The thought of getting up in the weekends, every day even, and not having to do one outside chore must be sheer bliss I bet.
So now with the shift in thinking to future housing needs and changing lifestyles, from what was the norm in decades past, apartments are rising in many locations. And with land getting scarcer in the more desirable areas it's upwards now, not outwards. But apartment living is not the same as living in your very own property. You no longer have sole charge.
Sandy Thomson, the man in Wellington who ran foul of his apartment body corporate in Oriental Parade, found that out. He has a small pedigree dandie dinmont dog that he brought with him when he moved in last year. But no dogs are allowed ruled the body corporate.
A body corporate usually represents the collective interests of all apartment owners in a complex. Their job is to ensure the upkeep and any repairs and maintenance to the building exterior are undertaken. All common areas are maintained by them as well. Rules as determined by the body corporate are to be followed. Mr Thomson believed that he alone should have the say if he wanted to have a dog living with him in his apartment. He took the directors to the High Court and has won the first round.
I have lived in leased apartments overseas and owned one in Wellington. Overseas each apartment complex had something similar to a body corporate. You had to familiarise yourself with their rules and regulations, agree and sign on the dotted line along with your lease agreement. In Wellington I had to undergo a credit and police check and provide personal background information and two references. I was provided with the same information about the other five owners.
All this had to accompany the sale and purchase agreement. At first I thought "what a bloody cheek" but on reflection it is comforting to know exactly who you are living in close proximity to. Interestingly we never gave each other more than a cursory nod of acknowledgement. Maybe we each thought we already knew enough about each other.
If I had wanted to rent the apartment for any length of time, this also required the agreement of the other apartment owners. I have heard that body corporate rules and conditions can vary, with some being more relaxed than others.
In Zurich, in an apartment complex of 25, I found the apartment rules very restricting at first. But then I soon got used to them. What's so wrong with visitors having to park in the designated visitor's car parking area and not straight in front of the main entrance? Nothing wrong too with loud music ceasing at 10pm and requesting all visitors depart quietly by 12pm. And I didn't object either to washing hanging on balconies as long as it couldn't be seen from the street below. There were many more. Over time I got to appreciate that when you have families living close to each other there is a level of consideration that needs to be shown by all parties. Everyone benefits when they play by the rules. Being thoughtful and considerate should make apartment living pretty much stress-free. Surely one of its main advantages. That and having a little companion known as "man's best friend" to hang out with.
- Merepeka lives in Rotorua. She writes, speaks and broadcasts to thwart the spread of political correctness.
