Flat Chat Strata Forum Common Property Current Page

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  • #7851

    With the rise in cost of electricity can a bylaw be created to disallow individual clothes dryers in common property laundries.

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  • #14525
    Jimmy-T
    Keymaster

      Unless there’s a by-law in place or it’s on the strata management statement that electricity for dryers will be provided then a simple resolution by the EC (assuming it will be supported at a later general meeting) is all you need. You can make it more effective by ‘hard-wiring” the washing machines to the the electricity supply and removing all other power points.

      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.
      #14531

      Thank you Jimmy. Great to have registered for your websie. Most helpful.

      #14542
      Gilgal1
      Flatchatter

        In the interests of maintaining good relations between neighbours, it's probably worth ensuring there is actually a viable alternative for residents to dry their washing.

        Our complex doesn't have common laundries, but it does have a terrible south-facing drying area that is very difficult to access from many units. Especially for people with young children or disabilities. Then there's the issue of theft from clotheslines…

        You could also consider installing a coin-operated laundromat-style dryer, which residents could use by paying for electricity as they go.

        #14547
        Jimmy-T
        Keymaster

          THAT is a brilliant solution … wish I’d thought of it.

          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.
          #14549
          Sir Humphrey
          Strataguru

            Gilgal1 said:

            You could also consider installing a coin-operated laundromat-style dryer, which residents could use by paying for electricity as they go.

            Agreed that this is very reasonable. A pedant could say this runs into a potential problem. Google IT2505 for the tax ruling:

            “Non-mutual income derived from what is defined as personal property of a body corporate is also subject to income tax.  The term personal property relates to movable property or goods and chattels and includes such items as washing machines, driers, lawnmowers, garden hoses and money.  An example of this would be income derived from non-proprietors (eg. Persons renting within a block of home units) using coin operated washing machines.

             

            Another important aspect in relation to the income tax consequences of bodies corporate is that of income received from common property.  Under IT 2505, a body corporate is not taxed on income it receives from common property.  Rather, this income is taxed in the hands of the individual proprietors based on their unit entitlements.”

             

            What this means is that tenants using the coin operated drier could cause the OC to have a profit. That would not be a problem except that the profit, being non-mutual, has to declared on every proprietors separate tax statement in proportion to unit entitlements, probably a few dollars each-a trivial nuisance. I would try to have the cost of the driers, their depreciation and the electricity etc. to just break even. 

            Also, in the ACT, the new Unit Titles Act prohibits Rules (Bylaws) that would prevent sustainability measures such as a clothes line for air drying. I would agitate for this if you don't have it already.

            #14554
            FlatChatFan
            Flatchatter

              Surely, with the cost of electricity, there will never be a profit, unless the building is self sufficient with solar panels?

              #14557

              Thank you for suggestions.We are a small block of 8 units with 2 common laundries. Half have facilities within their units and other units have individual washing machines installed in the common laundry. They have now added driers. If those who currently have facilities within their units should decide they wanted to locate machines in common laundries there would not be room. The persons using the laundries appear to utilizing the area also for additional storage. There is an outdoor clothes line and an additional one has been approved for installation.

              #14572
              Boronia
              Flatchatter

                In past use of common laundries, I have found that each unit had its own power point (with a lockable cover) that is connected to that unit's meter. Thus the unit occupant pays for his/her own electricity, not the OC. Does this still happen??

                #14570
                Jimmy-T
                Keymaster

                  Somewhere, but not everywhere, I guess

                  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.
                  #14589
                  Sir Humphrey
                  Strataguru

                    Boronia said:

                    In past use of common laundries, I have found that each unit had its own power point (with a lockable cover) that is connected to that unit's meter. Thus the unit occupant pays for his/her own electricity, not the OC. Does this still happen??

                    Just as an aside, that makes a helpful precedent for the uptake of electric vehicles. I had wondered how buildings were going to cope with wiring back to each private meter from the parking area. In townhouses it is even harder if everything is more dispersed. I arranged to charge my electric car from a neighbour's unit because our shared parking area is next to his unit. I pay him for what I add to his bill (and purchase sufficient greenpower separately). 

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