5 Most Common Problems of Strata Living

Strata living comes with a lot of benefits. You are more connected to people, you pay less, share costs, and you are secure. Besides, you aren't alone and you can enjoy the many luxuries of this kind of living. On the other hand, it also has some challenges. You will face some obstacles in your community, but worry not – they are all fixable! Being aware of them before you move in could help you get there more prepared. Here are some of the most common strata living problems.

1. Pets

Every other person has a furry friend they cannot live without. Even when living in traditional houses, pets can cause disagreements between neighbours. This could get more serious in strata living. Barking and meowing all the time could annoy the members of your community (or you!).

Luckily, there is a solution for this and it’s pretty obvious. Before getting into all the strata business, you should read the bylaws relevant to the property. These could differ significantly and you should always check what the specific one you’re looking at says about keeping pets.

2. Noise

Another annoying issue related to strata living is the noise. When you live in a community, you can’t really expect peace and quiet all the time. Living near people means listening to other people’s laughter, arguments, loud music, or revving of motor engines.

The key here is to communicate properly. The strata laws say that it’s strictly against the rules to make noise during sleep hours. If your neighbours keep partying late at night, make sure to tell them what the issue is. If a friendly suggestion doesn’t help, call the cops, as they are breaking the law.

3. Changes and improvements

Whether you have to repair something or you want to improve the conditions you live in, the chances are that you’re going to change some things in your unit. You might have to change the doors or windows or you might want to add air conditioning.

Unfortunately, you want to be able to do any of this without a permit. However, effective strata management can solve this and any other issue. Don’t forget to notify the neighbours about the time period of the renovations and you’ll get an improved home and keep the friendly vibes in the community.

4. Maintenance fees

There are two types of fees in strata schemes – service charge and sinking fund. The former relates to maintaining facilities and common property payments (elevators and swimming pools). The latter refers to the reserve fund collected for future expenditure.

It’s usually collected by the owner and it serves for the painting of the facade or replacement of fixtures. All of these fees have to be paid for the common facilities to function. As long as you and your community members pay for everything on time, there should be no issue whatsoever!

5. Limited parking spaces

Parking is another thing that causes headaches for strata unitholders. It’s rarely easy to find a parking spot and this can really get on your nerves. Vehicles on the common property should never obstruct the driveway. This can change though, depending on the bylaws of the property.

Another significant thing to remember is that guests might have limited timing for occupying a parking spot. Make sure to read the rules thoroughly before you invite someone over. Notifying your guests of these rules could save your relationship with the neighbours!

Conclusion

Strata living brings a lot of joy. You shouldn't forget about that just because these problems could occur in the future. The fact that you know of them can make you more prepared for community living. Make sure to give it a chance and see what a great time you'll have in such a community!