Living on a shared property may at times leave you feeling inadequate and powerless. You could be sharing different values with your neighbour… and they could be the careless type; leaving litter around the property. Other times, you may find some disposed of goods and may be wondering how to best deal with it.
This is especially commonplace as people relocate; leaving all their junk and rubbish lying around with low regard for the outcome. So, what is the best way to handle disposed goods on strata property?
Worry no more, there are carefully laid regulations that make provision with regards to your problem at hand. The Strata Schemes Management Regulation 2016 empowers owners, giving you directives on how to move goods disposed on common property.
If the items are only blocking entry or exit to the premises, you can decide to move it to another part of the strata property. This does not require any prior notice. Also, be careful not to damage the items.
However, if you want to dispose of the goods, here is a comprehensive guide covering the process of dealing with the unsightly abandoned goods.
1) What do the goods comprise?
Take a peek and identify what comprises the property. The legislature only gives you the right to dispose of the property if: the goods are perishables, consist of rubbish, or there’s a notice placed on or near the assets.
2) Provide a disposal notice
A notice has to be provided, expressing the intent to dispose of the goods. A proper notice should be:
- Printed on a size not smaller than an A4 paper.
- Weather-resistant. You could laminate it to prevent impacts by adverse weather conditions.
- Describe the items; a picture of the same can do.
- Include dates; note the time when the notice is placed, as well as the date of planned disposal. Also, you should put the notice at least five days before the day of planned removal.
- The contact details of the strata managing agents, a delegate of the owners’ corporation, or a member of the strata committee should be included.
3) Disposal of the goods
If the deadline lapses and nobody has come forth to take claim of the products, they automatically become the owners corporation’s property.
The owners corporation could either give them out to charity, sell the items, or throw them in the trash. In case you sell the items, the proceeds should be receipted to the administration fund.
You must record details of the sale. Include information such as a description of the property, the date of purchase, addresses of the buyer, and details of the auctioneer if sale was made through auction. This record should be stored for at least 12 months.
After sale, the purchaser of the item becomes the new owner, and you cannot make further claims to the goods.
4) Dealing with an abandoned car
In case the abandoned property in question is a car, you should still follow the steps outlined in step 1 and 2 above. With regards to disposal, the owners association can move the vehicle to a lawful parking place.
You can also have the owner pay a reasonable cost for moving the vehicle by applying to NCAT.
How to protect yourself as a property owner:
- Exercise responsibility for your property. Do not leave your items lying around the common property.
- Correctly handle your garbage.
- Have a scheduled garbage disposal plan.
At Paul’s Rubbish Removal, we understand the health and safety issues surrounding disposed goods. Not only is it unsightly, but it could also stand as a potential harm. That is why we offer strata management services to help you legally handle any garbage within your shared property.
Our team of experienced professionals understands the regulations and abide by this while disposing of the goods from common property and private property. Contact us today, and we’ll be happy to deal with the disposed of items immediately.
