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Owners at our large scheme in NSW will soon be considering 12 (at last count)renovation minor works applications – kitchens, bathrooms, non-carpet flooring and air conditioning. And of course, all applicants want to have the work completed by Xmas. With another 3 lots making enquiries for the New Year.
Whilst committee is delighted that these 10 year old lots are being rejuvenated – we are concerned about chaos from demands on lifts, building management, visitor parking for contractors, parking of skiffs etc.
Does anyone have any experience in dealing with such a situation?
We have time to develop a by-law to restrict number of works at anyone time (?) and/or set the order as first in first go basis (?)……..
Any thoughts / good or bad tales would be gratefully received.
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They key words in the legislation is “with approval of the OC”
The OC can impose reasonable conditions on the approval. So a reasoanble condition woild be the s heduling of works by lot owners.
You coild make a limit of say two renos at one time and first in best dressed or set a timetable. If the lot owner fails to start o time thy have less time to finish and then lose fheir spot
You of ourse will not please all the lot owneda but thats part of strata life
Robert
I believe that it may be unreasonable for the Committee to curtail the renovations due to lift usage. Are lift usage restrictions placed on any other Lots? I wouldn’t think so.
Some of the renovations may be so minor that they may only require a couple of trips in the lift. Why should the OC get in the way of these types of renovations?
How is this any more onerous or inconvenient on the occupants of the building than the usage of the lift by a family of 5 who may live in a 3BRM apartment and who may not be renovating but may make at least 15 individual trips in the lift in one day?
Lets be reasonable and not be obstructive. Unreasonable decisions give strata a bad name.
Going by the renovations that have been done in our building, I don’t think it is unreasonable at all. Depending on the type of renovation, the lift can be monopolised by the tradesmen, not to mention what is carried up and down in the lift. Compromises need to be made on both sides.
Compromise is they key.
Most owners are guided by their tradies on how much access they’ll need (as well as how much noise they will make and when). The answer is usually always and all the time.
But it’s amazing what happens when the committee limits access to the lifts for the transportation of materials and waste to times when people are less likely to be coming and going from work.
Similarly, if they say noisy drilling will go on for X hours, you should be able to say, OK, let’s make that all happen in specific periods to give other residents a break.
In both cases, what was previously impossible suddenly becomes eminently achievable. Tradies are only concerned with getting work done at a tine that suits them. It doesn’t take much to tell them they can organise themselves to do it at times that suit all the residents.
By the way, I find it incredible that some buildings still allow noisy work to go on all day Saturday and on Sunday mornings. Save us from the hobby renovators, please!
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.
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