Living close to other people, sharing walls, corridors, and common property, inevitably produces friction from time to time. A sectional title scheme's conduct rules exist precisely to manage this, setting out what's expected of owners and tenants so disputes have a clear reference point rather than becoming a matter of opinion.
What Conduct Rules Actually Cover
Every scheme has a base set of conduct rules under the Sectional Titles Schemes Management Act's Prescribed Management Rules (PMR), which schemes can then supplement with their own additional rules suited to the building. Common areas covered include:
- Noise levels, particularly during specified quiet hours
- Pets: whether allowed, and under what conditions
- Use of common areas like parking, gardens, and pools
- Refuse disposal and recycling
- Alterations to units that might affect the building's appearance or structure
- Short-term letting (Airbnb-style rentals), where restricted
The Most Common Disputes
In practice, most conduct rule disputes fall into a handful of categories: noise complaints (music, footsteps, renovations outside permitted hours), parking disagreements (visitors in allocated bays, unauthorised vehicles), pet-related complaints, and disputes over unauthorised alterations to a unit or common property.
How a Complaint Should Be Handled
A functioning process usually looks like this: the complaint is submitted in writing, the managing agent or trustees investigate (which may include contacting the other party for their side), and a resolution is proposed, a warning, a request to stop the behaviour, or in a persistent case, more formal action. Keeping a written record at each stage matters, both for fairness and in case the matter escalates.
When It Escalates: CSOS
If a dispute can't be resolved internally, either party can refer it to the Community Schemes Ombud Service (CSOS), an independent body set up specifically to resolve sectional title and community scheme disputes without going to court. CSOS can issue binding orders on a wide range of issues, from conduct rule breaches to financial disputes. Having attempted genuine internal resolution first, with a paper trail, generally strengthens a scheme's position if a matter does end up at CSOS.
Why Consistent Enforcement Matters
The fastest way for a scheme to lose credibility on conduct rules is inconsistent enforcement, cracking down on one owner while ignoring similar behaviour from another. This is one of the reasons having a managing agent handle complaints, rather than trustees individually, helps: it takes the personal relationships out of enforcement and applies the rules the same way to everyone.
Practical Advice for Owners
If you're dealing with a neighbour dispute, put your complaint in writing to trustees or the managing agent rather than confronting the other owner directly, note dates and specifics rather than general impressions, and give the formal process a chance to work before escalating. Most disputes resolve at this stage without ever needing to go further.
Dealing with an ongoing dispute in your scheme? We can help set up a fair, consistent process.
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