Question: When recovering late levy payments, can the Owners Corporation recover the costs of using a lawyer/debt collector from the recalcitrant owner? Every time I ask for a motion to be placed on the agenda for the AGM, either the Strata Manager or the Strata Committee completely rewrite my motion. There is illegal parking occurring in…
Question: One lot owner is refusing to pay levies. What is the correct/recommended procedure to pursue debt recovery and in what order should those steps be taken? I am the “Honorary Administrator” of a self-managing strata scheme of four townhouses. We may need to take levy recovery action against one owner who is refusing…
Question: Our strata manager allowed a Pest Company to attend my lot without notifying me or receiving permission. Can I report the Strata Management Company for organising unauthorised access to my lot? Our strata manager allowed a Pest Company to attend my lot without notifying me. The first I knew was when I found…
Question: In NSW strata, how many committee members are needed to agree for the approval of building repairs or works? What is the NSW strata law regarding how many committee members can approve building repairs or works? In our building of eight lots, we have always stood by four committee member approvals as a…
Question: If a committee member submits a motion they have a vested interest in, shouldn’t they abstain from voting? Should the strata manager enforce this? Regarding the issue of a Strata Committee Member proposing a motion to the Strata Committee that they have a vested interest in, which constitutes a breach of conflict of…
Question: If you are not adequately satisfied with the performance of your strata manager, can’t you just swap them for a new one? If you are not adequately satisfied with the performance of your strata manager, then instead of prolonging the agony, it’s best to just give them the heave-ho and replace them with…
Question: I requested a Motion be included on the Agenda of a General Meeting. The Strata Manager failed to include the Motion. Are they in breach of the legislation? I requested a Motion be included on the Agenda of a General Meeting. The Strata Manager failed to include the Motion. Also, I had submitted…
Question: A builder has confirmed I have water between my tiles and the waterproofing layer in my bathroom. I have contacted strata. What do I do now? I had noticed something wrong with the grout in my bathroom and my metal door frames are starting to get corrosion on them. I organised for a…
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 have a question about who determines what is included in an EGM agenda? Can the Strata Manager simply circulate an EGM notice and voting papers without consulting with the entire Strata Committee, or is the SC meant to vote on what is included in the EGM agenda? Answer: Both the delegated secretary (Strata Manager…
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: Our Strata Treasurer holds a Petty Cash amount which we understand has been spent. We have asked for receipts but he has declined to table a reconciliation. What action can we take? I have a question relation to NSW Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 Section 93 The financial statements for any other fund must specify…
Question: I left rubbish on common property for a short period of time. An executive committee member collected the bag and went through the contents to identify the owner. Is this a breach of my privacy? I recently left a small household garbage bag on common property to run back and retrieve my entry…
Question: Our Strata Manager refuses to show lot owners the trust fund. Are they obligated to show us? We suspect the Strata Manager of mishandling the finances. Our strata manager has been with us less than 1 year and we found out that the management agreement contract is signed for 3 years by 2…
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: What steps do we take to organise a leaky roof repair? What if some owners refuse to pay? Answer: The roof repairs will be common property and a repair that jointly the Executive Committee and the appointed Strata Manager would arrange for its repair. The roof repairs will be common property and a repair that…
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. Answer: Speak to the principal of the strata management agency and asking for their intervention. Personality conflicts are inevitable in strata and other contexts – have you thought about…
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…