Question: An owner wishes to install a fence between common property and the council boundary line. What approvals are required?
A lot owner wishes to install a fence along the property line of common property and the council boundary. Currently, the area is an open lawn. There are other fences in the complex separating common property from council boundary. The owner would like some privacy from the street and pedestrian traffic outside the house. What issues are raised in this request?
Answer: Check with the council to see what approvals are required and check that the fence does not block other owners from accessing common property.
You would need to look at your strata plan or community title plan to see if building this fence is going to grant someone exclusive use of common property. Is it going to form a boundary around the space? That would be one of the bigger questions.
Then as you’re installing a structure at your unit, you would need a special resolution from the corporation because it’s not something that’s already there. If it’s a new structure that needs to be installed, the council won’t help you pay for the fencing. Councils aren’t responsible for any fencing on their boundary.
You would also definitely need to get council approval. Firstly, check with the council and then see if any other owners would be getting some exclusive use out of it as well.
This post appears in Strata News #525.
Carrie McInerney Horner Management E: carrie@hornermanagement.com.au P: 08 8234 5777