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Topic
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I live in WA and I live in a eight unit strata. It is in 4 sets of two townhouses each having only 1 common wall and side access to get to each back yard. My neighbour (whose parents helped him buy the unit) have recently lost power to their unit due to a fault that they have cause themselves (damage of some sort – they have no idea what). Each townhouse has its own meter and own meter box attached to the side of the house and their own account to the electricity company.
I dislike my neighbour due to the music noise and the base from the subwoofers in the cars that at times are so loud they rattle my windows. That aside and being raised as a issue with the Strata they asked me to put a lead into my power box and to the power point from my house to run their TV and the power for their mobiles. I let them do this to be kind. It has been over a week and to my knowledge they have not even tried to get an electrician to look at the problem. So this morning I pulled the plug, I told them this and they said fine.
However I have received an email from my Strata Management (originally from the owners) advising me that the problem with the house and the loss of electricity will be lengthy and that they request they run a few extra leads to power their house. I do not want to do this for a variety of reasons, but mainly they have no idea what they have down to their meter and house I do not want to give them to opportunity to break my house too. I have looked through the Strata By-Laws and no where does it state I have to do this. I have advised my Strata Manager of my side of events but no answer.
Legally do I have to do this……
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Replies
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No of course you don’t have to supply someone else with electricity, either legally or in any other way.
Your reasons are irrelevant – just say no, you don’t wish to do so.
I note that nowhere have you mentioned any payment being offered for electricity supplied to the neighbour. Your meter box and fuses or circuit breakers would have been designed for the supply to only one unit. If it has a power point then that is limited to 15 amps, if that circuit becomes overloaded the fuse will blow or the breaker will trip. Your neighbour will require much more power if they are to run any heating or cooking device. If circuit breakers or fuses are tampered with, then you run the risk of causing a fire with overloaded wiring. Additionally many extension leads are only suitable for indoor use, if used incorrectly they can cause electrocution hazard. I am staggered that a Strata manager would request that you supply electricity in this manner, given the hazards involved. Hope they have a substantial professional indemnity policy, they’re going to need it with advice like that.
Hi Guys
Thanks for the quick reply.
I thought as much and was also stunned when my Strata Manager forwarded the email and asked me to consider it. As pointed out I was worried what ever they had done to break their house and electricity meter they may do to mine.
Still no response from my Strata Manager – which is business as usual with her.
Thanks…
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