When Strata Storage Becomes a Hazard

Our homes (apartments, garages and storerooms) are places where we live and keep the things that are necessary and important to us. 

So, they’re important warehouses of our stuff.  And, that’s entirely appropriate since we all have stuff and need to keep it somewhere.

But what about when it goes too far and storing stuff becomes a problem?

This story posted by Summit Strata highlights how one apartment owner created a rabbit warren of junk in their apartment and how it was handled here.

But, it’s not the only example of storage becoming a hazard in strata buildings.

There’s apartment hoarders who keep paper and other stuff that becomes a fire hazard, those owners and residents who never clean up and create vermin and health hazards in the building, people who stack their garages and parking spaces with old junk and the business operator who stores their products, supplies and waste in their lot or garage.

Every situation is difficult to handle because the storage is in private property so it’s hard to detect and do much about. 

There’s often rules or by-laws that control some things (like flammable materials or things that cause noise or odour) and sometimes strata laws prohibit things that cause nuisances or hazard.  Sometimes, local planning laws also control over-storing and fire, health and planning authorities can intervene.

But, in every case there’s a lot of work to fix the problem and no guarantee it won’t re-occur.

So, beware of over storing in your strata building.

Francesco …