Question: We have complaints about our Strata Manager. What is the best way to remind our Strata Manager she is working for us? She borders on bullying. We have complaints about our Strata Manager. What is the best way to remind our Strata Manager she is working for us & sometimes a little bit…
Question: My balcony cannot be viewed from any common property. Can I retile my balcony as long as the finish is in keeping with the building without OC approval for the renovations being asked? I appreciate that maintenance and replacement of my balcony structure and it’s waterproof membrane are the responsibility of our Strata….
Question: We are selling our apartment. The purchasers have advised that our car space is shown as Common Property. What can we do? We’ve lived in the same Villa for 17 years. We decided to sell a while ago and received an offer last week, which we accepted. We received an email from our…
Question: Who is responsible for the maintenance and repair of outdoor lights on each of the townhouse walls in both front and back yard? These external lights were installed when the townhouses were originally built. Answer: The exterior lights would likely be your responsibility. While we have not seen your by-laws or notations on…
Question: Can a vote on a decision be raised after a decision and expense has occurred? Under what circumstances does a decision require a special resolution? And who decides a special resolution is appropriate? Answer: Once an expense has been incurred and paid for it is difficult to reverse Once an expense has been…
Question: Is it necessary to record the names of movers and seconders in the Strata Committee minutes? What are the ramifications if those details are not recorded? Answer: There is no express requirement in the strata legislation to record such names, but you could record the names if you wanted to. There is no express requirement in the…
Question: At no cost to the owners corporation, we’d like to paint an unpainted common area exterior wall. How can we get this action sanctioned and take advantage of this improvement? It has been suggested that we have some unsightly unpainted interior walls in our complex spruced up with a coat of paint. Currently,…
Question: We wish to change strata managers. What is the procedure regarding the Strata Management company during this process? Do they have a vote? Can they vote against the change? Answer: Care must be exercised to comply with the terms of the contract appointing the current Strata Management Company and with the strata legislation….
Question: I’m renovating my unit’s flooring. The flooring has magnesite and needs to be repaired by the Owners Corporations first. Should they draft the bylaw for the renovation? I am renovating my entire Unit’s Flooring. The Strata Committee is requesting that prior to doing any flooring renovations, the magnesite needs to be completely removed…
Question: The apartment upstairs had some water leakages which has damaged my apartment. Am I responsible for repairs to the damage inside my unit? I own an apartment in NSW which is tenanted and agent managed. The apartment upstairs had some water leakages which has damaged both the duct connecting the floors as well…
Question: Our strata is demanding that we don’t store anything other than a car in our car spot? Is this Legal? If the boxes are neat and tidy, why can’t we store them in our parking lot? Answer: Your scheme may have the standard by-law 17, or have a specific by-law for prohibition of…
Question: Our strata manager insists all committee meeting minutes must be posted to the noticeboards. Isn’t it a legal requirement to supply the agenda directly to all lot owners? Meeting Procedures of Strata Committees I am a member of a strata committee in a strata plan containing 18 units. Our strata manager insists that…
From 1st July 2020, new laws regarding the disposal of goods abandoned on the common property came into effect. The regulation of the treatment of abandoned goods in strata schemes has been transferred from the Strata Schemes Management Act, 2015 (NSW) (“SSMA”) to the Uncollected Goods Act, 1995 (NSW) (“UGA”). The process for the removal…
Question: I’m an elderly woman who needs a mobility stool outside my door. The strata manager denied my request and issued me a notice to remedy the breach. What Can I do? I am a 68-year-old woman renting a unit on the first floor of a block of seven units. I have an autoimmune disease…
Question: Our secretary only records the Strata committee minutes, including what she wants our owners corporation to hear. What can we do to get our processes back on track? Our NSW strata committee members are frustrated and concerned that our secretary only records (in Strata committee minutes), what she wants our owners corporation to hear….
Question: I have inherited a unit, that my cousin owned, (she passed in 2018) including her three cats, 1 of which has been there for 10 years, the others 4 years. It’s a unit with courtyard and yes the cats, generally live outside, but tend to stay in the boundaries, cause they are a little…
Question: Who is responsible for a home lift totally located within the airspace of a strata unit, not accessible to any other unit owner and used exclusively by the owners/occupants of the residential unit? Is it the Owners Corporation or the Unit Owners? Answer: It is difficult to determine with any precision whether the subject…
Question: I suspect my committee is meeting secretly and calling themselves a sub-committee, for the purpose of keeping proceedings of a significant matter away from residents. For a Community Scheme in NSW, does the legislation state that an agenda must be sent to all lot owners prior to a committee meeting being held, and that…
Question: We discovered a leak in the ceiling of our newly renovated bathroom. Strata will fix but will cover the repair hole with a vent. We’d like it returned to the condition it was in prior to the leak. I recently noticed a drip through a light fitting in my main bathroom. We completely renovated…
Question: A tenant is setting up a physiotherapy business in their garage. Could you please tell us what procedures are required for a resident to run a business from their apartment garage? One of the tenants in our building has decided to set up a business in her Unit’s garage. They are in the process…