What You Need To Know About Keeping Pets In Strata Schemes

By Author: Christopher Whelan
Total Articles: 74
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In many homes, pets are an important part of the household and Australia has the highest rate of pet ownership per household. More than two third Australian homes have pets.

It is estimated that one in five people in nsw living within a strata scheme. In strata scheme it’s a tough situation to keep animal in residential areas because it can raise issues such as hygiene, noise and unfriendly actions. If you plan to buy into a strata scheme, and want to keep a pet, you should check with the owner corporation as per by-laws in regards to the keeping of pets. If keeping a pet is an important thing for you then you must understand laws that are apply nsw strata scheme.

You must obtain the written approval of the owner corporation, before keeping any animal, except fish in a secure aquarium, on a lot or the common property. If you keep a cat, small dog or small caged bird on the lot then you must:

•Give notice to the owners corporation that the animal is being kept on the lot
•Keep the animal within the lot
•Carry the animal when it is on the common property
•Take such action as may ...
... be necessary to clean all areas of the lot or the common property that are soiled by the animal.

The terms of by-laws which apply in your scheme can only decide whether you can keep pet in the strata scheme, you don’t need owner corporation’s permission to keep a guide dog or hearing dog. But again an owner has right to reject the keeping of a pet on their property despite what by-law may state.

if your pet has undergone behavioral training, provide details to show that you are a responsible pet owner by having proof of registration/micro chipping and all essential vaccinations; and if you have kept your pet in a strata scheme or other residence previously, include references from your former landlords or neighbors that specially mention the behavior of your pet. You can also search the strata records for the property and see if there are other owners of the building who also have kept pets in the scheme. This can give you a convincing pattern for your request to keep your pet in the scheme.

You will be notified by the owner corporation of the decision made within a reasonable period of time. Once the consent of the owner corporation has been acquired, you can request a copy of the resolution and a letter from the owner corporation.
If in any case it is found that your pet is causing a nuisance, harm to people or damage to common property, then the owners corporation or strata management agent may apply to adjudicator to remove your pet from strata scheme. You must ensure that the presence of your pet does not become an annoyance for other residents in the strata scheme. if your pet is a dog, excessive barking can also be an issue .you may give behavioral training to your dog which may control the situation or you may need to reconsider of living in a strata scheme altogether .

Christopher Whelan is a Licensed Strata manager at Whelan Property Group Pvt. Ltd. focused on providing prompt and proactive professional Strata management throughout Sydney.