Question: The building manager has taken over common area, installed a lock and now uses this space as a storage room. Can they change the room description and use without consulting owners? I am in a lot owner in a NSW residential 3 floor unit block. We have a common area drying room on…
Question: An EGM was called to dismiss the strata manager. When sending out the agenda for the meeting, the strata manager added information to our explanatory notes. Is this legal? The majority of the committee are deeply dissatisfied with our strata manager. We requested an EGM be called and we put forward a motion to…
Question: Does the strata committee have the right to block me replacing my non-working aircon unit with a similar unit? I have applied to strata committee to replace my ageing non-working air conditioning unit with like replacement. I have sent detailed plan of replacement to the committee. There are no new attachments or invasion of…
Question: Is my landlord or the strata obliged to provide tenants with access to all common areas? We have no access to the common area rooftop. I rent in a block of 42 apartments. Although there is a common area on the rooftop, not every resident has been given a key. Is my landlord…
Question: Can significant matters that require special resolutions be raised verbally under a general heading at the AGM? At our recent AGM, two matters were discussed that where not specified on the agenda. Both items were raised verbally. The first was under ‘Maintenance’. The second matter, requiring a special resolution, was introduced in our Zoom meeting…
Question: Is a special resolution required for the removal of a large hedge at the front of our five lot strata building? Our block of 5 units has a very large hedge at the front of the property. The hedge provides privacy from the street for two of the apartments. The hedge also provides…
Question: When our AGM was scheduled, a cut off date was set as 5 weeks prior to the AGM. This was the last day agenda motions would be accepted. Does the close off date need to be advertised? Answer: There is no obligation to advertise the cut-off date for a general meeting. There is…
Question: If two proxy votes are handed in after the end of voting, does this invalidate all voting? To pass a new by-law, a postal vote was held at our retirement village of 136 units. When the vote was concluded, the strata committee considered the voting invalid as two proxy votes were handed in…
Recent changes have been made to cash DEFT payments made at Australia Post. Do these changes affect me? These changes will impact you if you pay your rent, strata levies, insurance premiums or other DEFT bills via cash at Australia Post. What alternate payment options are there? The payment methods available are determined by your…
Question: My lot has a huge disabled parking spot for my adaptable unit. It’s big enough for 2 small cars. Is there a regulation or law that restricts me from parking 2 cars in this space? My lot has a huge disabled parking spot for my adaptable unit. It’s big enough to park 2…
Question: Does all correspondence received by the committee ‘in and out’ have to be read at the general meetings? It seems that, in our complex, the owners corporation committee only reads out selected letters. Answer: Usually, only selected letters are read. That is the role of the Secretary of the Owners Corporation. There is…
The Strata Schemes Management Amendment (Information) Regulation, 2021 (NSW) commences on 30th June 2022. Owners Corporations will have to provide information annually to Fair Trading in the approved form: for the first time— if the first annual general meeting of the owners corporation is held on or before 30 June 2022—by 30 September 2022, or…
Question: A lot owner in our small block has consistently been in arrears with levies. Although they are on a payment plan the situation is not improving. Do we have other options to recover the overdue levies? We have one owner in our small strata block of six that has consistently been in arrears…
Question: Can we wash a car on common property in NSW? At our single-level complex of 18 villas, we each have one garage. Can we park a vehicle on common property in front of our own villa, not blocking any access or garage, to wash a vehicle using our OWN water? Answer: As the apron…
Question: Recent minutes did not mention the attendance of the (non owner and non proxied) son of an owner. I am being told that only owners names will be listed as attendees. Is this correct? Recent minutes did not mention the attendance of the (non owner and non proxied) son of an owner. The owner…
Question: Do we need permission from the owners corporation to install an entertaining area, including a sink and lighting, in our villa’s backyard? In a Villa complex can an owner build an entertainment area in their backyard? The structure’s roof is attached from the facia board under the eaves of the back of the villa to…
Question: Two Committee members made changes to common areas without any vote and used the common seal without approval. What process should have been followed? We are a strata of 3 townhouses. Is it illegal for 2 committee members/owners to use our strata’s common seal representing the Owners Corporation without having put the use of…
Question: The Owners Corporation is undertaking remedial waterproofing on a common property rooftop terrace which is included in our title. They have asked us to move our large pots and spa. Shouldn’t this be there cost? The Owners Corporation is undertaking remedial waterproofing on a common property rooftop terrace which is included in our…
Question: Our Strata manager demands we remove vines from our lot because they are changing the appearance of our complex. We have planted vines around our lot which have grown but are not covering any other lot. Our Strata managers insist we are changing the appearance of our complex and are demanding their removal….
Question: We have discussed putting up some foyer Christmas decorations. Some residents have voiced their concerns about strata funds paying for the cost of acquiring the seasonal decorations. Our strata has an uninteresting entry foyer that would benefit from some visual enhancement. Hanging some artwork on the blank walls would make both residents and…