This week, Reena and I cover:

Links mentioned:

8 Responses

  1. In our building we have lot owners who outright lie in relation to such matters. Even where they have been advised directly by council that approvals are required! Our committee happens to be well informed about renovations, but it is an awkward discussion…

  2. The normal three letters?
    The temporal requirement just becomes ridiculous.
    Three letters then a committee meeting to approve a NTC, then the time to get into NCAT.
    Not a great process.
    Imagine if Council operated like that.

  3. I had the experience of a Lot owner wanting to demolish walls , do not know what damage she left behind but it could had been worse. I had luck with a great lady who knew how to read the drawings that were so tiny that it was nearly impossible to read read it. She asked me to call the council to ask if the Lot owner was doing the right thing.
    At the end the Lot owner was going to have an AVO against me for asking questions about wasting our strata money.
    As I already said , we are in big TROUBLE in the past we could get help from the council . Now, I’m not sure of it.

  4. My neighbour who is the sister in law of the body corporate just do rennovations when they want – no warning – & often using heavy drills on a sunday without the manager or the unit below (which is us) – which is straight under our our loungeroom. We are elderly people & have undergone nothing else but vindication & defamatory bèhaviour.
    We live a simple life after my partner had a stroke 2 yrs ago & object to their actions towards us. It is causing ill health & a lot of stress.
    We have been here nearly 7 yrs & the unit above only 13 months.
    We have so many friends that will back us up, but the body corporate dont allow tenants to meeti gs or even record them & properly transcribe them.
    So we are in a quandry as to our rights .
    We are in tweed heads nsw.

    1. Hi Susan, I assume from your post that you are a tenant? Raising these concerns with the landlord/agent may be your best avenue. Note that under section 50 of the Residential Tenancies Act NSW, you are entitled to peaceful enjoyment of your home. The landlord should be communicating with the owners corporation to find out why you are being disturbed so regularly and without notice. Your owners corporation probably also has a by-law in place which requires residents to respect the peaceful enjoyment of others. It sounds like your neighbour may be in breach of that by-law. As a tenant, you have standing to complain about this to the Tribunal. The first step in that process is to apply for mediation with the Office of Fair Trading.

  5. Thanks for your reply.
    They never alert us (the owners to changes or renovations).
    We are under siege to the body corporate rules & have no say in what happens as long standing tenants.
    We are being accused & not allowed to respond.

  6. What is the difference in having a dishwasher ( with the potential for a burst water pipe/hose ) to having front loading washing machine under the kitchen bench ? Washing machines in Europe and UK are very common practice in the kitchen.

    1. Hi Tuula,

      I’d say the difference is that a dishwasher is always installed in a kitchen and if there’s a flood, the damage may be more easily contained to that quasi-‘wet’ area. A washing machine could be installed anywhere – I am currently working with a building where an owner wants to install one in a cupboard in the living area. There is significant concern about the potential for water leak down to the living area below – damaging furniture like lounges etc.

      Amanda.

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