#15746
Jimmy-T
Keymaster

    OK, first up, you can’t prevent anyone from renting their unit to anyone else (unless it’s a short-term rental and they aren’t permitted in your building or you are in a 55s and over retirement village).

    Also, we shouldn’t make any assumptions about how anyone will behave based simply on their social and economic status.  Any issues regarding noise, antisocial behaviour or overcrowding have to be dealt with if they happen.

    Some of the worst-behaved people I have encountered in strata have been arrogant owners who think their title deeds entitle them to behave as badly as they would if they were in a free-standing home.

    However, there is nothing to stop you from formulating a “Code of Conduct” to be issued to all residents, regardless of whether they are tenants or owners, pointing out that there are by-laws, what the main ones are, that they apply to everyone and that they are enforced.

    I would try to make the wording more welcoming than threatening, and this may not be the place to remind tenants (regardless of who their landlord is) that a breach of by-laws is also a breach of their tenancy agreement. But it will come as surprise to some tenants to discover that by-laws apply to them and  they could lose their homes if they breach them.

    Just one final thought on this – don’t be too worried; it’s a lot easier to get rid of bad tenants than it is to get shot of ratbag owners.

    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.