What Can I Do to Stop The Council of Owners from Abusing Their Power and Targeting People on Our Level?

Ldjpocky on 21/01/2020 - 01:10
Last edited 21/01/2020 - 11:17 by 1 other user

I live on level 4 of my apartment and everyone living in my floor do not complain about each other. We live in harmony. Recently, the council of owners have been using the master fob to patrol my level to take photos of every tenants shoes that were left at the front of their own apartment doors. We've been doing it for 3 years and so do people who are actually living in level 4. We don't have problems with each other. It's the council of owners who have problems but when asked why they would complain about our shoes on our floor because they don't even live there, they keep playing dumb and say that the person who made the complaint (and issued the tenants in level 4 with breach of notices $57 fine) is coming from someone living in level 4. This is not true.

What can I do to stop the council of owners from abusing their power and targeting people on our level?

We were all living comfortably and in peace before they butt in. They don't live in our floor anyway. If they don't like it, then stop coming to our floor.

Strata manager is acting on their interests too.

Home & Garden

Comments

  • Charlie Sierra on 21/01/2020 - 15:59
    +2

    Suggest that you pay the fine and move on, and possibly seek other areas to recoup the money.

    This book may help

  • Payne on 21/01/2020 - 16:16

    The cultural norm in Australia for leaving shoes outside varies much more than it does in other parts of the world. It's definitely not the norm in apartments though. That's because the corridors aren't owned by the tenants, along with other reasons posted above. It's probably to avoid shoes being stolen too.

    So if you believe shoes shouldn't be stored inside because they're unsanitary, you may want to put them in a sealed box or something.

    From a purely pragmatic point of view, think about your hands and feet too. They're pretty disgusting things. Feet live in warm shoes all day and hands touch all manner of things. But you don't leave these outside. So shoes aren't really that bad are they?

    • serpserpserp on 21/01/2020 - 17:24
      +1

      Most apartments have balconies. OP could just leave them out there. That's what I use to do when I lived in apartments.

    • MementoMori on 23/01/2020 - 11:15

      It varies? It's predominately a 'leave on while inside' thing (unless we're talking dirty workboots and polite tradespeople).

  • Munki on 21/01/2020 - 16:53
    +1

    The Council of Owners sounds like a really shitty subpar hero group.

  • capslock janitor on 21/01/2020 - 17:02
    -1

    hey girl

  • serpserpserp on 21/01/2020 - 17:22
    +2

    OP I can guarantee someone on Level 4 is lying to you about not asking people to store their shoes inside.

  • trapper on 21/01/2020 - 17:35
    +2

    Put shoes outside the council of owners doors, take photos and lodge complaints :)

  • Hangryuman on 21/01/2020 - 17:38

    looks like OP is in Perth WA - so I googled Perth strata bylaws and found this - https://www.prdperth.com.au/kioskcreative/wp-content/uploads…

    '1. Duties of proprietor, occupier, etc. ..
    (2) A proprietor, occupier or other resident of a lot shall-
    (a) use and enjoy the common property in such a manner as not
    unreasonably to interfere with the use and enjoyment thereof by other
    proprietors, occupier or residents, or of their visitors; and
    (b) not use the lot or permit it to be used in such manner or for such
    purpose as causes a nuisance to any occupier of another lot     (whether a
    proprietor or not) or the family of such an occupier;'

    oh - and in Schedule 2 above also has -

    '6. Depositing rubbish, etc., on common property
    A proprietor, occupier, or other resident of a lot shall not deposit or throw upon that
    lot or any other lot or the common property any rubbish, dirt, dust or other material
    likely to interfere with the peaceful enjoyment of     another proprietor, occupier or
    resident or of any person lawfully using the common property.'

    apart from fire orders about trip hazards in a smoke filled stairwell requiring clear egress in an emergency, if the council of owners deems it a nuisance, they are the encumbents charged with maintaining good order in the strata complex, and if you don't like it …

    https://www.lookupstrata.com.au/wa-handle-corrupt-council-of…

    Enjoy - or not … I'm wondering whether to put this in the category of 'your crappy life is everyone else's fault'

  • DiscoJango on 21/01/2020 - 19:37
    +5

    cant say ive EVER been to an apartment complex with shoes in the hallway.

    • pikapika on 21/01/2020 - 20:13

      Me either but then I did see someone leave their shoes outside of their house on the footpath once.

  • Vote for Pedro on 21/01/2020 - 20:23

    So there’s a couple of things you can do:

    1. Don’t leave your shoes out (My suggestion)
    2. Start reporting safety issues or by law breaches around the property to your strata manager. Trip hazards, loose branches, damaged fences, leaky taps, damaged locks on doors, insufficient/not tested fire extinguishers, hazards in fire exits, damage in common property. Be petty and pedantic about reporting. Take photos and send via email. Report it as a “potential issue” and you’re being a good resident by reporting. When they ask what you want done, say nothing as you’re not the expert, you’re just reporting it. This will cost you money though if strata decides to fix it all. (For the lols)
  • Vote for Pedro on 21/01/2020 - 20:29

    Came across this scenario some time ago

    Friend of mine (truely really)got a warning for wheeling his bicycle via common property to his apartment as apparently it can dirty the carpet.

    When he noted that strollers, grannies with scooters and those wheelie trolleys aren’t warned he was basically told the bike can’t be wheeled.

    Views?

    • DiscoJango on 21/01/2020 - 21:23

      Kind of like women can wear skirts and open toe shoes any day of the week in workplaces, but guys cant wear shorts or thongs…

      • Vote for Pedro on 21/01/2020 - 22:41

        Actually my workplace recognises the importance of supporting people to wear whatever they are comfortable wearing so long as it fits the corporate dress style.

        Shorts and thongs are a no no regardless of how you identify.

        So, to respond. No, not like that.

    • Stopback on 23/01/2020 - 11:07

      Bikes do get more mud and dirt on them as they can go off road on dirt tracks.

      Should of told them he washes the wheels before.

      • Vote for Pedro on 23/01/2020 - 11:33

        Sorry. Should’ve clarified. Cbd commuter road bike.

    • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 23/01/2020 - 12:26

      Views?

      "Come back with a warrant" is my goto line when someone who thinks they have authority directs me to do something I don't have to.

      • Vote for Pedro on 23/01/2020 - 12:52

        Actually I suggested that he ask for the direction in writing from strata and to quote the specific by law.

        That may have been a risky play, but he is yet to hear back.

        So very similar

  • Black Brown Blue on 21/01/2020 - 21:05

    If I was living on the same floor as you. I would throw away all the shoes in the bin without letting you find out. That would teach you a lesson. Just keep your shoes inside the house it removes them from public/common space. How hard it that.

  • ribze1 on 21/01/2020 - 22:03
    +4

    I wish the members of my owner's corp were as good and diligent as yours.

  • geoffs87 on 21/01/2020 - 22:04
    +2

    Ummm…

    Personal belongings go inside your apartment.

    Bad attitudes can stay there too.

  • fredk1000 on 21/01/2020 - 23:46
    +1

    Your shoes must be bad as no one wants to steal them. Keep them with the odour inside.
    Keep them inside so no one poops in them, you don't want that nasty surprise.

  • asupre2541 on 22/01/2020 - 09:30

    https://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/#/view/regulation/2000/55…

    I think its also part of the EPAR which is legislation/the law. Might be wrong feel free to correct me.

  • [Deactivated] on 22/01/2020 - 09:54
    +5

    OP is not coming back. Mind if the thread is closed and mods attach a sticky to the post or comment:
    Solved - shoes do not belong in common hallway.

    It's honestly not a debatable subject.

  • snep on 22/01/2020 - 10:23
    +2

    Long ago, the fourth floor lived together in harmony. Then, everything changed when the council of owners attacked.

    Only the ozbargainers, masters of consumer and body corporate law, could stop them. But when they made fun of my post, it vanished. 24 hours passed and I made a new post, about the exact same thing.

    Because I believe Ozbargain can save the shoes.

  • macdaddyjordan on 22/01/2020 - 11:36
    +1

    did someone say free shoes?

    whats then name of your building

  • SolidworksError on 22/01/2020 - 15:05

    As much as I hate to ever side with a body corporate run by boring plebs, keeping your shoes inside isn't that insane. Buy a $20 shoe rack from bunnings to keep in your door. Then, deoderise your shoes. Politely request them to withdraw the fine and show you've fixed the issue.

    Done.

  • Maxxjet on 22/01/2020 - 16:49

    TL;DR…OP if you say EVERYONE on your level didn't make any complaint, get EVERYONE to sign a letter to state the same, and present it to the council. At least they can stop lying about 'someone' made the complaint from your level and be truthful?

  • Julz84 on 22/01/2020 - 17:32

    OH&S Laws in strata blocks are being enforced this year.
    Your shoes or anyone's for that matter are trip hazard
    Therefore you're being told to clean up what they could be fined for.

    I wouldn't be paying a fine for things tenants an owners have been told to clean up

  • SpotTheOzzie on 23/01/2020 - 06:15
    +1

    People hate confrontation. Theres a 99% chance someone is actually complaining and wants to remain anonymous.

    And they have every right to request your shoes go inside.

  • groot on 23/01/2020 - 08:32

    Move on.. Keep life simple..

  • releasethekr4cken on 23/01/2020 - 09:23
    +1

    In my building they do inspections from the street to ping people who hang their washing out on their balcony. If it can be seen from the street it's a warning or two then a fine. it's a rule in the building and you get given the rules when you move in.

  • redrum22 on 23/01/2020 - 16:12
    +1

    This is one of the most self-absorbed posts I've seen. Do you really have that hard of a time believing that others on your floor don't want to see or smell your stink-pot shoes in the apartment hallway????

    Get over yourself and keep your shoes inside of your apartment!

  • Bob Svargis on 23/01/2020 - 22:00

    What a self-absorbed post. Follow the damned rules and it won't be a problem. Why should people have to step over/around your shoes in a common area. It's probably a safety/fire risk too.

    Put your damn shoes in your own damn apartment.

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