When a tenant signs a lease for a unit, townhouse or flat they have strata by-laws to abide by and this includes the rules and expectations including use of the common property.

What is common property?

Common property is a thing or things held jointly and usually found at unit blocks, complexes and land with more than one property on it.

For example, the following are considered common property:

• driveways
• lawns
• stairwells

 Who is responsible?

• tenants to keep driveways clear and only park their car in the designated car space
• stairwells free of obstacles and the cleanliness of them is the tenants responsibilities
• lawns are generally maintained by the strata managers but this can sometimes fall upon the tenant, particularly if it is a small enclosed area at the back of the property, this depends on the individual block of units