Don't miss our comprehensive ...... and growing ..... list of Upcoming Strata Events - found at the very bottom of the newsletter. If you think you may be missing some of the newsletter, simply scroll to the bottom ⬇ and click 'View entire message', or click 'View this email in your browser' on the top ⬆ RHS.
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Create Your Own Premium Listing
We recently completed a major update to the Australian Strata Services Directory. You can now create your own Premium Listing in just a few minutes! Be part of the Strata Marketplace. Your listing is extremely quick and easy to set up. Begin the Listing Promotional Package and increase your strata business exposure today.
Our Strata Services Marketplace provides a dedicated database of businesses and services for strata managers and lot owners.
Looking for a strata lawyer, financial advisor, plumber and electrician or maybe maintenance work is required?
Australia wide - you'll find what you're looking for here.
NSW: Q&A We’ve been using the wrong allocated car parking space
Leanne Habib, Premium Strata Question: We have been using the wrong parking space. What rights do we have to get our allocated car parking space as per the contract for sale?
Frank Higginson, Hynes Legal Question: Is it legal to have floorboards in an upstairs unit? I am sure you can understand, at times we are disturbed by the noisy floorboards upstairs.
SA: Q&A What Can I Do About Smoke Drift From Neighbour Smoking On Balcony
Josh Smith, Ace Body Corporate Management Question: I am unable to have my door open or sit outside due to smoke drift from my neighbour smoking on balcony. What rights do I have to stop this?
NSW By-Laws & Pets: What is harsh unconscionable or oppressive?
Allison Benson, Kerin Benson Lawyers Strata Laws on Pets: A strict prohibition on the keeping of pets within a strata scheme may be deemed to be invalid under section 139 of the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015.
NSW: Q&A Exclusive use of common property. No access! Really…..?
Leanne Habib, Premium Strata Question: Before I owned my apartment, another lot owner was given exclusive use of common property. The area is quite large and I'm perturbed I no longer have access. Is there anything I can do?
Developer settles dispute over defects in Braddon apartment complex
Michael Inman, The Canberra Times A Canberra developer has paid $2.8 million to settle a legal dispute over the construction of a Braddon apartment complex. The payout – which is understood to include $1.4 million to fix waterproofing defects, structural-steel corrosion and de-bonded masonry – ends more than a decade long battle between builder Michael Koundouris and the owners corporation of the Lagani Apartments.
Angry residents locked out of meeting call for transparency
Bill Hoffman, Sunshine Coast Daily ANGRY residents were locked out of the Ridges Principal Body Corporate annual general meeting for the second year running yesterday as demands grow about greater transparency for property owners in the subdivision west of Peregian. Inside more than 30 items on the agenda were voted on without discussion and with the chairs of four subsidiary body corporates unable to influence the outcomes due to the weight of numbers in the developer's favour.
Streamlining Renovation within Strata Schemes
StrataReno allows an Owner to plan, record and notify Owners Corporation / Strata Managers of unit renovations whilst being informed on relevant Building Code Regulations that need to be adhered to.
NSW: Sydney’s only Diamond-Class strata management agency
With over 15 years experience managing a range of property types, we service the entire Sydney Metropolitan area. Our unique service features provide a comprehensive solution to the needs of both strata and community living.
NSW: Have Your Say on changes to the Strata Building Bond & Inspections Scheme
The proposed Strata Schemes Management Amendment (Building Defects Scheme) Bill 2018 is now available for public consultation. The proposed amendments seek to enhance the ability of Fair Trading to verify the building contract price (on which the 2% building bond is based), and to clarify the role of the building inspector in the scheme.
Visit the Fair Trading website for more information on how you can have your say by Friday 11 May 2018.
State Member for Sydney, Alex Greenwich, has launched a petition to have short term letting debated in NSW parliament. He needs 10,000 signatures. They must be original signatures so people need to print, sign, and mail/drop off to his office.
We urge NSW LookUpStrata readers to sign, put up in their lobbies, and share with their committees and other lot owners.
Independent MP Alex Greenwich: There has been a strong supportive response to my petition calling for owners corporations the authority to control short term letting in their building, including to place limits beyond state controls or to ban the practice outright. If you support this approach, please sign and collect signatures. Print petition HERE.
NSW: Report a scheme not complying with window safety device requirements
To report a strata scheme that is not complying with the window safety device requirements, send an email to [email protected] along with the following information:
your name and contact details
the address of the strata scheme
the managing strata agent's name and contact details (or Secretary's details, if there is no managing agent).
The ACT Government would like to know what barriers owners corporations face when considering rooftop solar. We would like owners corporations in the ACT to complete a short survey (less than 3 minutes) to share their views.
The information will be used to target support to this sector in the ACT. The survey is anonymous and can be completed here. If you have any questions, please contact the ACT Government’s Actsmart Business Energy and Water team on P: 13 22 81 or [email protected].
Quick QLD Q&A
We sometimes receive interesting questions into the site which aren't quite long enough to create into a post. We thought we'd share some here. We recently received the following question: Q: Could you please refer me to precedents in relation to "house rules" adopted by body corporate committees for the keeping of animals in apartments. Todd Garsden, Hynes Legal replied: A: House rules are 100% unenforceable. Any “rules” need to be adopted into the by-laws or form conditions of any approval sought from the body corporate.
