What cheeses me off

[Lynda2475]

WRT laundry each to their own but I loathe sun dried towels, so scratchy, much softer when done in the dryer.

Sheets, tshirts and jeans done in dryer if taken out straight away can be folded with zero need to iron. My time is too precious to waste ironing.

I live in an apartment there are communal lines available in a few locations, fenced off so as not to look ugly. My neighbour uses them but I would not want my nice sheets or towels stolen (or rained in before I can get home from work) and usually do my laundry late night anyway.

So for heavy items I happily use the dryer, its efficient in terms of time and no ironing. Then I have 4 tall clothes airers (which can be folded and stored in walk in hall closet when not in use) that I used for delicates (no pegs needed) and for tops or dresses or suit skirts/pants that are dried on hangers (choose fabrics carefully, so the wrinkles fall out as they dry). Leave window open, usually dry by time I was up next morning.

WCMO is those who hang laundry visibly on balconies ugly and against by-laws. My favourite infringement fine to issue is to those that have laundry strung up visibly on balcony.

 

[Lynda2475]

WCMO is lazy people who put huge boxes in the recycling without flattening first, meaning there is little room for other peoples recycling and the coughs that put plastic bags in the yellow recycling bins.

Our last recycling bin collection was pre-xmas, so the bins are overflowing everywhere awaiting collection on Thursday; but they would be less so if people took some time to flatten boxes.

 

[andye]

WCMO is those who hang laundry visibly on balconies ugly and against by-laws. My favourite infringement fine to issue is to those that have laundry strung up visibly on balcony.

Intrigued as to what your second and third favourite would be

 

[Lynda2475]

Intrigued as to what your second and third favourite would be

Tied first with laundry is residents parking in visitor parking; if you have more cars than parking spots (and every unit here has at least one reserved caged spot, many have 2, a couple have 3 and every townhouse has a double garage) you need to rent a spot form someone else or park on the street. Visitors parking is needed for tradies doing work in site and genuine short term vistors.

2. Illegal dumping of hard rubbish in the garbage rooms (usually happens when tenants move out and we fine the owner if can identify them from the cctv footage, usually they are stupid enough to leave a box or something with their addy on it).

Noting that to make life easy we have a dedicated hard rubbish building 5m * 6m with roller door access specifically for this purpose - put you broken furniture, appliances etc in there so not blocking footpath or the buildings that house the garbage bins. Once nearly full the caretaker calls council for free pick up; as our council offers 2 free pick-ups per year per address on top of the 2 scheduled kerbside ones, the Caretaker simply works through the list of properties, so each unit/townhouse number is only used every 4-5 years. We pretty much have a pick up every 3-4 weeks.

3. Idiots (residents or real estate agents) who block the gate and/foyer doors open open so their party guests / customers do not have to use the intercom compromising everyone elses security, if i see this is just close it and lock them out.

4. Dog owners who let their dogs cough on common property and are too lazy to pick up the poop. One offender has about $500 in fines before he realised he was clearly visible holding the lead whilst his cavoodle dumped near the playground then walked away. There is no arguing with video footage.

Most of our owners and tenants take pride in keeping our common spaces neat and tidy and complying with the by-laws. Strata living requires being considerate. If you want to go rogue buy a house.

 

[love_the_life]

We don't have a clothes line at all

Do you have a Balcony ? Considered a drying line there?
We have a small side balcony at the unit ; in the event that I have to eventually live in it, will build a folding line there.

No we don't have a balcony. We have a winter garden (with doors that open to create a balcony like space but can be closed to keep out the weather) and I certainly would not want to put a drying line in there. We use the room a lot, both with doors open and closed. I am perfectly happy with my sheets dried in the clothes dryer.

 

[jastel]

If you travel a lot, you know the procedure and it shouldnt take longer. Its the once a year or foreign language type (or dare I say elderly as well) that have no clue and slow it up...
You must be lucky if you have never been in a queue for the robots.

Ironically if you travel more you get status and dont need to use the robots. You are then important enough to get a real person and some "Service".

I dont like them...or self check out at Woolies etc or the Maccas robots. Give people jobs, not machines. If I am doing "work" for the company and saving Woolies money by reducing wages where is my pay/super/staff discount benefits etc.

One Maccas got really into the robots during covid up here and refused to give counter service...I would go through the drive thru and then park and walk inside with my food. It was still quicker normally as the delays of people not knowing how to use the machines. Also watch every kid in Maccas they go and touch every machine and push every button...never cleaned. Yeah - much healthier than speaking to somebody...

 

[Lynda2475]

And there you go I always use self service at the supermarket because that way my groceries get packed correctly and the teenager on the checkout doesn't put heavy laundry liquid bottles on my eggs or nectarines.

FYI at Aus domestic terminals (for QF at least) having status does nothing to get you the ability to check-in with a person. At SYDd there is 1 (2 at busy times) counters, but no priority for status, vs about 40 self service machines for tags and about 20 self serve bag drops. Status only kicks in at the security line.

FYI#2 despite a common misconception, the introduction of self serve checkouts has not reduced in-store jobs, as those resources have been redirected to become pickers to fulfil online home delivery and click n collect orders and most stores have had to employ more staff due to the boom in online/click n collect. Not to mention the Corporate and IT jobs created to write the programming, fraud procedures etc.

Rather than manning more check-outs IMO its better that staff keep shelves better stocked, man the deli and returns counter, clean up spills, monitor theft (which is a primary driver of price increases).

YMMV as always. But the move to cashless self serve for simple purchases is a good thing for me. You do not need product advice at the supermarket, any offered would be skewed to what low selling stock they want to shift anyway.

 

[JohnK]

Golf courses that buy golf carts and remove the windscreen. FFS leave the windscreen there. It's great protection from torrential rain and stray golf balls.

Played The Emerald yesterday. I see they have some golf carts with windscreens and some without. I tell starter I want golf cart with windscreen. Go to locker and come out and see my bag on golf cart without windscreen. Ask caddy to swap. No, we not have. See that golf cart over there with windscreen, get that one. Cannot. I told her nicely no windscreen, no play. She got permission from starter to swap.

I'm paying a lot of money to play this stupid game. Listen to what I want.

 

[DejaBrew]

WCMO? One of my neighbours using power tools at midnight. Sounds like they're constructing a built-in wardrobe from the comfort of their yard… which is the obvious and considerate thing to do at this time of night.

 

[jastel]

teenagers on checkouts? no lines at robots?
What planet you live on? I need to get there.

FYI My home Australian airport has manned check in counters for Qantas, Virgin and Jetstar, there are robots too but as QF Gold I just go to the Business line and jump the lineup.
No difference at security here but...its a novel thing for me in SYD etc.
So I guess I do get different mileage than you...lol
Travelling QF I use my bag tag, so the robots at SYD are not too painful.
Travelling on any other airlines with robots and bag stickers is a PITA.

Old people only on checkouts here...they are the only ones who know what proper work is anyway.
Pack bags yourself, or at least help the checkout person, I agree makes it faster for all...so long as you remember to bring them from the car in the first place...D'oh...many idiots standing there pecking on phones watching the checkout person do it all.

And transferring jobs to pickers instead of checkouts is not exactly increasing jobs but it IS clogging up the aisles, decreasing checkouts, and increasing wait times and prices for everybody on the fraud side of things. Shoplifting kids just walk out here...they know they are untouchable.

Looks like things are very different around the country.

 

[CMA222]

........

WCMO is those who hang laundry visibly on balconies ugly and against by-laws. My favourite infringement fine to issue is to those that have laundry strung up visibly on balcony.

,,,,,,,

4. Dog owners who let their dogs cough on common property and are too lazy to pick up the poop. One offender has about $500 in fines before he realised he was clearly visible holding the lead whilst his cavoodle dumped near the playground then walked away. There is no arguing with video footage.

An Owners Corporation in NSW has no power to issue fines and any by-law that suggests otherwise is invalid. They can issue a by-law breach notice and if the owner/occupier ignores it the only legal remedy is to seek an order at the Civil and Administrative Tribunal who, if appropriate, can issue a fine. Any fines issued by NCAT are collected by the NSW Government and retained as part of consolidated revenue. Any real estate or strata management agent who says fines can be issued or that issues fines on behalf of an Owners Corporation is misleading the owners and acting illegally.

 

[Gremlin]

WCMO is overreach by Bodies Corporate.

Don’t get me wrong, antisocial behaviour is not condoned. But neither is the selective weaponisation of by-laws nor the self-assertion of penalties that don’t stack up against the laws governing how a Body Corporate should operate.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

WCMO ............................ Shoestring Fries / French Fries - I hate these piddly skinny little fockers - what's wrong with the standard thick cut chips we all grew up with? And I don't mean wedges - not a fan of wedges either. The skinny ones are cold in no time flat - hate cold chips - take 'em home with you please Yanks!

 

[p--and--t]

WCMO is overreach by Bodies Corporate.

Don’t get me wrong, antisocial behaviour is not condoned. But neither is the selective weaponisation of by-laws nor the self-assertion of penalties that don’t stack up against the laws governing how a Body Corporate should operate.

 

[Hvr]

WCMO ............................ Shoestring Fries / French Fries

I actually prefer them when using my air fryer.

 

[JohnK]

People with 2+ cars owning/renting units with single garage and difficulty parking close by on the street as there are time limits and clear ways at certain times of day.

These same people then park either side of the driveway for days/weeks on end and sometimes there are cars parked either side and the only way to enter our driveway (2 apartment blocks share same driveway) is to turn left from a very busy street slowing down to avoid cars parked in driveway.

And even bigger morons are those that park their cars in front of their garage. So number 7 opposite us has visitors and they park perpendicular in front of garage. Can I also then park in front my garage too? Nobody can get in/out if that's the case.

People can be incredibly selfish.

 

[tgh]

WCMO is overreach by Bodies Corporate.

Swmbo is in year 2 of bc membership for our newly completed residential ( no rentals) building.
There exists a very broad range of what diffrn't folks see as acceptable behaviour and the angst for the bc in sorting out stuff is not pretty.

 

[LCC]

An Owners Corporation in NSW has no power to issue fines and any by-law that suggests otherwise is invalid. They can issue a by-law breach notice and if the owner/occupier ignores it the only legal remedy is to seek an order at the Civil and Administrative Tribunal who, if appropriate, can issue a fine. Any fines issued by NCAT are collected by the NSW Government and retained as part of consolidated revenue. Any real estate or strata management agent who says fines can be issued or that issues fines on behalf of an Owners Corporation is misleading the owners and acting illegally.think it is anti social

Yes as we found out when we complained about the smoke drift from one of our apartment neighbours smoking his cigar for an hour or so each early evening on his balcony (he has recently cut it down to only 3-4 nights a week). He obviously doesn't think it is anti social so there we are, we get to grin and bear it.

 

[Hvr]

Yes as we found out when we complained about the smoke drift from one of our apartment neighbours smoking his cigar for an hour or so each early evening on his balcony (he has recently cut it down to only 3-4 nights a week). He obviously doesn't think it is anti social so there we are, we get to grin and bear it.

Smoke drift battle exposes NCAT's farcical flaws

The recent Sydney Morning Herald story about a couple who – at the third attempt – won a case to get their neighbours to stop smoking on their balcony may h

www.flatchat.com.au

Room with a feud: Apartment dwellers seek to ban neighbours from smoking on balconies

A couple who took their neighbours to a tribunal to stop them smoking on their apartment balcony say the NSW government should bring in a statewide ban.

www.smh.com.au

Can Strata Ban Smoking in NSW? - The Strata Collective

New South Wales strata schemes have the authority to ban smoking under model by-laws from the NSW Strata Schemes Management Regulation with strict fines and penalties.

www.thestratacollective.com.au

This is one area where the OC has specific responsibilities and authority to act. However, many are either too scared to follow up, or don't want to tell their friends they can't smoke. In NSW follow up with NCAT.

 

[Lynda2475]

They can issue a by-law breach notice and if the owner/occupier ignores it the only legal remedy is to seek an order at the Civil and Administrative Tribunal who, if appropriate, can issue a fine.

Yes I am well aware of the procedure, this is a gripe thread so I didn't express it accurately(should have said notice to comply not fine) nor feel the need to go through the details of the procedures.

Our by-laws are all valid and our Owners Corporation have an excellent relationship with the Tribunal who have always ruled in our favour. We dont waste time going to the tribunal if there is any doubt.

Noting I never claimed that the strata get the money, but it works well as a deterrent since owners who keep copping grief on behalf of their horrible tenants usually choose not to renew their leases and find a better tenant. There have only been 2 or so owners out of 180 who have caused issues it is generally tenants.

Meeting minutes name and shame the lots who are issued notices to comply (these are posted on notice board so are seen by tenants not just owners), and also report on successful tribunal outcomes.

We have also had successfully had 1 ex-tenant charged by Police for willful vandalism of common property.

IME laundry offences don't need to go beyond notice to comply and threat of the related fine.

WCMO is overreach by Bodies Corporate.

Don’t get me wrong, antisocial behaviour is not condoned. But neither is the selective weaponisation of by-laws nor the self-assertion of penalties that don’t stack up against the laws governing how a Body Corporate should operate.

If you live in a small lot, you might think you can do without one, but in larger schemes (ours has ~180 lots) its essential or the tiny minority of inconsiderate coughs ruin the environment for others.

Our Body Corporate do wonderful work of ensuring our common spaces are well maintained, mediating minor complaints, educating tenants and keep our strata fees well down compared with similar sized properties nearby because they take on a lot of the work of organising and reviewing tenders and requests, taking own minutes etc at no cost, we have great community spirit.

There is nothing selective about the by-laws, all were established or amended after consultation with owners, review by lawyer and enacted via a vote of owners at AGM or special GM where there was a quorum and enforcement is applied without bias.

Sometimes (i.e. first offence) all that is needed just a warning and providing a copy of by-laws to stop breaches, if not then notice/s to comply with photo evidence, then further action if situation not adequately resolved. Sometimes the sumons to tribunal also miraculously sees the issue resolved.

We recently took action against an owner on the Body Corp (obviously got on committee to try and bend things in their favour but epic fail) who did building works without notice, or permission in violation of by-laws that not only damaged common property but impacted privacy of 2 other owners (pointing illegal installed cameras directly into the bedrooms of neighbours).

They didn't comply with the notices to comply to remedy the situation, tried to get a new by-law passed at the AGM to retrospectively approve their works which was resoundingly defeated (the only lot that voted yes was the lot in breach) and ended up at the tribunal twice (once pre-agm and then again post agm as had still not complied with tribunal ruling) and lost both times. Most hated lot in the property, they are not suited to strata living.

WRT smoking we have a by-law which does not allow smoking on common property (and balconies are common property), this is generally respected as evidenced by the handful of smokers who choose not to smoke inside their homes regularly being seen standing on the footpath out in the street on council property smoking outside the gates. But have issued notices to comply, one went to tribunal and then the owner did not renew the lease then told his real estate agent to only rent to non-smokers in future.