October Newsletter 2016
Welcome to our October newsletter!
We are working hard to ensure all our systems and procedures comply with the legislative changes that come into effect on 30 November. Less than 7 weeks to go!
We are very pleased to welcome Stella McWiggan who joined us as a licensed senior strata manager. With over 15 years in the real estate and property industry, Stella is another highly experienced strata manager who joined the growing team.
Some of you may know, that we frequently contribute to readers questions received by LookUpStrata, an independent Australian website dedicated to quality strata information. Your manager should be your first point of call in case of any questions, however LookUpStrata is also a valuable resource. Why not have a look yourself?
Leanne Habib, CEO
Inger Brettle, COO
What is new at Premium Strata?
Why is it important to have a licensed strata manager?
Owners Corporations are legally entitled to manage their own affairs, however usually owners either do not have the required expertise, time or are willing to take on this responsibility.
In this article, we will explain what it takes to become and remain a fully licensed strata manager, and why you are typically much better off appointing a well-regarded and trained professional.
Wondering how you will keep up with the changes to Legislation over the next few months?
Which Acts are changing and when? How can you easily access the new Acts? See the ‘New South Wales’ tab on the Strata Legislation page for details about the upcoming changes to NSW Legislation. This information has been provided by Leanne Habib. Don’t forget to bookmark the page – it’s an excellent resource!
Q&A: How Do I Stop Cigarette Butt and Litter from the Neighbours Upstairs?
Leanne Habib, Premium Strata
Question: How do I stop cigarette butts litter from being dropped onto my balcony from neighbours upstairs who overlook my outdoor space?
Q&A How Does the Committee Organise a Leaky Roof Repair?
Leanne Habib, Premium Strata
A step-by-step guide to repairing a leaky strata scheme roof. From inspecting the issue and sourcing quotes to chasing up the special levy payments.
Q&A How Much Are My Strata Levies Per Quarter?
Leanne Habib, Premium Strata
Question: I am looking for how much I am paying for strata levies each quarter but I can’t find this information anywhere. How can I find this out?
Latest News
From a misplaced mat to a $170k lawsuit – the danger of breaching duties of care
Michael Teys
Damages of $171,500 plus costs have been awarded against a Mosman owners corporation for a breach of its duty of care to a resident who tripped on a frayed floor mat Left in a lift for more than a day after somebody had moved in.
Strata disputes cut to the chase
Jimmy Thomson, Domain
Dispute resolution in NSW strata schemes is about to get a lot easier. Whether it will be better remains to be seen. Under the new strata laws, due to begin in December, the preliminary paper adjudication at the Tribunal (NCAT) will be scrapped and all disputes will go straight to a hearing.
NSW fire certification to undergo a total overhaul after damning review
James Robertson, The Sydney Morning Herald
The state government says it will rewrite the law governing the way NSW buildings are certified after a damning review found practices for ensuring apartment fire safety were “totally ineffectual” and had caused unsafe buildings to be approved.
Volunteering at your Strata property. Is it worth the risk?
Ann Farrugia, Whitbread Insurance Brokers
This article will help ensure you’re fully informed of what is covered – including Personal Accident cover – before volunteering your services, and whether it would instead be smarter to engage a professional contractor.
Are you NBN ready with your lift phones?
Rod Post, Elevate Consultancy
The NBN will affect operation of lift phones, fire alarm panels, back to base security systems, medical alert systems and landline phones in many buildings.
Leave us a Review
If you are a client of Premium Strata, we would greatly appreciate if you could leave us a google review of your positive experience about our team and work. If you have any feedback or require any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.
