How to enhance community living

When you live in an apartment building, you’re living in a community. For some people, that’s the prime attraction of apartment living while, for others, living in such close proximity to others can present a challenge.

Here are a few ways to get the most out of living in a community:

• Know your rights and responsibilities so that you can be a good neighbour.
• Be active in your body corporate even if you can’t join the committee. Make your vote count.
• Check to make sure your body corporate has adequate insurance and that the sinking fund matches the long-term maintenance plans.
• Protect your investment by maintaining common property. And, if you see something that needs to be fixed, let your body corporate committee know so works can be planned.
• Get approval before altering common property, even if you’re the only one who uses it.
• Be mindful of others; keep the noise down, especially late at night and early in the mornings.
• Talk to your neighbours if there’s a problem. They may not realise they’re causing a nuisance, and talking about issues could be a good way to strengthen your relationships.
• If talking doesn’t solve the problem, contact your body corporate or your body corporate manager to see whether it’s possible to issue a notice to comply with a bylaw.
• Be flexible. Living near other people means you sometimes have to let things go and accommodate different personalities.