Strata property matters
Strata property matters
Find answers for issues with neighbours, noise complaints, troublesome parking, bullying and harassment, and more
I live in a free-standing villa and wish to replace a scum-damaged shower screen. There will be no removal of tiles on the wall or floor, and no change in current plumbing. The new screen will be the same size, and placed in the place, as the screen being taken out. Do I need to seek approval from the other five villa owners? – Diana, NSW
Q: I live in a free-standing villa and wish to replace a scum-damaged shower screen. There will be no removal of …
I live in a strata complex which is four storeys high, I live at the ground level townhouse, which has two levels. There are two storeys above me, consisting of a one-level unit and a unit which has split levels (two floors). My question is related to the bathroom that is located on the second floor of my townhouse. I had a problem with the shower recess waterproofing, and the water penetrated into the wall next to my bedroom. These bathroom walls are not attached to any common wall with the next unit, as it is located in the middle of the second floor. Who is responsible to fix the waterproofing system and tiles on the wall and floor. All these are originals, with no renovation. I am so confused as they say the internal wall is not common property. If the water penetration is from the unit above (not sure how, possibly due to poor construction), who is responsible? – May, NSW
Q: I live in a strata complex which is four storeys high, I live at the ground level townhouse, which has …
I have a neighbour who rides a motorcycle out from their garage, which is situated right below my bedroom (I am on the first floor, the ground floor is the garage). The noise from the bike comes through the floor and its fumes enter through my window if my windows are open. I know this is a difficult neighbour, as they have argued with other tenants over many things over the years. Does the owners corporation have the power to ask the neighbour to only start the bike at the gate? – Jenny, NSW
Q: I have a neighbour who rides a motorcycle out from their garage, which is situated right below my bedroom (I …
One of the owners in my building is accusing me of throwing food on her balcony, jamming the locks on her garage and breaking the lock on her screen door. Whenever she sees me or my wife she starts screaming and calling us fu****ing animals. Now she is putting up pictures of what I have supposedly done in the complex, along with a couple of pages of derogatory remarks. I have not done any of this and she has no proof that I did these things. Evidently, this has been going on for ten years, but she never attends the strata meetings to say anything. Now people in the complex are reading what she put up, and I’m the bad guy. I feel that I am being defamed. What should I do? – Shane, NSW
Q: One of the owners in my building is accusing me of throwing food on her balcony, jamming the locks on …
I have a water leak in the ceiling that is a fault of the waterproofing of the balcony above. Would that be considered common property issue and thus for the owners corporation manager to handle or otherwise? – Ingrid, VIC
Q: I have a water leak in the ceiling that is a fault of the waterproofing of the balcony above.
Would that …
I am engaged in a dispute with my body corporate about how the new COVID-19 legislation enacted last year and the recent amendment to the extension of levy payments should be implemented. I have had a lot of contact with my body corporate management but could not get any practical solutions to my hardship due to COVID-19. So, I stopped paying my levies and started to pay $150.00 per fortnight. I have just increased this to $300.00 per fortnight. They have now instigated legal action for me to pay the outstanding amount plus letter fees. What is my position? – Alan, QLD
Q: I am engaged in a dispute with my body corporate, about how the new COVID-19 legislation enacted last year and …
A building defect was found in the apartment’s bathroom… The building is 20 years old. Who is responsible for rectifying the issues? – Jane, NSW
Q: A building defect was found in the apartment’s bathroom (the shower floor structure is defective and it doesn’t have an …
How long after an air conditioner is installed do you have to comply with painting fixtures of air conditioner on common walls? – Helen, QLD
Q: How long after an air conditioner is installed do you have to comply with painting fixtures of air conditioner on …
I stay at my boyfriend’s apartment often, and there are 4 visitor parking spaces. How long am I able to park my car there? – Amy, NSW
Q: I stay at my boyfriend’s apartment often, and there are 4 visitor parking spaces. How long am I able to …
Can a BCM charge individual unit owners for an application when the contract is between the BC and the BCM? – Greg, QLD
Q: Our body corporate management (BCM) is charging us $110 for a Committee approval to install an air conditioner. We have …
We have had a week of noise from screaming and uncontrolled child behaviour in the pool. What can we do?
Q: We have had a week of noise from screaming and uncontrolled child behaviour in the pool. The parents would not …
Can the Body Corporate charge a lot owner for not using a DEFT number when making levy payments? – Dayan, QLD
Q: Can the Body Corporate charge a lot owner for not using a DEFT number when making levy payments? The charge …
My neighbour has conducted landscaping works on common property shared between us. Are they allowed to undertake garden work that changes the appearance on common property without permission from both owners? – Alyx, VIC
Q: My neighbour has conducted landscaping works on common property shared between us. I do not like the look of the …
I have completed kitchen renovations with stone tops and new cabinets. I have installed ducted Air conditioning. Are these covered under the building insurance or under content insurance? – Karen, QLD
Q: I have completed kitchen renovations with stone tops and new cabinets. I have installed ducted Air conditioning. Are these covered …
The Buildings Act was modified so that Body Corporates could no longer refuse solar installations purely on grounds of aesthetics… The result seems to be that no-one knows the current state of play. Can you put me in the picture, please. – Kenneth, QLD
Q: The Buildings Act was modified so that Body Corporates could no longer refuse solar installations purely on grounds of aesthetics. …