This article discussing the controversial topic of smoking in strata buildings has been provided by Leanne Habib, Premium Strata.
New NSW strata laws recognise smoking may cause nuisance or hazard to another person
The new legislation introduced in NSW in November 2016 has recognised that smoking may cause nuisance or hazard to another person. Further, it has introduced a new model by-law (which must be adopted) regulating smoke drift.
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It offers two options to restrict smoke penetration in by-laws. If neither option A or B is selected, option A will apply.
Option A
- An owner or occupier, and any invitee of the owner or occupier must not smoke tobacco or any other substance on the common property.
- An owner or occupier of a lot must ensure that smoke caused by the smoking of tobacco or any other substance by the owner or occupier, or any invitee of the owner or occupier, on the lot does not penetrate to the common property or any other lot.
Option B
- An owner or occupier of a lot, and any invitee of the owner or occupier, must not smoke tobacco or any other substance on the common property, except: (a) in an area designated as a smoking area by the owners corporation, or (b) with the written approval of the owners corporation.
- A person who is permitted under this by-law to smoke tobacco or any other substance on common property must ensure that the smoke does not penetrate to any other lot.
- An owner or occupier of a lot must ensure that smoke caused by the smoking of tobacco or any other substance by the owner or occupier, or any invitee of the owner or occupier, on the lot does not penetrate to the common property or any other lot.
So, for example, if Option A were adopted, smoking would be permitted within an individual’s apartment provided that no smoke escaped into another apartment or into common areas.
Even if the Owners Corporation does not have a by-law which prohibits smoking or smoke penetration, the Owners Corporation could stop a person from smoking under the nuisance/hazard provisions of the legislation if the Owners Corporation could prove such nuisance/hazard being caused.
Breach of a by-law and penalties
In NSW, residents in breach of any by-law risk that the Owners Corporation makes an application to NCAT for the imposition of a civil penalty for breaching the by-law. Such penalties are quite severe. This penalty carries a monetary penalty of up to 10 penalty units (which is $1,100). A repeat offender (ie one who was fined $1,100 and breached the by-law again within 12 months of being fined) can be fined $2,200.
Any owner who is in breach of the occupancy limits set out in the legislation is potentially liable to fines of $5,500 and $11,000.
In the event that an owner breaches a NCAT Order to, for example, stop smoke drift, or remove an animal, Section 72 (3) of the Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2013 provides for a civil penalty. These penalties have increased to up to $11,000 for an individual and $22,000 for a corporation.
Smoking in Strata Buildings: Restrictions on by-laws
The new strata legislation has enacted a new restriction on by-laws, namely, that a by-law cannot be unjust, harsh, unconscionable or oppressive. Whether or not a by-law falls afoul of these restrictions is determined by NCAT. Further, any such by-law may be invalidated by NCAT.
We hope you found this article useful. This article is not intended to be exhaustive and we recommend you speak with your strata manager in the first instance.
Read next:
- NSW Strata Reforms: Enforcing By-laws by Issuing Notices to Comply
- NSW Q&A: How Do I Stop Cigarette Butts Litter from Neighbours Upstairs?
- NSW: Q&A If we don’t have Smoking Bylaws, Can Residents Smoke Everywhere?
Leanne Habib
Premium Strata Pty Ltd
P: 02 9281 6440
E: [email protected]
This article has been republished with permission from the author and first appeared on the Premium Strata website.
This post appears in Strata News #146
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We know this is quite an issue in strata. Have a question or something to add about smoking in strata buildings, please leave a comment below.
Hi All,
I have emailed to Strata management three times about the strong toxic smoke in my apartment since 20 Mar 20. I have been waiting them the response. Building manager Colin came to my home to check the smoke on 5 June and sent a handyman Bob to replace seals for my windows and doors. Both Colin and Bob smelled the strong toxic passive smoke in my home from my apartment below and could not suffer for it. However, I suffer, struggle and stress for the strong toxic passive smoke in my home every day.
I live in level 12. A Chain-smoking person is living in my apartment below level 11. He smokes from earlier morning until at night after 1:45 am. Sometimes he smokes at 3:30 am or 5:30 am. After replaced the new seals for my windows and doors, I still smelled the toxic passive smoke. Every day the toxic passive smoke drift stay in my home for longer hours. I cannot sleep and my throat is very uncomfortable and sometime I cough a lot. Especially COVID-19 impacts, I need to stay at home longer time for Coronavirus pandemic. However, the toxic second-hand smoke is made my home unliveable.
In our building, high percentage of residents are tenants from overseas. They are overseas students or working visa holders. They smoke a lot and until mid-night. The passive smoke drift are also from another apartment. I close all my windows and doors and turn on my new Air Purifier in the strong button but the strong toxic smell still get into my home.
I am afraid to turn on my ceiling exhaust fan. That is because the passive smoke can get through from the exhaust fan into my home. Even though I do not turn on the exhaust fan, the passive smoke still can get in. Every night, I cannot sleep until smokers finished smoke around after 2:00 am. Then I open all my windows and doors to let the fresh air in and the passive smoke away from home during the chilly weather. But the Chain-smokers smoke again at the midnight. My apartment is full of passive smoke again. It is so frustrating.
Everyday I struggle and upset for the toxic second-hand smoke problem in my apartment. Now more people work at home as a second office. I extremely expect our apartment is a smoke-free apartment.
I believe that I am not the only one to face the toxic second-hand smoke problems in apartment. Please help us to stop the chain-smokers to cause of ill health, nuisances and hazard for us ASAP. Please set new laws to prohibit smoking in apartment so that we can enjoy our daily live in apartment.
Thank you and best regards,
YES HELEN I TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.DOES ANYONE DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND WHERE CAN I GET CONTACT N0;
Hi Ian
This article about a recent smoking case may assist: https://www.lookupstrata.com.au/nsw-smoking-nuisance/
Hopefully the smoking prohibitions can be applied to the use of petrol powered leaf blowers – even though the SC is likely to have hired the perpetrator of this filthy, noisy and unnecessary methodology.
I’m in NSW, renting a unit and other tenants in the block smoke outside & on the balcony & the smoke drifts into my place. As I’m an asthmatic I find it very stressful. By the time I close windows & doors the smoke is inside. Do I have any rights here? I’ve contacted the agent who informs me the strata say our block doesn’t have the law to stop it. What about the new legislation introduced in NSW in 2016 about the new model by law (which must be adopted) regulating smoke drift? It offers 2 options A & B. If neither option is selected, option A will apply, stating no smoking on common property.
I relate fully to the situation of occupiers trying to enjoy their homes when smoke drift penetrates from units nearby. This situation is hazardous to health and an infringement on quiet enjoyment of our homes. In our units we have new tenants who smoke as do their visitors. This creates havoc for neighbors, who have no choice but to close doors and windows, and remain indoors or leave the premises, to avoid smoke. Strata units need a ban on all smoking, for the sake of the health and enjoyment of all residents.
Good afternoon, I’m in Queensland and I’m waiting for rhe day that cigarette smoking is banned in residential buildings. The elderly woman in the apartment below me smokes and all the units cop the smoke. It’s like a chimney effect and nobody likes it. It affects my health, too. When will something be done in every state to stop this situation?
I’ve written to Body Corporate and was advised to close my doors and put aircon on, that smokers have the right to smoke on their balconies and that I could move out.
Hello Leanne,
The Executive Committee of my strata has decided to delete the by-law regarding parking. This will cause chaos with some residents not being able to access their garages and others parking on the common property causing a third group to have to do several three point turns to both enter and exit their spots.
In your opinion is the omission of a parking by-law the same as an unjust by-law?
Restrictions on by-laws
The new strata legislation has enacted a new restriction on by-laws, namely, that a by-law cannot be unjust, harsh, unconscionable or oppressive.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Regards,
Jo Daly
Hi Jo
Thanks for your question. We have received this response back from Leanne Habib, Premium Strata:
In our view, the absence of such a by-law is not “unjust” perhaps just unwise. There is no positive requirement for an owners corporation to have a parking by-law in place, however, it sounds as though this will cause chaos in your building. Further, it also sounds unlikely that the Owners Corporation will avail itself of its powers under the regulations to have obstructing vehicles removed.
You will likely need strata specialist legal assistance with this matter as there appear to be 2 courses of action open to you – apply to NCAT to have the by-law revived or apply to NCAT for a compulsorily appointed agent (if you meet with threshold that the scheme is dysfunctional)(the latter course is a high threshold).
In addition to the above, the offending vehicles parked on the common property may be in breach of the nuisance and hazard provisions of the strata legislation. Under such legislation no owner or occupier may use or enjoy the common property in a manner or for a purpose that interferes unreasonably with the use or enjoyment of any other lot by the occupier of the lot.