Question: Due to a common property defect, my tiles were damaged in an area on my verandah. As the tiles could not be matched, the whole space must be retiled. Should the OC pay for all work? Answer: There is a strata titles case very similar to yours. There is a strata titles case…
Question: A lot owner has a very regular visitor who has been given a security pass to our garage and his car is regularly in our single strata visitor car parking spot. He has become quite territorial about the space. How do we handle this? Answer: The owners corporation’s strategy should be to enter…
Question: About a month ago the receiver for our automatic garage door openers on the undercover secure garage stopped working properly. While we wait for the repair of the receiver, is it permitted to lock out residents from their own garages? Answer: Permanent closure of the garage may be a violation of proprietary rights…
Question: Our building insurance is due mid 2019. Is the Owners Corporation able to renew this themselves or must it go through the Strata Management Company? We would prefer not to pay our Strata Manager insurance commissions. Answer: You need to check what your contract states with regard to strata manager insurance commissions. If…
Question: For some reason, I have a key to the communal Fuse Box in our apartment building and I have been providing access for tenants who trip their fuse. I’m just trying to help. Why is this a problem? Answer: Fortunately, the strata manager has issued a notice to comply with the peaceful enjoyment…
Question: Can I have a political sign displayed on my apartment? I own the apartment. Does this rule also apply for ‘For Sale’ signs on apartments? Answer: Some buildings have specific signage by-laws prohibiting any signage whatsoever, with an approval process even in case of real estate ‘For Sale’ signage. Yes, buildings can restrict…
Question: Our neighbour has recently been playing their piano for hours every day. Is this a breach of the peaceful enjoyment bylaw and how can we make this stop? Answer: Fortunately, the strata manager has issued a notice to comply with the peaceful enjoyment bylaw as the owners corporation should be enforcing the by-laws. Fortunately,…
Question: After calling our new strata management company for information, I have personally been charged a sum. Until the invoice is paid, I am unfinancial. Are strata management companies authorised to act as a “debt collector” for the owners corporation? Answer: No, the strata manager is not authorised to act as “debt” collector. Write to…
Question: Water has been leaking from our front yard into the car park below for a few years without resolution. Must I use the strata’s expensive contractor for the basement waterproofing? How do I get the committee to act? Answer: You may get another quote from another contractor, however, make sure that the quote…
Intercom Systems Question: Hi Leanne, I’m a regular reader of your weekly Strata News and I had a query for you: Does the Owners Corporation have an obligation to provide an Intercom system for the building that it supervises? Answer: We are pleased to hear that you are regular reader of our articles! While there is…
Question: The floor in a lot’s kitchen has to be repaired because of concrete cancer. The lot owner now wants the owners corporation to pay for a new kitchen. Answer: The Owners Corporation would need to address concrete cancer and then reinstate the kitchen with like for like. It sounds like the kitchen is…
Question: Water has been leaking from our front yard into the car park below for a few years without resolution. Must I use the strata’s expensive contractor for the basement waterproofing? How do I get the committee to act? Answer: You may get another quote from another contractor, however, make sure that the quote…
Strata Managers are trained professionals with the thorough knowledge and expertise required to ensure proper and timely compliance with a litany of legal, notice, meeting, accounting, capital works fund and administration fund monetary requirements relevant to your strata development. One-stop-shop With licenced strata manager, all matters relating to the scheme can be directed to…
Question: We are lot owners in a small 8 lot commercial strata building. What is the procedure for appointing a new strata manager? What happens if this procedure is not followed? Answer: It is critical that the termination of the current manager be effected strictly in accordance with the strata management agency agreement which…
Question: Some residents in our building use the visitor parking spaces as an additional parking spot. Is it possible to increase levies for these few residents and not all lot owners? Answer: First you need to ascertain from the development consent for the building exactly how many visitor parking spaces are required by law. Before…
Bathroom Renovation Question: One of the lot owners in our strata complex requires a major bathroom renovation and is expecting the owners to pay for it – is this correct? Answer: It depends on why the owner requires a major bathroom renovation. Presumably, it is because there is some defect in the common property slab…