› Flat Chat Strata Forum › Hard floors and tough decisions › Timber floors – facts and frictions › Current Page
Disappointed said:
Our body corporate regulations state “a member must not, and must ensure that the occupier of a member’s lot does not – fail to keep the floors of the unit carpeted or otherwise covered insofar as to may be necessary to avoid annoyance to the occupiers of any unit”
I'm not sure that you can't put down a hard floor based on that by-law. “Otherwise covered … to avoid annoyance” is a big old loophole for someone in your situation.
However, bear in mind that noise from hard flooring can travel laterally as well as downwards so you would still be well advised to get the very best insulation available and have the foor installed by a company that actually cares that there are people living around you.
If no one can hear you walking around, then you've done all that the by-laws ask. But be warned, try to do this on the cheap without making sure that no one is affected and you will probably have months if not years of grief than have to rip it up and start all over again.
The by-law seems quite reasonable …. it's the interpretation of it as a blanket ban that's a bit over the top.