This article and Q&As are about the delivery of parcels and boxes for apartment residents in NSW owners corporations.
Table of Contents:
- QUESTION: Our owners corporation passed a by-law stating that owners are responsible for the locks and upkeep of the individual lot letterboxes. Should the strata plan be updated to reflect that the letterboxes are now the property of the lot owner?
- QUESTION: Do you know of any secure letterboxes, or do you have any tips to thwart vandals? Our cluster letterboxes are regularly vandalised, with the doors pried open and mail stolen.
- QUESTION: My building management has put up a sign advising post/couriers that they cannot leave any parcels or boxes near the entrance for the apartment building complex.
Question: Our owners corporation passed a by-law stating that owners are responsible for the locks and upkeep of the individual lot letterboxes. Should the strata plan be updated to reflect that the letterboxes are now the property of the lot owner?
Answer: I have never seen a strata scheme update their strata plan to reflect this change.
I have seen many strata schemes pass special resolutions not to maintain common property under Section 106 of the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 through their by-laws. I always recommend strata schemes seek legal advice with any new by-law they want to incorporate into their strata by-laws.
I have never seen a strata scheme change their strata plan to reflect this change. If you have concerns, I suggest you speak to a lawyer to ensure you are not required to change your strata plan.
Rod Smith
The Strata Collective
E: rsmith@thestratacollective.com.au
P: 02 9879 3547
This post appears in the September 2024 edition of The NSW Strata Magazine.
Question: Do you know of any secure letterboxes, or do you have any tips to thwart vandals? Our cluster letterboxes are regularly vandalised, with the doors pried open and mail stolen.
We continue to have our cluster letterboxes vandalised, with the doors pried open and mail stolen. I am searching for stronger, impenetrable letterboxes. Do you know of any secure letterboxes, or do you have any tips to thwart vandals?
Answer: The most secure locker placement is within an access-protected building where solutions allow for courier/postman building access with full track and trace functionality.
From conversations with prospective customers, we find that the vast majority of vandalism occurs to mailboxes outside of a building. When we are implementing parcel and mail solutions, the placement of lockers is a key consideration. We advise that the most secure locker placement is within an access-protected building where solutions allow for courier/postman building access with full track and trace functionality.
Seb Gallery
Groundfloor Parcel Lockers
E: sebastian.gallery@groundfloordelivery.com
P: 0409 121 120
This post appears in Strata News #626.
Question: My building management has put up a sign advising post/couriers that they cannot leave any parcels or boxes near the entrance for the apartment building complex.
My building management has put up a sign advising post/couriers that they cannot leave any parcels or boxes near the entrance for the apartment building complex, implying that they will throw out any parcel that is left on the entrance.
This is making me feel unsafe and uncertain of what will happen to my parcel or boxes, especially deliveries like hello fresh that are simply always left at the door.
Is this legal?
Answer: Legally yes, apartment building managers can inform couriers that parcel are not to be left at the entrance or in the foyer.
Legally yes, building managers can inform couriers (deliveries) that that parcels and boxes are not to be left at the entrance or in the foyer. Advising such does not imply that packages will be disposed of. Food parcels that are not collected can present a health risk if left for long periods. If these are not collected after a reasonable time, they could be disposed of not to attract pests or flies, which is a greater risk to the residents’ residents.
Deliveries of packages in multi-story residential or commercial buildings do present some issues; it is the recipient’s responsibility to give clear instructions when placing an order and ensure where possible to collect the packages promptly, preferably to take receipt of the package at the time of delivery.
Hello Fresh, Muscle Me and other food deliveries do not necessarily contact the recipient on the arrival of their packages. This may be due to unclear direction or instructions when the recipient places their online order. Multi-residential or commercial buildings that receive many packages from these types of services put Building Managers into a predicament as to what to do with parcels being left in the front of the building for lengthy periods. It is preferable that if the recipient is not home to take delivery, they should arrange alternatives with neighbours or have them delivered to a workplace.
As managers, we are not the intended recipient and, legally, therefore, cannot accept or sign on behalf of the recipient for a parcel. This includes parcels or packages from Australia Post.
The same rule applies to food deliveries as they have been treated the same as courier delivered products; fresh food items can present a health issue. The building should implement specific rules to minimise the risk of contamination or parcel theft.
Dino Biordi
LUNA – The Building Management Company
E. dino@luna.management
P: 1800 00 LUNA (5862)
This post appears in the June 2021 edition of The NSW Strata Magazine.
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