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I read Frank’s glowing post about the joys in living in a unit/strata, along with Jimmy’s post about standing alone in a house at a time where I find myself yet again looking at the real estate websites for a house. But unlike previous house searches, this time I have actually rung the bank and found out what I can actually borrow.
I moved into strata for all of the things that Frank stated, as well as for safety, reduced costs, less maintenance for me to organise and for the added benefits of strata by laws on top of the civil by laws that would protect myself and others from inappropriate behaviours of neighbours. I thought that by moving into strata I would not have to have the neighbours V8 “truck” started up at 5am outside my window, would not have to look at building materials dumped out in the open, would not have to worry about “dodgy” building changes, would not have access to my driveway blocked by someone parking across it and that repairs would be taken care of and not left to fester and become even more expensive. But I have had all of that in strata! Not to mention one resident considering taking out an AVO.
By laws may be all well and good but if they don’t have to be administered by the EC, what used are they? And owners who keep moving into strata without wanting to nor trying to understand the concept of “you only own within your lot”. Together with an EC who doesn’t get around to doing anything and therefore maintenance escalating, then perhaps a house would be better.
My considering a house has been fired up by another owner, one who possesses considerable common sense and is not afraid to speak out, has made an offer on a house. Getting out of Dodge City. So that in effect leaves me. So I would stand alone. Some reading this may say why don’t I go on the EC and get this moving. I was on the EC. I served on the EC with those on it now. One a habitual by law breacher and another who never got around to doing anything – still waiting for the quote from ’09. Myself and one other got things done, whilst the others sat back and said how easy being on the EC was. So the two of us left, and nothing much has been done since. I would go on the committee again however most people in the complex don’t speak to me – because I enforced the by laws.
I have just a maintenance issue in my unit. I can’t be bothered to take it to the EC. The last maintenance issues I reported have had nothing done in 6 months and I received a curt note on how very busy they are. It was water damage to the exterior. This water damage means that other necessary maintenance cannot be done until the water damage is fixed. So now more repairs wait, and wait………
But if I was in a house, I would have rung someone up, had those two problems fixed (not very expensive when found early) then I would be on the phone to someone this morning to get this new problem fixed (probably only about $150 max). As it is common property I of course would not consider making an unauthorised repair. Instead I am calling up tradies to help fix up the inside of my place. Hopefully any prospective buyer will not notice the deterioration outside.
At a time where I should be planning for my retirement and winding down work I am looking at taking on a larger mortgage and working full time for longer. However, I hope that the overhaul of the strata titles act gives me something to hang in there for. Because if they sharpen up the rules to make strata living more comfortable, make owners and ECs more accountable, I would stay in my current home for the rest of my life. So in reality I do honestly hope that these reforms will come in and make a difference – because I actually like my home.
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