Solar for Apartments - Power to the (Strata) People
In our small 3-lot strata, solar panels were installed on all lots over the past year. Can you please clarify the following:
- Are solar installations classed as scheme assets, and should they be included in the asset register?
- Does the scheme's insurance cover solar panels?
- Does our insurer need to be advised of any solar installations?
Lockboxes and Key Safes for Access to Apartments
My owners corporation would like to undertake an audit of access fobs to all apartments. They have requested all owners and residents cooperate.
They stated that if owners do not comply by the due date, the owners corporation will deactivate their fobs, obstructing access to the building, lots and elevators. Residents cannot enter or exit the garage without a fob.
Apartment renovations without approval. Oops ... What do we do now?
Our neighbour submitted an application for renovations of their lot. Their application was approved. Their ensuite wall is on the other side of our main bathroom. We’ve heard them jackhammering the wall, and they’ve installed new plumbing pipes and connections. None of this was included in their application or renovation by-law.
The additional unapproved work was discovered when a smoke detector test was carried out. The owner has requested retrospective approval for the renovations.
Access to the Communal Fuse Box in our Apartment Building
We had no hot water and needed to check if a fuse had tripped. Our strata manager advised the only person who had the key to the locked area was their father. He was away, and we needed to call an electrician with a master key.
Should owners pay an electrician's call-out fee because the key wasn't available?
We understand owners shouldn't have a key to this area for safety reasons, but shouldn't the strata manager have access?
Is piano playing for hours a day a breach of our peaceful enjoyment?
I am a piano player living in a NSW strata apartment building. I have received two noise breaches for nuisance, both of which claim that I play for '12 hours each day, causing considerable disruption to other residents'.
It does appear that there is no real definition of what a nuisance is, but that strata law seems to favour the complainant - even though environment, planning and council regulations are quite specific with regard to musical instruments.
Votes, the Voting Period and Unit Entitlements
A group of owners holding the majority vote wants to engage a valuer using strata funds to revise unit entitlements for all owners in an attempt to reduce their strata fees. The vote to change unit entitlements has not been taken, but we know it will not pass without about 15% dissent. Can strata funds be used to pay for a revaluation when not all owners agree?