Forum: Smoke signals and mixed messages

balcony-smoker.jpg

Serious senior man standing on balcony and smoking a cigarette

It’s amazing when you think how much we used to tolerate smoking, as if it were a God-given right.

But these days you are increasing likely to find that not only can you not light up in cafes, restaurants or bars – or even at the tables outside – but you can’t smoke on your strata balcony or even in your own home, if it drifts into other people’s flats.

A reader in Victoria is suffering smoke drift from a neighbour who says she “knows her rights” and can smoke if she wants to.  But can she?

According to our friend Julie Mclean, president of Strata Community Associaton (VIC), the strata managers’ umbrella body, Model Rule 1.4 in Victoria spells this out in clear and incontrovertible terms:

Smoke penetration:

A lot owner or occupier in a multi-level development must ensure that smoke caused by the smoking of tobacco or any other substance by the owner or occupier, or any invitee of the owner or occupier, on the lot does not penetrate to the common property or any other lot.

For the record, NSW has similar by-laws, although there are options that allow smoking in designated areas.

However, in either state, if those rules or by-laws aren’t in place from the start, do they have to be adopted at a general meeting or are the applicable by default? And even if they aren’t in place, would a challenge stand up at a tribunal?

Ignoring the side issue that whenever anyone says they know their rights, they almost always don’t, we’re starting the discussion on that HERE.

Elsewhere on the Forum

  • Where can I find a mould expert?  That’s HERE.
  • How do I know which part of my roof is common property and which is my little terrace? That’s HERE
  • The creaking sound from roof joists is driving us mad. That’s HERE.  

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