My pregnant roommate and I wanted to move out of our apartment on the weekend... but a ridiculous rule means we could be fined
A tenant has lashed out after claiming she was threatened with a fine after she and her pregnant roommate tried to move out of their apartment on a weekend.
A tenant has lashed out after claiming she was threatened with a fine after she and her pregnant roommate tried to move out of their apartment on a weekend.
Darcy OMalley, 30, wanted to use the lift to move out of her $760-a-week apartment in East Perth on a Saturday after spending the last five years in the 34 floor building.
She claimed the buildings strata company Richardson Strata Management prohibited tenants from using the lifts to move furniture on the weekend.
Ms OMalley was infuriated after learning there was a kerbside collection scheduled on Monday - with residents encouraged to get rid of their bulky rubbish.
In what world does an apartment building not let you move out on a weekend? she said in a TikTok video on March 7.
Theyll be getting a nice Google review from me, one star, f*** your council of owners.
Ms OMalley was organising most of the move herself as her roommate is heavily pregnant and, as a result, requested permission for special circumstances to move out on a Saturday, which is not usually allowed.
Building management denied the request but Ms OMalley decided to go ahead anyway.
I was like, no worries, happy to dispute it in court, she said.
As a result, Ms OMalley claimed she faced the risk of a fine for using the lift despite the fact others in the building were using it to move furniture around.
The 34-year-old said that the kicker was an email from management about a road-side collection of bulky furniture that was due on the Monday after her move.
Our building managers sent out an email to everyone saying, in lieu of the kerbside collection, please put out all your furniture and all your s*** you want to move out [on] Saturday and Sunday, she said.
How does it make sense that we are going to get fined for moving furniture out on the weekend, but theyve told all the residents in the building to move out s*** for kerbside collection this weekend?
Ms OMalley said everyone was tag-teaming and moving their furniture down for the collection.
So if theyre going to look at the cameras and be like, "They moved out", so did every other man and their bloody dog, she said.
Every strata building has its own set of articles or by-laws outlining what can and cant be done on the property, specifically in common areas.
Darcy OMalley (pictured) criticised her building management from not letting residents move out on a weekend
OMalley and other renters were emailed new guidelines for the property on March 11
These can include what actions should be taken by residents who are moving in and out of the property.
A strata manager joined the comments of Ms OMalleys video to highlight this fact, but added that management cannot impose fines.
Your rules or bylaws cannot be unreasonable and dictating when someone can and cannot move is not okay! they said.
Rule infringement notices are a thing if you breach the rules (or bylaws).
In saying that, you cannot just jump straight to this infringement, you have to give warnings first to remedy.
Richardson Strata Management, which runs OMalleys building, said the rules were set by the strata company which is made up of owners of the units.
The strata company, from day one, has never allowed people to move out on a Saturday, executive director Karen Richardson told Yahoo.
Every strata company has their own set of rules that they expect people to abide by.
Strata Community Association WA general manager Kerrin Simmonds also said tenants need to communicate concerns directly with a property manager.
All residents are encouraged to review the strata documentation provided upon move-in to ensure a smooth living experience, she said.
If owners believe the bylaws are inadequate or require revision, they should consult their strata council to discuss potential changes.
OMalley and other renters were emailed new guidelines for the property on March 11.
In a follow-up video, she said there was nothing included in the guide about moving in or out on a weekend.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Richardson Strata Management for comment.