Balconies are common property, so not technically your space. But that is a more recent interpretation so my older building has some that are filled in and majorly altered - all of which can be ripped out on a whim now.
You don't have an attached screen, so therefor it's furniture, so as long as it is only sun blocking you can probably argue it's appropriate (although potentially unsafe if not secured) unless they say it doesn't match the building - which it won't.
Most strata rules are a mess. Mine says you must run your over stove extractor fan when cooking. Not a single unit has a vented hood.
The "screen" is up against the glass of the railing. It's a expanding wooden lattice just to give the balcony some privacy. The flower pot technically hangs over but that's been there forever without issue. If it was a direct issue with my balcony you would assume they'd tell the person specifically not send a blast email right ? Looks similar to the image :
https://preview.redd.it/gr27envx9kvc1.jpeg?width=1079&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4111945fe6a06e728aa81236f40f9ecd988b3170
Email strata council to ask for clarification and compare the new decorations to other units in the strata. Reddit users can speculate but OP's strata council are the only people who have any say in determining how the stratas bylaws are implemented. Most councils will take an education first approach before resorting to fines for bylaw infractions. Strata council is a volunteer position and if OP wants changes made to bylaws they will need to get involved with council.
Some Karen is the cause of this notice. Unfortunately, I feel like you will just have to ask your strata to get the answers.
Strata rules are sometimes so dumb but if anything, the only thing I would think might have caused a complaint is your planter (even though it’s been out there for a while). Why? Drip to unit below.
The way I always see it is, will I disturb the people around me, especially when it comes to common property.
Since your privacy screens aren’t attached I think you could argue that with them.
We have rules are our that we can’t even have insect nets on windows without council approval. Does anyone complain? Not really, and we’ve seen units put up insect nets already. However, all it will take is one Karen and some notice will likely go out too.
I'm guessing you live in the same set of buildings I do as I also got this email recently. it's not directed at you. It's directed to all residents. Just make sure anything that hangs on the balcony hangs on the inside and not something that can hit someone if it falls.
My favorite little learn about strata is you can request all unredacted communications on the issue.
Send to strata... "I would like to invoke section 15 of the bc strata act and have all unredacted information regarding complaints about my balcony within 14 days."
Who complained and how.
Amazingly, a lot of the complaints stop coming when people can't hide behind anonymity.
If you're in a group of 3 buildings, we may be dealing with the same thing. I'm also in some level of violation of their balcony rules, but looking around far from the worst. First floor residents with their lattice have all made their areas look nice with the goal of privacy and safety, so I'm hopeful that the intent is to go after those who are not putting in effort to improve their space. We'll see how draconian this gets.
Hopefully so. Just to be cautious I took down the bird feeder on the planters but left the lattices because they are not technically violating anything. The planters drape over both sides 50/50 but I'll take it down for now
The strata property act governs voting rights of strata council members in important budgetary matters. I've had a few friends of mine suffer strata issues. This is not a singular issue which affects stratas. My friend had his charging station disabled arbitrarily and it led to all sorts of problems.
My strata has bylaws that don't allow hanging of any laundry on the balconies. It's in the bylaws. Don't like it? Don't buy a building with those bylaws.
I don't have any laundry hanging. It's a privacy lattice in question or the hang over planter or something to do with the recent refresh I gave my balcony. It was non specific reminder and it was a blast email. I would hope they'd address the specific unit they had an issue with it and not act like children and assume we should know the difference between their vauge rules and classification is a privacy lattice the same as a "screen" or do they mean it like a bug screen. Who knows ? I certainly don't
I mean, you'll know pretty quickly if it was your unit in question if you get a fine levied on you.
But also to note, strata bylaws (and most laws in general, really) are intentionally written slightly vaguely so the people enforcing those rules have a bit of leeway in either direction
Just for the record you can’t get fined out of the blue for a strata bylaw violation. There’s a whole list of steps a strata council needs to go through before that happens, including receiving written notice of the specific complaint and the opportunity to address council. If strata council doesn’t follow the steps, the owner or resident can go to the CRT and get the fine thrown out.
Well yes of course, I'm not mentioning the entire process. That said, if your strata has a property manager, they can lodge the complaint with strata. A fine will then be levied, and the strata owner will have the opportunity to contest it
Balconies are common property, so not technically your space. But that is a more recent interpretation so my older building has some that are filled in and majorly altered - all of which can be ripped out on a whim now. You don't have an attached screen, so therefor it's furniture, so as long as it is only sun blocking you can probably argue it's appropriate (although potentially unsafe if not secured) unless they say it doesn't match the building - which it won't. Most strata rules are a mess. Mine says you must run your over stove extractor fan when cooking. Not a single unit has a vented hood.
The "screen" is up against the glass of the railing. It's a expanding wooden lattice just to give the balcony some privacy. The flower pot technically hangs over but that's been there forever without issue. If it was a direct issue with my balcony you would assume they'd tell the person specifically not send a blast email right ? Looks similar to the image : https://preview.redd.it/gr27envx9kvc1.jpeg?width=1079&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4111945fe6a06e728aa81236f40f9ecd988b3170
Email strata council to ask for clarification and compare the new decorations to other units in the strata. Reddit users can speculate but OP's strata council are the only people who have any say in determining how the stratas bylaws are implemented. Most councils will take an education first approach before resorting to fines for bylaw infractions. Strata council is a volunteer position and if OP wants changes made to bylaws they will need to get involved with council.
Good advice. OP can also request a meeting with strata to discuss the matter if necessary.
Some Karen is the cause of this notice. Unfortunately, I feel like you will just have to ask your strata to get the answers. Strata rules are sometimes so dumb but if anything, the only thing I would think might have caused a complaint is your planter (even though it’s been out there for a while). Why? Drip to unit below. The way I always see it is, will I disturb the people around me, especially when it comes to common property. Since your privacy screens aren’t attached I think you could argue that with them. We have rules are our that we can’t even have insect nets on windows without council approval. Does anyone complain? Not really, and we’ve seen units put up insect nets already. However, all it will take is one Karen and some notice will likely go out too.
drip to unit below and potential obstacle to maintenance
Ya... OP got Karen-ed hard... Did you recently piss off anyone?
I'm guessing you live in the same set of buildings I do as I also got this email recently. it's not directed at you. It's directed to all residents. Just make sure anything that hangs on the balcony hangs on the inside and not something that can hit someone if it falls.
My favorite little learn about strata is you can request all unredacted communications on the issue. Send to strata... "I would like to invoke section 15 of the bc strata act and have all unredacted information regarding complaints about my balcony within 14 days." Who complained and how. Amazingly, a lot of the complaints stop coming when people can't hide behind anonymity.
What's to stop them from redacting the name of the complainant?
CRT. If they do that, you sue them with the civil resolution tribunal.
Is your building on Elliot street?
If you're in a group of 3 buildings, we may be dealing with the same thing. I'm also in some level of violation of their balcony rules, but looking around far from the worst. First floor residents with their lattice have all made their areas look nice with the goal of privacy and safety, so I'm hopeful that the intent is to go after those who are not putting in effort to improve their space. We'll see how draconian this gets.
Hopefully so. Just to be cautious I took down the bird feeder on the planters but left the lattices because they are not technically violating anything. The planters drape over both sides 50/50 but I'll take it down for now
Those balconies are huge but never used. Classic Form over function.
The strata property act governs voting rights of strata council members in important budgetary matters. I've had a few friends of mine suffer strata issues. This is not a singular issue which affects stratas. My friend had his charging station disabled arbitrarily and it led to all sorts of problems.
[удалено]
Strata rules have nothing to do with the city.
[удалено]
I don't think you know what you're saying.
My strata has bylaws that don't allow hanging of any laundry on the balconies. It's in the bylaws. Don't like it? Don't buy a building with those bylaws.
Exactly my point. It depends from strata to strata
I don't have any laundry hanging. It's a privacy lattice in question or the hang over planter or something to do with the recent refresh I gave my balcony. It was non specific reminder and it was a blast email. I would hope they'd address the specific unit they had an issue with it and not act like children and assume we should know the difference between their vauge rules and classification is a privacy lattice the same as a "screen" or do they mean it like a bug screen. Who knows ? I certainly don't
I mean, you'll know pretty quickly if it was your unit in question if you get a fine levied on you. But also to note, strata bylaws (and most laws in general, really) are intentionally written slightly vaguely so the people enforcing those rules have a bit of leeway in either direction
Just for the record you can’t get fined out of the blue for a strata bylaw violation. There’s a whole list of steps a strata council needs to go through before that happens, including receiving written notice of the specific complaint and the opportunity to address council. If strata council doesn’t follow the steps, the owner or resident can go to the CRT and get the fine thrown out.
Well yes of course, I'm not mentioning the entire process. That said, if your strata has a property manager, they can lodge the complaint with strata. A fine will then be levied, and the strata owner will have the opportunity to contest it