Do I have rights pertaining to the carriageway, common ground area that runs directly in front of my home only one meter from my front door & windows? – Helene, NSW

Q: My villa is on a two-lot strata property, but we have no strata management so I do not know where to get assistance.

Do I have rights pertaining to the carriageway, common ground area that runs directly in front of my home only one meter from my front door and windows? My neighbours allow their children and their friends children who live adjacent to both of us, (7 in all) to play, ride bikes etc, making a noise (which kids do sometimes) to a point that even with our door shut we can not hear the news etc.

I have asked on many occasions to keep the noise down, but they just say the kids can play and scream wherever they want. We are in our 70s and 80s and need help with this. We have lived in our home here for 14 years and up until recently had no problems. We do all we can to be respectful and courteous to others but they don’t seem to care about us, only their children’s rights.

This behaviour has become a health issue for us both especially as Franco has cancer and does not need all the stress this places upon us.

 

A: As you do not have a strata manager to oversee issues in your strata property, we recommend taking the issue to NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT).

They should be able to help mediate and help control and regulate nuisances and disturbances to your strata property, which in this case relates to noise levels.