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…
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…
We are proud to announce that Premium Strata was awarded the Strata Community Association Management Business – Medium award at the Strata Community CHU Awards of Excellence last Thursday night. These awards recognise businesses and individuals who make a significant contribution to the strata industry and community. We are so proud of our…
Premium Strata are proud members of SCA (NSW), the peak body for the strata sector in NSW representing 2,000 strata managers. The NSW Government under the Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation, Kevin Andrews, has approved a Professional Standards Scheme. This formal recognition by the NSW Government is first of its kind for the property…
It has been one week since the horrific explosion in Beirut that sent shock waves throughout the world. The explosion killed at least 200 people, thousands injured and hundreds still missing. Some 80,000 children have been displaced with families affected in desperate need of support. Premium Strata has donated to the Red Cross and…
Rectification of building defects amendments to the Strata Schemes Management Act, 2015 (NSW) (“SSMA”) commenced on 1st July 2020 pursuant to the Strata Schemes Management Amendment (Building Defects Scheme) Act, 2018 (NSW). These are welcome new laws which increase the rights of owners corporations to make claims against builders, developers and others to have…
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…
Question: in relation to the article: NSW: Q&A Can Owners Corporation committee decisions be reconsidered? can you please point me to the section or clause in the SSMA 2015 or SSMR 2016, that refers to rescinding resolutions as referred to in this article 359? Answer: Any decision made by a corporation may be reversed. Further, Sch…
According to Strata Community Association (NSW), here is the definition of: Proxy Voting: An owner who is unable to attend a meeting may authorise (give their proxy) to another person to exercise their vote. This is achieved via proper completion of the prescribed form. Quorum: The minimum number of owners required for a meeting to proceed….
Question: In a duplex, we each have exclusive use of our yard and garden. Isn’t this therefore our responsibility to maintain? The other lot owner would like the owners corporation to remove a tree. I live in a duplex. Both units have exclusive use of their yard and gardens. The owner of the other unit…
Question: To undertake major and minor renovations, do we need a separate by-law submitted for each item or can it all be included in one special renovation by-law? When an owner wants to renovate to undertake major and minor renovations does this need a separate by-law passed for each bit of work or can it…
Question: Is there a requirement to notify residents of the commencement date of noisy renovation/repairs to the apartments and common areas? Is there a requirement to notify residents/lot owners of the commencement date of noisy renovation/repairs to the apartments and common areas? Recently we had a neighbour jackhammering with less than a 12-hour notice, and…
Question: Can I legally have a car towed that is parking in my strata units designated car park? The structure is 90 units in Newcastle NSW, 7 floors high with underground parking. Answer: You cannot have the car towed as you need the consent of the owner of the car. Generally speaking, no you cannot…
Question: At our next EGM we will be voting on whether to take out a Strata Loan to cover remedial works. What procedure is required for acceptance of this Motion? Answer: A resolution approving the relevant loan has to be passed at a general meeting of the owners corporation. Section 100 of the Strata Schemes…
Question: Do the changes in the Strata Schemes Management Act limiting the number of proxy votes an individual may hold, also apply under the Community Land Management Act? I live in a Neighbourhood Association and want to be clear as to how many proxy votes an individual may hold under the Community Land Management Act,…
Question: Our Strata is in NSW. Is a member of an Executive Committee eligible to vote on a motion they put forward? I understand the Committee members have a responsibility to make decisions on behalf of all lot owners, not for personal gain. Answer: You are correct. Sch 1 Cl 18 of the Strata Schemes Management Act,…
Question: The Act (section 5(b)) says a special resolution is carried if “not more than 25% of the value of the votes cast are against the resolution”. I would like to confirm that if 4 people (with equal lot entitlements) cast votes with 3 in favour and 1 against, the special resolution motion is lost….
Question: Does the Strata Manager circulate an EGM notice and voting papers without consulting with the Committee, or is the SC meant to vote on what is included in the EGM agenda? I have a question about who determines what is included in an EGM agenda? Can the Strata Manager simply circulate an EGM notice…
Question: We (a unit block of 9) have seven original established palms growing out of a privately owned lot. A lot owner owners the trees to 2.4 m, but above 2.4m the palms are in common property airspace. Do these existing trees, or trees that have been there 5 to 30 years before a…
Question: Do sub-committees have the same legal responsibilities as Strata Committees under By-Laws and NSW Legislation in terms of issuing agendas and recording (and distributing to lot owners) minutes of meetings. Lot owners here suspect the committee is avoiding discussions with residents and committing to expenditure by declaring that they are meeting as a “sub-committee”….