My apartment windows are very dirty. Who is responsible for cleaning them?
Lawyer Answers (1): Answers from lawyers are general preliminary responses. They are not formal legal advice and cannot taken account of all your circumstances. They do not create a lawyer–client relationship.
Answer by Neha Sharma, Hillsdale 2036 Sydney
- Most disputes are easily resolved through communication. First you should try and talk to your neighbour about the dog’s persistent barking. You may be surprised at the number of times owners are not aware of their dogs barking issues as the problem may only occur when they are not at home.
- Written correspondence is a good idea as you can keep a record of your communications with the neighbour to use as evidence if the matter escalates. If the noise is regular you should also try and keep a diary of the incidents.
- If no action is taken to alleviate the noise after you have spoken to your neighbour you have two options:
- make a formal complaint to the owners’ corporation and ask them to issue a Notice to Comply with a by-law or
- ask for mediation.
If the noise continues after mediation you can contact your local council as they have statutory power to issue a nuisance order (if substantiated) to the dog owner or the local court for a noise abatement order. This process is by no means simple and you should seek legal advice prior to commencing any action with the council or the court.