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Drying Washing

With the very real threat of global warming and climate change, we’re all looking at our lifestyles to identify aspects that will help reduce our carbon footprint. Living in a strata situation presents its own unique challenges towards environmental sustainability.

One particular area of interest is the use of electric clothes dryers. Often the property grounds don’t have clothes lines for a sun-dry, so we’re forced to use carbon-emitting dryers. Balconies offer safety for your clothes and many receive direct sun light during the day. However current By-Laws, which most owner’s corporations have adopted, generally prohibit the drying of washing on your balcony.

Schedule 1 of the Strata Schemes Management Act 1996 has the relevant clause.

10 Drying of Laundry Items

An owner or occupier of a lot must not, except with the consent in writing of the owners corporation, hang any washing, towel, bedding, clothing or other article on any part of the parcel in such a way as to be visible from outside the building other than on any lines provided by the owners corporation for the purpose and there only for a reasonable period.

This By-Law effectively prohibits the drying of your washing on any balcony. Many owner’s corporations are reluctant to grant permission to individuals because most people believe the look of washing is unsightly.

Recently, the Department of Fair Trading made recommendations to the Minister, Virginia Judge that this impediment be partially removed. The Department released a draft document for consultation.

The recommendations state:

An owner or occupier of a lot may hang any washing on any lines provided by the owners corporation for that purpose. Such washing many only be hung for a reasonable period.

An owner or occupier of a lot may hang washing on any part of the lot provided that the washing will not be visible from street level outside the building.

An owner or occupier of a lot may hang washing on any part of the lot that will be visible from street level outside the building only if the owner or occupier has the prior written approval of the owners corporation.

Therefore if you have a drying rack that isn’t visible from the street, you could hang your clothes on the stand without permission from the owner’s corporation.

The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Fair Trading's deputy commissioner, Steve Griffin, in response to the proposed changes.

''During our consultation there was overwhelming support for us to go down this path because it's more environmentally friendly,'' he said.

''But there were also concerns that there'd be laundry everywhere, and it wouldn't be such a great look for buildings.''

With these proposed changes, the Department is endeavouring to strike a balance between maintaining the aesthetic look of the building and environment concerns.

If you have any questions regarding this aspect of strata living or anything else, don’t hesitate to contact your strata manager at The Strata Agency.