Tenant rights and body corporate duties for safety lighting on common property

By admin,

My daughter has rented in a small unit complex in Townsville. The security lighting in the common areas on the external stairways and car park areas is not working. The complex is very dark in these areas, with no natural, street, or security lighting. My daughter does not feel safe after dark, especially walking from the garage to the door of her unit.

Dealing with unapproved maintenance on common property by a resident

By admin,

We have one resident in our scheme who continually undertakes unapproved maintenance on common property. They’ve exposed us to unacceptable risk by climbing onto the roof. We are under a building format plan, and our by-laws are schedule 4 by-laws. What by-laws (if any) is the resident breaching with these actions? If he is not breaching any by-law, what action can the body corporate or committee take?

How to raise pool safety concerns with your body corporate as an owner

By admin,

The committee refurbished the pool last year. There was no contract for the $53,000 job. The quote included a handrail, but an underwater grab rail has been installed, and the pool floor is uneven. In the pool area, the provided bench seating has a broken slat, and it is unsafe.

The committee are happy with the work and don't feel the broken seat is a liability. As an owner, should I organise a health and safety check on these worrying issues?

Safety considerations for replacing a roller door with a tilt garage door in shared areas

By admin,

Are there regulations governing tilt garage doors opening onto common parking, turning and pedestrian areas? An owner wishes to replace a roller door with a tilt door for more headroom. We are concerned that the opening arc of a tilt door might present a safety issue to another vehicle or resident if the garage door is operated remotely.

What can bodies corporate do when car park contractors fail to act?

By admin,

We are in a large building with car park lots in the basement. Owners have designated spots with "exclusive use rights", and the parking spot is on the title attached to the apartment. The original owner/builder sold off the parking lot section along with other commercial lots to a private investigator and the parking is managed by a contracted company.

Are over-bonnet storage boxes allowed under fire compliance rules?

By admin,

I've received a notification from our body corporate manager that my over-bonnet storage doesn't pass the fire compliance inspection. The inspector advised that the box doesn't meet Australian Standards. The roof of the enclosure must have means for the sprinkler discharge, and because the unit is greater than 1m in depth, a sprinkler must be installed underneath it. Without the sprinkler, he cannot issue a form 12.The inspector has referenced a paragraph from section 5.7.9 of AS 2118.1-2017.

In large complex buildings, how are disputes between bodies corporate over shared easements resolved?

By admin,

I am the chairperson of one body corporate in a complex with five separate bodies corporate. We are in dispute with another body corporate over the use of a shared easement where bulk refuse bins are left for collection.

Can residents remove recycling from shared bins in a body corporate?

By admin,

I live in a body corporate and have been collecting containers for recycling. I donate the proceeds to the Woody Point Special School P&C to help purchase educational equipment and resources for students with disabilities. Can I remove recyclable containers from the body corporate shared recycling bins, particularly in cases where other residents may not be recycling them.

Can owners maintain common property lawns themselves?

By admin,

We reside in a standard format plan body corporate that has lawned common property serviced by a body corporate-appointed lawn mowing contractor.

One lot owner has instructed the contractor to not maintain the lawn area in front of their unit. They mow/edge the common property lawn themself up to three times per week using a noisy mower, edger and blower.

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