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This is from a reader called “Blocker”
I bought a unit in a block of four, 28 years ago. I lived there very happily for 24 years. The block would have been built early 1950’s.
Problem 1
Recently, the unit above was sold to a young man who promptly decided to remove a wall with a jack hammer. He had warned my tenants that there would be noise on one Saturday.
Needless to say this extended over odd week and weekend days, without further notice. Result: cracks appeared in the kitchen, lounge and vestibule of my unit. He has made an offer to repair the damage, which I accepted and asked him to liaise with the current residents.
I sent him an email asking him where things were, as my tenant thinks this young man was avoiding him! The reply was that he was taking it to the strata meeting next week.
I think this young man’s motto is to ask for forgiveness after the situation, rather than permission before hand!
I have been told that it is illegal to use jack hammers on older buildings. Is this so and where do I find the fact?
Problem 2
Is there such a piece of legislation that can ask an upstairs unit owner to replace carpet in their unit?
It would appear that he has removed all floor coverings as distinct high heels (of the girl friend one would presume!) and foot falls can be heard in the unit below. Also, their amorous adventures and squeaking of the bed!!!
The people who had the unit previously were a young couple, who married and subsequently had two children while they lived there. I might hear a baby crying at times but that was all. The babies grew up and had started school by the time they moved out but I was never inconvenienced by noise however, there was carpet throughout apart from the kitchen of course.
The young man upstairs never mentioned that he was removing carpet to the strata – should he have done so and can I ask him to replace it?
I hope you can help …. as I don’t know where to turn right now.