We are all aware of that catch-all by-law that says you can’t put anything in your lot or on common property that is not in keeping with the appearance of the strata building.
Okay, some of you weren’t aware of that but it’s real, trust me. It has a few variations and is commonly used to stop people drying their laundry or parking their bikes and surfboards on their balconies.
This week we have a new one: a Flatchatter who has been told to get rid of her Vegepod balcony planter (see picture) because the insect and birdproof cover can be seen from outside and is therefore “not in keeping with the appearance of the building”.
That makes it in breach of their by-laws, says the strata committee, and a reasonable appeal has failed. So what should they do?
Given how, in couple of years ago, we’ve gone from by-laws that didn’t allow pets to now, where they are almost compulsory, I would be asking who exactly decides what’s “in keeping with the appearance of the building”?
The committee? If so, what is their level of expertise? Isn’t this totally subjective? Shouldn’t they take a vote of all the people in the building, to get a proper consensus?
Oh, and while you’re at it, could we have a look at barbecues? And hanging plants? And how about the concrete planters that may be out of sight but offer a step for kiddies that make the balustrades no longer safety compliant?
It’s a sad fact that there are some people living in apartment blocks who want them to have no signs of life, as if they have been abandoned in a zombie apocalypse.
I would say this to those committee members who are offended by a glimpse of white netting: “Better make sure everyone else’s balconies are in order too.”
There’s already been a response on the Forum that tells our Flatchatter the best course of action, but you can add your herbs and spices HERE.
Elsewhere on the Forum
- How should we finance $900k balcony replacements – strata loan or yet another special levy? That’s HERE.
- How can the driveway near my townhouse not be common property? That’s HERE.
- Can strata managers really be fined more than $1 million for not getting three insurance quotes? That’s HERE.
- Does the communal bathroom ventilation need to be on all night? That’s HERE.
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