What the Eye Misses: How Our Perception Shapes the Way We Interpret Rules

It’s tempting to think of rules in sectional title schemes as straightforward instruments of control, clear, written provisions that owners and occupiers must obey. After all, they’re adopted by majority vote, approved by the Community Schemes Ombud, and binding on all residents, whether they’re aware of them or not. 

But in practice, interpreting and enforcing these rules is anything but straightforward. And the reason for this lies not only in the text of the rules themselves, but in the way we perceive, interpret, and respond to conflict.