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Lotsofstairs

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  • 24/06/2017 at 1:16 pm in reply to: Can we create a bylaw banning Airbnb? #27355
    Lotsofstairs

      Done to death?  From a committee member’s point of view I think not.

      Thanks to all the above for their obviously passionate contributions. 

      My takeouts are:

      • state and local governments have created this situation by studied neglect

      • lawyers are the undisputed winners from the ambiguity and complexity

      • the workload and responsibilities of voluntary committee members is ignored – there is no simple solution and they hold the ultimate responsibility on behalf of (rent-seeking?) owners – more work for the unthanked!

      • what evidence is sufficient for a successful breach of bylaw action is a known unknown – for this low-level civil matter the gathering of evidence should be low cost and quick eg a website listing should suffice (photographs typically identify a residence) – Fair Trading should offer clear guidance here

      • whatever solution is proposed it will be gamed/subverted to some degree.

      Check out p12 letter of the July 2017 edition of The Beast (www.thebeast.com.au – July edition letters not posted at time of writing) “Illegal backpacker renting a joke” for another dimension of the problem.  How would a committee respond to this neighbouring property issue?

      All together, it’s a totally unsatisfactory situation.

      21/06/2017 at 3:11 pm in reply to: Owners corp’s options re Airbnb #27321
      Lotsofstairs

        @JimmyT said:

        Meanwhile, as advised by the Fair Trading Commissioner, start hitting them with penalty notices for every time there is a new tenant and that tenant’s name and address are not registered with the owners corp as per section 258 of the Act (see below).

        Hi Jimmy

        Do you have a link to the Fair Trading Commissioner advice please?

        Plus does this advice apply to situations where a bedroom is let out and there is evidence the premises are advertised on say the AirBnB website?

        Thanks

        09/04/2013 at 9:21 am in reply to: Fire Order, hydrants, water flow, and policy issues #18245
        Lotsofstairs

          @Whale said:
          It’s not a State Government policy issue, …

          …. Sydney Water’s Operating License permits it to supply its services at levels below those given in its Standards of Service provided it negotiates a Service Agreement with affected customers.

          That Service Agreement should give you and other residents some recourse, and may even secure some assistance with overcoming the issues that you’ve mentioned in your post, including some medium term forecasts.

          Your Owners Corporation could act as the conduit (sorry again) to initiate discussions on that Service Agreement, so I’d suggest having a representative contact Sydney Water to get things moving.

          Hi Whale

          thanks for your response.  I was aware of most of the background but not all … the extra detail is appreciated. I’m not sure if ‘flow’ is covered in the Service Agreements … I understand ‘pressure’ is and my understanding is that Sydney Water are saying that is not below the agreed minimum. “Flow’ is our problem apparently.

          The first suggestion we received (from Sydney Water to our hydraulics consultant) was for our OC to initiate discussions/lobby other buildings etc and so this was the starting point for my thinking.  Hence my points in the first post. 

          I don’t see why one OC needs to spend time and money on a wider problem … in our case I’m told the main was installed in 1917 and so is approaching its centenary and surely end of life.  It’s the State Government that is setting the growth targets and Council that is approving the development. They’ve just dug up half the LGA to increase the electricity supply …

          I suggest it is a policy problem for the State Government that will require direction to Sydney Water and perhaps a change to the agreement.  Council should lobby for change quoting the points I raise in my original post and any other relevant arguments.

          I estimate our 40 yr old building has paid close to $1million (current prices) in rates over the years to council and so would expect some leadership from them and a concern for community safety rather than passing the buck. 

          We have a backpackers across the road and there was a small fire there a while ago.  No one wants a tragedy to drive change.

          Cheers

           

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