A Sydney dad who received a huge fine for his children’s “constant noise” says he is “just trying to get by week by week” and now feels like he has to “walk on eggshells”.
Marley Evans, who lives in his mother’s apartment with her two young children in Dee Why, on Sydney’s northern beaches, says he was fined $250 for the noise levels caused by his children. He said the move left him disappointed and “very upset”, especially because no one stood up to him before he took stock.
Mr Evans also said his eldest son Jackson, four, lives with learning difficulties and is not yet verbal, making his temper tantrums difficult to control. His youngest son Finn is only two years old.
“Honestly, I’m very, very upset. This is pushing us to the limit,” Mr Evans told A Current Affair, pointing to the fact that the family was already having difficulty moving into his mother’s house due to the cost of housing. live pressure. “(We’re) just trying to survive week by week and having to deal with our neighbors.”
The family “wasn’t even warned” until the end
Mr Evans’ mother Sasha, who owns the property, said fines would be increased by 10 per cent a year if they failed to pay.
According to the family, the building’s owners corporation said they were in breach of by-laws by “continuously making noise” including “shouting, shouting, crying and banging on doors” which “disturbs other residents”.
“The kids cry and, you know, that’s to be expected and it’s not really 100 percent under her control. You can’t make a two-year-old really stop crying,” Sasha said.
A month earlier, the family had also been warned to keep their dog quiet. In response, Sasha said she sent several emails to Fresh Strata disputing the ending, but was told she would have to fork over $210 an hour to even pursue the matter further.
“I also think this is very unfair,” said Sasha.
Child development problems that add to the difficulties
Mr Evans said the ordeal had left him feeling pressured to take the children to the park more often to reduce noise, an activity that could be difficult due to Jackson’s developmental issues.
“They don’t know what’s going on yet, so they don’t know what they’re doing if they’re being too loud,” Mr Evans said.
“I was very upset. I’d rather they knock on the door and alert us and say, “Hey, look, can you try to contain this?” but none of this happened. It was just a straight ending.
“I’m definitely walking on eggshells. To be honest, it’s quite unpleasant to live here and put up with all this.”
Mr Evans urged his neighbors to show “a little compassion” in the future.
“Just to be gentle with us, give us your word of honor, like everyone else, what they did to us was unfair,” Mr Evans said. His mother said she “wants the fine to be quashed and an apology issued.”
“I don’t want the layers and the corporations to think they can keep doing this, and I don’t want other people to be bullied or victimized like I think we were,” she said. Fresh Strata maintains that the owner corporation followed the law.
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TIK Tak, Twitter And YouTube.