Common area storage and fair use policy
Body Corporate 178796 (Freemans Park)
July 2024
1.0 Background
Storage areas throughout the park are common property and are widely accessible. Better managing how these areas are accessed and used is one way that the Body Corporate can improve confidence that Freemans Park is safe and secure for residents.
Storage space is limited. The available space is best used for bulky items that residents use frequently, such as sports equipment, and seasonal items like heaters, or a small volume of personal effects.
Storage is not sufficient to provide:
an alternative to long-term storage lockers (which are available commercially offsite)
a way of avoiding the timely disposal of unwanted goods
storage of excess furniture
2.0 Common area storage usage policy
The average storage floor area per residential units is 700mm x 700mm (maximum storage height 2.0 metres high). However, the key principle is that usage must be fair and reasonable.
Resident owners may make fair and reasonable use of common area storage subject to this policy. A tenant may access an owner’s common area storage entitlement if the owner permits. However, the owner remains responsible for compliance with this policy.
Requirements
All items must be labelled with the resident’s name, unit number and the date the item was placed in storage.
Residents can be issued with a registered key to the storage space in the building they live in for a fee of $50. Alternatively, access to deposit or uplift items from storage can be arranged through the building manager.
Residents wishing to utilise storage in a building other than the one they live in must arrange access via the building manager (at reasonable times and frequency). This is a security measure to minimise access to buildings by non-residents.
Small items should be stored in stackable containers or file boxes such that they remain tidy and can be organised to maximise space in the storage areas.
Annually, at the time of the Council inorganic collection, owners will be required to clear their stored items out of common storage for 3 days. This will allow for cleaning and maintenance of the common storage areas. Items not removed during the clear-out period will be disposed of.
Reasonable use includes
Storing less than 1 cubic meter of bulky items such as sporting goods, seasonal items or a small volume of personal effects in an appropriate container.
Temporary storage on a very short-term basis of larger items as agreed with the Grounds and Building Manager, subject to available space.
Unreasonable includes but is not limited to
Occupation of a floor area greater than 1.0m wide x 700mm
Storage of items belonging to someone not resident at Freemans Park
Storage of hazardous goods and waste
Storage of unwanted items that could be disposed of
Storage of excess furniture
If you have items in storage, you should promptly ensure that they are limited to a floor area of 700mm by 700mm in total and that all items are labelled as above.