Building Management Enforcing Balcony Clean

peanut48 on 25/08/2018 - 12:05

Hi all

I received this from our building management (Melbourne) and was wondering how much of this is legal since it sounds quite invasive. Where would you put clothes airers if not in a balcony? Would like to hear your thoughts.

The Owners Corporation Committee have nominated this week for the XYZ community, owners and occupiers, to clear their balconies of all those things that are making the place look untidy and uncared for and detract from its façade.

There are rules regarding what you can and cannot have on your balcony. These can be found on buildinglink. The non-compliance with these rules can lead to a breach being imposed by the Building management. This breach will soon include a dollar value.

The articles which need to be removed are:

Clothes racks/ airers or any article on which to dry clothes

Dead pot plants/trees

Any furniture which is not suitable outdoor chairs or tables

BBQ which has not been approved by the Building Manager

Pet accessories such as kennels, cages or dog beds

Blow up plastic items

Mops, buckets and other cleaning implements.

Any accumulated rubbish.

Balconies need to be kept free of the above and the areas kept clean and tidy.

All balconies will be assessed at the end of the week. Breach notices will be issued.

Regards,
Building Management

Poll Options expired

14
Yes
3
Maybe
1
No

Home & Garden

Comments

Cheap Charlie on 25/08/2018 - 12:19

+1

Are you a lot owner or a tenant?
Did you receive bylaws or similar as part of your tenancy agreement?
Are the bylaws or similar referenced as forming part of the tenancy agreement?
If yes, you have effectively agreed to the terms.
In terms of the building manager having the power to issue monetary fines, I would call BS on that.
- peanut48 on 25/08/2018 - 12:23
  
  I'm a long time tenant and there are some bylaws in the online website for the building. Not sure if it's part of my tenancy agreement. I don't really have a problem with keeping the balcony clean but unhappy about the instructions on what I can or cannot keep in my balcony. Things like clothes airer belong in the balcony and there is no other space in these matchbox apartments.
  - amkssg on 25/08/2018 - 12:31
    
    +1
    
    Most apartment buildings in the inner-city suburbs of Melb do not allow for clothes to be dried in the balcony.
    Don't know how enforceable it is though. It seems to only apply in Melb, I do not think any of the other states have such bylaws.
    
    Edit: The process works like this,
    1) notice is served by owners corp (which is the letter you received) giving 28 days to comply.
    2) Final notice served, notifying you that if the breach is not rectified within 28 days, the owners corporation may take the matter to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
    3) VCAT may impose financial penalties or some other measure.
    - peanut48 on 25/08/2018 - 13:00
      
      Thanks!
    - onevstheworld on 10/09/2018 - 19:34
      
      I do not think any of the other states have such bylaws.
      
      It's a common by law in Sydney too.
hawkeye on 25/08/2018 - 12:30

All balconies will be assessed at the end of the week. Breach notices will be issued
Play the game then next week carry on as usual.
chumlee on 25/08/2018 - 12:34

+6

Looks like you will need to remove your blow up doll for now
WreckTangle on 25/08/2018 - 13:55

+6

Your poll answers don’t match the question….
- peanut48 on 25/08/2018 - 22:25
  
  I realise that now, I guess I was asking if this notice was legal/fair to some extent. Can't edit polls once created.
Randxyz123 on 25/08/2018 - 14:23

+1

Where would you put clothes airers if not in a balcony?

Inside?

I think it's fair enough. They don't want clothes and other crap flying off in the wind. Just put your stuff inside.

Blow up plastic items

LOL
- Icecold5000 on 25/08/2018 - 17:54
  
  Some of these apartment buildings look disgusting with clothes hanging outside.
- peanut48 on 25/08/2018 - 22:28
  
  These balconies are not very open and face an internal park. It's literally like a room with one side half glass and half open.
  My neighbours have blow up pool floats on their balcony, those huge unicorns etc.
Peter Enis on 25/08/2018 - 14:38

+4

I don't understand the poll so I voted "Maybe".
- peanut48 on 25/08/2018 - 22:26
  
  hahaha…thanks. I think I was asking if this notice was fair or not.
loropy9 on 25/08/2018 - 20:00

I think the law allows cloth dryers if they are not higher the balcony fence line.
[Deactivated] on 26/08/2018 - 11:53

+2

I'm going to sound like an (profanity) but when you see untidy buildings you realise why these rules exist. Not allowing laundry on the balcony is pretty standard if you don't like that rule (and don want to put all your clothes in a dryer) then live somewhere else. High density living requires a higher degree of consideration of your neigbours and if you don't like it then high density living is not for you.
Geekomatic on 27/08/2018 - 01:25

I think that renters ought to be able to install an approved, temporary fencing to block the balcony from people seeing below the fencing. Then, you could have anything you want there because it would be hidden.
- HighAndDry on 27/08/2018 - 11:50
  
  What'd be the point? You're replacing unsightly washing with unsightly fencing.
Baysew on 10/09/2018 - 14:58

The building surveyor, in turn, says that while it was not at fault, if it is found to have in part caused the fire, the occupants of the building must share the blame, because the owners' corporation “failed to conduct any routine inspections to ensure balconies of the Lacrosse apartments were not used for storage”.

This is from this story Docklands owners sue for $24m over fire, as date to fix cladding looms
which relates to the Lacrosse Tower fire which was exacerbated by its flammable cladding. Cladding like that which was used on the deadly Glenfell building.

Building Management Enforcing Balcony Clean

Poll Options expired

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