Question: Is it allowable/acceptable to get in touch directly with strata manager for unit repairs to common property, rather than go through the executive committee? Answer: Yes, because in all likelihood, before the strata manager issues a work order for the repairs (subject to the extent of repairs), the strata manager will seek approval…
Question: Our building is 38 lots. Is our strata committee required to post an agenda for ordinary general committee meetings to the notice board of the owners corporation? Answer: While the notice is routinely sent out by post to owners, tenants must be given notice either by post OR by displaying it on the…
Inactive Body Corporate Member Could you please advise if a member of our Executive Committee – ‘Community Title’ – who has not attended any meetings since election but has proxied other members can be removed due to non participation. He also doesn’t answer emails sent out by the committee. Thanks for your help! Answer: The legislation contemplates…
Pets and Strata Bylaws My super owns an investment unit within a strata which previously had an “Option B” pets policy but has recently changed that bylaw to “No Pets”. I bought the property, obviously, as an investment property and this new bylaw severely limits my ability to rent my property. Do I have any…
Parking Bay Allocation After reading your article on Strata News on towing parking offenders from common property, I was hoping you could give us some advice with an ongoing issue we have on parking. Parking issues take up far too much time in strata! We are in Sydney and we have a tenant residing in…
Question: During the strata dispute resolution process, if an Owners Corporation breaches court orders, what recourse does the owner have? Answer: The failure by the owners corporation to comply with the NCAT Orders could be the basis upon which to seek the compulsory appointment of a strata manager. The failure by the owners corporation…
Question: We have a general By-law stating residents must not park on common property without written approval. Is this sufficient or should we specifically refer to visitor parking spaces? Answer: A very specific visitor parking by-law should be drafted by a strata lawyer. Technically, this by-law is adequate because visitor car parking is common property. However,…
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: 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 we hold a meeting electronically and just have everybody use electronic voting on the issue of a special levy via email to our strata manager rather than having another face to face meeting? Answer: Whether or not you need a meeting depends on whether you’ve adopted “pre-meeting” electronic voting or electronic voting…
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…
Question: Are there rules concerning the actual time of day when an AGM is held? Answer: The timing should not “intentionally” be selected to prevent certain owners from attending. Though the strata legislation is silent on the point, some general rules do apply. While the timing of the AGM is at the discretion of…
Question: How long can a strata committee member or chairperson hold positions in executive committee? Also, can the committee engage designers without lot owners agreeing to this appointment? Answer: No this is not permissible. Only one of them can seek nomination. As you may know, the number of members is determined annually at each…
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…
AGM Timing Q: What are the rules concerning the actual time of day when a AGM is held? Last year ours was commenced at 3pm with the consequence that only 7 out of 24 lot owners were able to attend? A: Though the strata legislation is silent on the point, some general rules do apply….
Question: An old cooling tower in our building only services a proportion of the apartments. What are the strata committee powers? The committee is proposing to replace the tower with ducted air conditioning to the affected units at the cost of the Owners Corporation. Answer: The strata committee seems to be abusing their powers and…