Strata topics
1. My neighbour attacks any visitor to my place verbally when they park in designated visitor parking. What can I do to stop her? 2. I was told by fair trading that as my bathroom is the original bathroom when I renovate that body corporate is responsible for the floor tiles and waterproofing. Tiles are cracked and damaged all over the floor. My body corporate says no. What is the truth please? – Carol, NSW
Hi Carol,
1. We would normally recommend you chat to your neighbour about their behaviour. However, considering the circumstances, you will …
I’ve just bought into a complex of villas over 55’s. In one of them, lives a son of the late owner for over 12 months after his father died. He is living there with his girl friend, both about 40 years old and he claims hes found a loophole to stay here because hes on a disability pension. He’s a drug addict and so is the girlfriend and brings shady characters here. What is the procedure to evict someone like that? – Irene, NSW
Hi Irene, we suggest you get in touch with your strata committee and/or manager, as they should be able to …
I want to self manage my strata. Could you help me with steps to terminate current strata management? – Leanne, NSW
Hi Leanne, whilst it is admirable that you want to self manage the strata scheme, please do not underestimate the amount …
4 villas, 1 person owns 2 villas, other 2 privately owned. Drive has an access gate to a lane which has been blocked for +3 years by a boat trailer. The owner has been asked many times to in block and move. Any solution? – Kim, NSW
Hello Kim, the owner may have a right to park in that area depending on what the registered plan and by-laws …
Is grout in the bathroom considered common property ? Is the owners corporation responsible for replacing the grout? – Di, NSW
Hello Di, responsibility of the grout in the bathroom will depend on where it is located. If on a common property …
A neighbour continues to wake us at 2am. What can we do? – Peter, NSW
Q: A neighbour with a bedroom directly above ours has removed carpet and now has the odd rug, but otherwise floorboards. …
Where does responsibility lie for the rewiring of an apartment if the wiring is deemed unsafe? – Lizzie, NSW
The responsibility for rewiring an apartment deemed unsafe is the owner corporations responsibility if the wiring serves more than one lot. …
We have units in our complex who haven’t paid body corporate fees for 7 years. What can be done about this? – Benjamin, QLD
Q: We have 2 units in our complex (11 units) who haven’t paid body corporate fees for 7 years. I’ve sent …
Whose responsibility is it for the fixing of an apparent airlock in a hot water pipe in a Villa? – Lynette, NSW
Since hot water pipes are, ideally, part of the structure of the property, your owners corporation is responsible for overseeing their …
What can the Body Corporate do if they are not happy with a dog in the apartment? – Audrey, QLD
Q: In mid-November 2018 my husband and I bought an apartment in Townsville. We asked the Body Corporate if we could …
I want a companion dog for certain health reasons as I’m on a disability pension and my committee are not very flexible. Legally where do I stand? – Conrad, NSW
Q: I’m an apartment owner in a tower in the western suburbs. You are allowed two dogs but a certain size. …
We have a two-year-old and live near a chain smoker. What can we do about secondhand smoke? Our greatest concern is our baby. – Adam, NSW
Q: Hi. I’m living in a rented apartment in a block in Sydney. We have a two year old. Are there …
One unit in our block is infested by pests and has an unpleasant smell. What can we or strata do? – Maurice, NSW
Q: One unit in our block has an infestation of cockroaches. The owner is an alcoholic hoarder with cats. The smell …
What are my rights as an owner to come and go from my residence without being blocked? What are my rights to not be abused by someone breaching the By Laws? What are my rights for the Body Corporate Committee to take action? And what are my rights when a member of the Committee attempts to bully via email? – Joel, QLD
I have an ongoing dispute with the Body Corporate Committee. Several times over the last 5 years I have photographed and …
I am interested to know about what to do if cigarette smoke is drifting into my apartment from another apartment. – Christina, QLD
Hi Christina, this is a common issue in strata living as smoke may drift in from neighbouring apartments and common areas …