Forum Replies Created
-
Replies
-
The committee has many tasks and maintenance is always contentious.
The best way to be informed is to be involved. And if you’re positively involved then you’ll have a greater say.
By this I mean not arguing every point or being the wet blanket whenever something is proposed. If there is something you’re not happy with, raise it in such a way that your alternative is viable, and addresses the matter at hand.
So attend AGMs and every other meeting that may be held. Maybe even run for Committee if you’re prepared to work hard. You might even be able to suggest how to get other members of the Owner’s Corporation to listen to communications using your experience.
And remember that you’re a member of the Owner’s Corporation so you have a say. even more importantly you have the right (and responsibility) to listen.
If the painter is delayed and has to return, your funds will pay for it, so save your money, get involved and get results.
So where would your mail go if you did get a letter?
Send yourself a letter mocked up to appear legal and authoritative, maybe with markings about the urgency and/or impending court action. See what happens and then when (if) you receive it you may be able to find out who has handled it in the building.
Then approach the strata manager and tell them of the great inconvenience you’ve suffered because you don’t have a letter box. Even if it gets to you quickly your privacy has been violated. Just give them hell.
Oh, and if the strata management company has a letter box may approach it as them taking over facilities that actually belong to residents.
I’m sure we all look forward to hearing how this proceeds.
So does he own it? Or is it community property?
Maybe just follow him up there one day? It would take a bit of work but may be worth it.
Does the person (people) residing on the first floor know more?
Or Google the address and see if the plan for the third floor apartment is on line. If it shows the rooftop as part of apartment then you’ll have the answer.
Good luck and I hope you get to the roof.
Is there a way that parking spots could be allocated? Surely that would resolve the problem for all time?
Apart from the interactions between you and the other people, I really can’t see the problem. If it truly is ‘scramble’ parking then surely it is first in ‘best-dressed’?
As long as they only have the number of vehicles allocated to their unit, then moving a car when one moves out, whilst annoying seems logical for them.
As for the clauses suggested by Jimmy above, specifically 2 and 3, well I would have problems adhering to them sometimes.
Currently here in VIC, I can go a week and not move my car. Would I be forced to drive away every day for at least 30 minutes? Also, as a shift worker, when possible I use public transport, so again it can be several days between car movements.
How do I move my car when I go away on holidays (assuming we’re allowed to again)? What if I’m sick and can’t leave for a few days? And thousands of other legitimate reasons for not driving.
As for not being allowed to return within 30 minutes, well, heaven forbid I am quick at the shops or only going to collect something from the post office. Do I have to wait until the 30 minutes is up? Or even if I forget something and have to return home to collect it?
Buy the best you can afford, and get a fitted ‘waste’. I did my bathroom recently and hope never to have to turn a tap again, just move the lever.
I also had the basin put up to my height. Whilst not excessively tall (186cm) the additional height makes it so much more comfortable to use.
Oh, and get the plumber to put in ‘noggins’ for handrails behind the tiles. It should be at no additional cost. If you ever need them then it is simpler just to bolt them on than strengthening the wall later.
Just keep the precise measurements on file.
Good luck, and remember your sense of humour will keep you sane.
Talk to your insurance company about whether it is even possible to have discrete insurance policies. If so it’s probably better to go it alone.
If there must be a combined policy then get your neighbour to advise the insurance company of their details.
For various reasons some people are not able to be covered by insurance; e.g. if they’ve been investigated for a fraud offence in the previous five years. Plus a host of other reasons.
You do not want to find out there are problems when making a claim.
It sounds like you have an inactive OC. Maybe activate it, nominate yourself as chief cook and bottle washer, and ask the other owner to join you on the committee. If they refuse then run it yourself while keeping copious notes and always ensuring the other owner is fully apprised of what’s happening.
Let the other owner know their responsibilities in paying combined bills, especially insurance.
Finally, good luck.
Have you considered contacting the council to ask for help with a rat infestation and mentioning that you’re near a restaurant that appears to poor rubbish handling practices.
This will give them several opportunities to investigate the source, including whether or not the restaurant also has rats inside.
If you’re in a mixed residential/commercial building then the residential OC may have to talk to the commercial OC to get them to deal with the restaurant and its alleged poor cleaning practices.
Or would you feel confident to approach the restaurant directly and mentioning that there are rats and you’re wondering if their rubbish handling practices are causing the problem. Also, tell them that your tenant has had damaged caused by the rats and you’re considering going to council to get them to investigate.
It might just frighten them into acting responsibly.
Of course in the midst of the current COVID-19 pandemic, it might be the straw that breaks the camel’s back and cause them to close leaving you with nowhere to seek restitution for the damage caused.
At the end of the day the only thing you’re allowed to ask for is for the noise to cease in a reasonable time frame.
Nothing else.
If I was the tenant or landlord I would be afraid of you and very quickly ask the OC to manage your complaint.
The tenant has the right to “quiet enjoyment” of their residence and it may be argued that you’re not allowing them to have that quiet enjoyment.
Look at it from their perspective; how would you react if someone demanded they be allowed to inspect your residence, watch tradespeople do work and then examine the receipts to see if they approved?
If you continue your current behaviour you may find out what happens when an AVO is issued against you.
If the tenant leaves and cites your behaviour as their reason for leaving, I wonder if the landlord could claim compensation for loss of rent from you?
Do you have an agent managing your property? If so make them earn their money and deal with the matter at hand.
If you’re self managing the property then you now realise the value of a good property manager. Seek immediate legal advice. If you get anything wrong now it will only exacerbate the problem.
Does every unit have their own power point in the common laundry? If so there may well be a switch on your fuse box, often located in your unit.
Look for a switch that is labelled ‘laundry’ or something similar and turn it off. Have one person in the laundry with an appliance plugged in and see if it loses power. If so then all good.
If there are no individual switches then it’s owner’s corporation power and the committee gets to deal the cost.
Did you pay a bond at the beginning of the tenancy? If so have you got it back?
If not, this hints at potential dodginess by the putative landlord.
It may also be worth asking them if they have declared the income to the Australian Tax Office. If there’s a hesitation or reticence to respond then consider reporting them to the ATO.
They like to get unpaid taxes back from dodgy landlords. And they laugh at delaying tactics.
Yes, but what do you do if someone in your scheme wants everyone’s email addresses? That’s not a challenge – I genuinely want to know how you would handle it.
I tell new owners that we do our correspondence by email and that they should provide an email that they’re fine to share with other owners. I don’t ask their permission, I tell them how things are done and what is needed.
I have helped one person set up an alias email for this purpose, the others are fine with their main email address being used amongst us all.
I find it cuts down on meeting duration because they’ve had a chance to discuss the impending matters and get a full understanding of the issues and how various proposals will affect them and the building.
So far no resistance and it will be interesting see how it goes if one of our deceased owners unit is sold next year.
Perhaps some people need assistance in creating an email alias that goes into their main mailbox but doesn’t identify them by name?
As Secretary of my small OC I prefer email correspondence to paper. I also have bills come by email where ever possible. Leaves a great audit trail.
For example having the insurance quote come via email means that it is easy to distribute for comments and get feedback which are then on the record. I can set a time limit for comments and then act according to the feedback. It also means that all owners with a mortgage can have their own copy to prove to their bank that the building is appropriately insured.
It is easy to put into the official digital record and you can see what was requested and when it was actioned.
I have advised new owners that email is the preferred method of communication. It also means I’m not woken up when sleeping during the day with shift work.
Finally, if you do get a person who makes frivolous complaints or abuses the committee, the emails are great to have if you need to get an external body involved.
There are washing machines that heat water. I have one and and it is very good.
This may be an option rather than replumbing the laundry.