A letter was sent to renters by a strata management business informing them that any items on their balconies, including potted plants and barbecues, will now require approval.
Monday, the corporation called occupants of a Sydney apartment building to tell them of the new procedure.
The letter informed residents that the strata management organization must approve any additions to unit balconies facing the street.
This included, but was not limited to, outside furniture, barbeques, and potted plants with “bright colors.”
The letter uploaded on Reddit stated, “With multiple apartments currently for rent or sale, we must market the building as favorably as possible.”
A strata management business warned tenants that all balcony objects, including potted plants and barbecues, will require apartment complex approval.
Each unit is equipped with a dryer, so there is “no reason” for laundry to be visible from the street, as stated in the notification.
Seven days before to the event, a ‘change request’ must be made to the provided email address for approval.
The letter states, “We encourage adhering to the aforementioned rules to avoid problems in the future.”
Each unit is equipped with a dryer, so there is “no reason” for laundry to be visible from the street, as stated in the notification.
A ‘change request’ must be made to the provided email address seven days in advance for approval of any balcony additions.
The letter stipulates that laundry should NEVER be seen from the balcony. Since there is a dryer in every unit, there is no reason to dry clothes outside.
Reddit user @HellsAverageRig submitted the strata notice with the following caption: ‘Just received this completely strange notification from strata. They now want to approve our purchases of furniture and PLANT POTS? Surely this is not legally binding?’
Other people concurred, reiterating the absurdity of the proposal.
One individual remarked, “If I were interested in owning a unit, I would prefer all the balconies to look a bit different. Seeing one grey potted plant and one grey chair on each balcony would deter me, knowing I would be bound into the same stupid uniform regulations with no freedom of choice.”
“Print a large quantity of these and distribute them everywhere, so that all prospective new tenants are aware of what they’re getting into,” a second person said.
“Is there no reason to dry clothing outside? It is better for the environment (and your energy expenses!)’ wrote a third.
A fourth asked, “There is a dryer in every unit, but who’s paying the electricity bill?”
If a renter desires to make alterations to a property in New South Wales, they must obtain approval from the landlord, owners’ corporation, or strata body. If the change is of a small nature, the landlord cannot unjustly deny permission.
The NSW Department of Fair Trading recommends that if a problem arises, renters first attempt to address it directly with the strata corporation. Additionally, it provides a free mediation service that can be requested online.
Finally, a renter can petition the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal for a formal ruling on whether or not to keep that obnoxious yellow potted plant.