It may seem like common sense and even an act of kindness, but when you start putting things where they’re not wanted in your building, you could be asking for trouble.
QUESTION: The equipment in our gym is pretty poor and I want to get fit so I got a trainer to choose some new equipment which I then “donated” to the gym. Shortly afterwards my gear was removed and I was told that only equipment approved by the Owners Corporation could be left there. They also argued that children could injure themselves with the heavy weights. This sounds like baloney to me. Surely I can leave my gym equipment for other owners to use. – Muscle-bound, Potts Point.
ANSWER: First of all, apartment block gyms are notoriously under-equipped so you are not alone in wanting better gear. However, the gym is common property so anything left in it has to be approved by the owners corporation.
I can understand them being worried that this could be the thin end of the wedge and the gym could become a dumping ground for exercise gimmicks bought through late-night advertorials on TV.
That said, their fears for the safety of children are ridiculous: kids shouldn’t be in the gym in the first place. Check if you have a by-law that forbids children from using the gym. If you don’t – and I’d be surprised – then you need one in a hurry. Just think of little fingers getting tangled up in treadmill belts and exercise bikes.
Sit down with your Executive Committee and explain how your act of self-motivated generosity is going to benefit the building and ask them to accept the equipment on their terms. If they refuse, then ask them what their plans are to bring the gym up to scratch – you’ll get a lot of support from other gym junkie neighbours.
This should be a win-win for you and the building and only territorial stick-in-the-mud control freaks would be against it.
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