here say there were attracted by the fact that pets are welcome.
Other complexes should realise that it is a big selling point. As more and more people will be living in medium/high density in the future, pet friendly complex's may become like the “waterfront with own jetty” houses – highly desirable and more expensive!
I mentioned this matter to another owners. He said that our Strata Manager has told him that our insurance doesn't cover internal paintwork for any reason, and that an owner has to claim it on their own contents insurance. Could this be right?
Don't you need permission to put up a fence from council? We had an owner who tried to build a retaining wall around common property (without permission from anyone). Investigations found that the wall that this owner was proposing needed council approval (let alone strata).
If this fence is left to stand without approval or exclusive use by law then the strata would be responsible for it should it fall into disrepair, or fall onto someone!
Being near the bins may not be a huge negative. Many people would be happy to just rush out and put their garbage in the bin. Many of my neighbours put their rubbish in their cars and drive it to the bins (too far to walk). Though half of them have gone to their cars after work to find their stinking garbage still sitting there!
I live near to our garbage bin area. But I knew this was the case when I purchased. I would suggest to you that, should this area near your unit be the new spot, that you perhaps ask the BC for double glazing to reduce the increased noise? You may also need to consider blinds (shutters work well at reducing noise I have found). I would also insist that, should it not be done already, that the bins be regularly cleaned and disinfected and that a screening wall be put in place.
I would agree that there is some noise associated with being nearest to the bin area. However, if I had to choose again, would take the bins as neighbour any day. I know what noise to expect from this. Rarely does anyone put their gargage out at night here. Who knows what noise I would have if I had someone living on that side!
I have found it interested that, when getting quotes for work, I advise that I will be doing a check on license numbers. They don't call back with the quote. The license checks find that, though they were once in possession of a valid license, they no longer are.
The threat of fines I believe would not stop an unlicensed tradesperson. You have to find them first to take action. Better to check it out beforehand.
If this is visitors car spaces then your visitors have the right to park there when visiting. However, if these are visitors only car spaces, then you (nor any other resident) has the right to park there overnight!
Alternatively, some complexes I know of have residents only parking on the premises. Then no visitors parking is allowed.
You previously posted regarding parking on common property, that being the driveway out the front of your unit. Visitors parking is also common property. Residents parking that is not numbered would I assume be a first in best dressed basis. Then parking “outside” may be the only option.
Each individual unit in our complex has their own garage door. They are only opened/locked by remote control devices (with an additional switch inside). We refer to the model strata by laws for problems with the opening mechanism where it states that locks are the responsibility of the individual owner except in the event of a break in.
The actual garage door is of course common property. But we believe the device to open and close (remote and mechanism) is an owners responsibiity.
We have residents in our complex who like to park outside their units too from time to time. Our driveway is quite wide. But if it OK for one, it is OK for everyone. And if everyone parks outside their place, then no one can get through the driveway.
We would like to tell residents that they can stop and unload for 15 mins but everyone here would probably have a different idea of how long 15 mins is. Some here seem to work in metric, some in imperial. Personally would have no problem with people stopping to drop off shopping etc if that was all they did.
In the meantime, pinkpurple should sent back that photo and notice showing a car and unit that are not theirs and tell them, nicely, that the info isn't correct (and keep a copy of this incorrect notice too for own records). If an EC/OC is going to law down the law, they really have to get their information right.
A bad idea to hire unlicensed tradespeople. No come back should anything go wrong with the work carried out. It is easy to check license details through the Department of Fair Trade website. And make sure they are insured as well! Our Strata Manager has informed the EC that should they find and use their own tradespeople (instead of using those on the books with the SM) then it is our responsibility to do all checks.
We did think about the spread of termites to neighbouring properties. So we “advised” owners that should they not keep up to date with their termite inspections, then if a neighbouring property found that they had termites and had keep up to date, then we “may” find them liable for not getting the inspections. That is, if apartment A does nothing and apartment B does everything right and gets pests that are coming from apartment A, we would say that apartment A's negligence caused apartment B's problem and so they should be liable. So far it has not come to this. However, the prospect of being liable for not only their own home but their neighbours has put the fear of God into owners. We have 100% compliance with inspections (owners have to submit a copy of their inspection report every 12 months).
And strata owners definitely do need to realise that no matter what, it is them who pays. Owners here thought that if the EC/OC organised these inspections, then they would pay. When we mentioned increased levies, they wanted to do it themselves! Same with our plumbing, they wanted strata to cover, we said OK we will increase levies. They said they would rather unclog their drains themselves thanks! As I have said before, they want to pay for the YMCA but live at the Versace Hotel! Don't we all.