NSW: Q&A Can You Run a Business from Your Apartment Garage?

  Question: If a strata block of units is zoned residential, can someone operate a manufacturing business from a unit? The person with the manufacturing business does not live in the building but owns the lot. It is like listening to someone urinating into a toilet bowl 24/7. Strata management is unable to offer any…

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NSW: Q&A Apartment fire regulations – Fire Doors

  Question: We need to shave a little off the bottom of our entry fire door to install new floorboards. Is strata responsible for modifying or replacing the fire door, since the front fire door is common property? I am installing floorboards in my apartment which will raise the existing floor levels, consequently, I may…

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NSW Q&A: Smoking Inside Your Apartment

Question: We live in a high rise apt block and a few years ago we voted against a no smoking building, but we are not allowed to smoke in all common areas. That is fair enough. I’m not a smoker. But living in the western suburbs with a reasonably large amount of tenanted apartments, most…

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NSW: Q&A Is a ByLaw needed for BBQs on Apartment Balconies

  Question: Should we have a bylaw allowing residents to have a BBQ on their apartment balcony? If we have no bylaw and a BBQ becomes a fire hazard, will the Strata Committee Members be held liable? Answer: You need to check what your contract states with regard to strata manager insurance commissions. We have…

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NSW Strata Buildings with Aluminium Cladding – Read this

In the wake of the devastation of the London Fire, NSW Fair Trading is taking action concerning non-compliant aluminium cladding. Such action will include legal reform to give effect to: Having a specialist unit conduct an audit with a view to issuing orders against owners of buildings to remove non-compliant aluminium cladding materials. Requiring annual…

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Q&A: Smoke Alarms in Strata Units NSW

Smoke detectors have an effective ‘use by date’ and back-up batteries should be checked and replacement frequently, however the entire unit usually needs to be replaced after 10 years. A LookUpStrata reader wanted to know who is responsible to ensure that the smoke alarms in strata units are operational, and who is responsible for the replacement and…

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Changes to Fire and Emergency Services Levy (FESL)

This Flat Chat article in the Domain explains changes in the way the so-called Fire and Emergency Services Levy (FESL) is raised. From 1 July 2017, the annual fire services levy will be collected via council rates rather than via buildings insurance. This will ensure the FESL will be spread more evenly across a broader slice of…

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What happens to fire alarms and lift phones in the transition to NBN?

As the NBN rolls out across Australia, your telecommunications providers existing fixed line networks are being progressively disconnected. Monitored fire alarms and lift phones that have been operating on Telstra’s, Optus’ and other providers’ networks will cease to operate unless they are migrated to an alternative network before disconnection happens. A temporary arrangement has been…

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Annual fire inspections, what to watch out for

Building owners will be familiar with the legal requirement to lodge a fire safety statement with the local council and fire brigade every year. The process usually involves a fire services contractor attending the building, inspecting and testing fire safety measures and certifying they are compliant or recommending work to make them compliant, and once…

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