#25176
Jimmy-T
Keymaster

    Or you could just wait until November 30 when the new strata laws include a regulation allowing Owners Corps to dispose of “abandoned goods”.

    What are abandoned goods?  Anything left on common property after a period specified in a removal notice has expired.  The period must be not less than 48 hours.  

    The regulation (below) is very specific about the procedure but it allows Owners Corps to remove and even sell goods that have been left on common property without written permission.

    Just one note of caution – these are draft regulations which means they may be changed before November 30. Keep and eye on THIS PAGE on the Fair Trading website for any updates.

    Also because they are regulations, rather than  a clause in the law, they may be changed at some point once everyone sees how the laws are working.

    32 Disposal of abandoned goods: section 125 of the Act

    (1) This clause applies to goods left on common property (other than motor vehicles and things permitted by the owners corporation to remain on common property).

    (2) The owners corporation may dispose of goods left on common property if:

    (a) a disposal notice has been placed on or near the goods and the goods have not been removed from the common property within the period specified in the disposal notice, or

    (b) they are perishable goods, or

    (c) they consist only of rubbish.

    (3) A disposal notice must:

    (a) not be less than the size of an A4 piece of paper, and

    (b) be placed in a position or be in a material so that the contents of the notice are not likely to be detrimentally affected by weather, and

    (c) describe the goods and state the date and time the notice was issued, and

    (d) state that the goods will be disposed of if they are not removed from the common property before the date and time specified in the notice (being not earlier than 48 hours after the notice was placed on or near the goods), and

    (e) specify contact details for a member of the strata committee in relation to the notice.

    (4) If the goods are so placed that they block an entrance or exit, the owners corporation may move the goods to another place on the common property before placing a disposal notice on or near the goods, and for that purpose the owners corporation is taken to be the owner of the goods.

    (5) The owners corporation may dispose of the goods by selling them or in any other lawful manner and for that purpose is taken to be the owner of the goods.

    (6) A purchaser of goods sold by an owners corporation in accordance with this clause acquires a good title to the goods freed and discharged of any interest of any person who would otherwise have an interest in the goods.

    (7) The proceeds of a sale of goods under this clause are to be paid to the administrative fund of the owners corporation.

    (8) The owners corporation must make a record of goods sold under this clause and keep the record for a period of not less than 12 months after the disposal.

    (9) The record must contain the following particulars: (a) a description of the goods, (b) the date of the sale, (c) the name and address of the purchaser, (d) if sold by auction, the address of the principal place of business of the auctioneer.

    (10) In this clause: motor vehicle has the same meaning as in the Impounding Act 1993

    The opinions offered in these Forum posts and replies are not intended to be taken as legal advice. Readers with serious issues should consult experienced strata lawyers.