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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 Can a Strata Committee Member send their own Notice to Comply Letter?
Leanne Habib, Premium Strata Question: Can one member of Body Corporate Committee send their own breach of bylaw letter to an owner without contacting other members of the Body Corporate to discuss?
QLD: Q&A How Residential Managers Run Their Business is Up To Them
Frank Higginson, Hynes Legal Question: As Residential Managers at a scheme, are we required to share our expenses with the chairman and the body corporate committee?
Tony Overell, The Knight Question: Am I able to have companion pets in apartments in Victoria? Is it possible for companion animals to be banned at my scheme?
WA: Q&A We can’t agree on a strata insurance company
Whitbread Insurance Brokers Question: We can't agree on a strata insurance company. If we don't insure the property by the due date, who will be liable for any damage caused while we don’t have a consensus?
ACT: Q&A Our strata complex is not able to establish an Executive Committee
Jan Browne and Craig Bowditch, Whittles Strata Partners Question: What happens if a strata complex is not able to establish an Executive Committee because no owners are willing to step up?
NSW: Q&A Overdue strata fees – When Can Legal Action Commence?
Bronwyn Smith, Smith Partners Lawyers Question: What are the requirements to contact a lot owner regarding overdue strata fees? When can legal action against the lot owner commence?
NSW By-Laws & Pets: What is harsh unconscionable or oppressive?
Allison Benson, Kerin Benson Lawyers NSW Strata Laws on Pets: A strict prohibition on the keeping of pets within a strata scheme may be deemed to be invalid under the new section 139 of the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015.
NSW: Neighbours at war as parking dispute returns to court
Andrew Taylor, The Sydney Morning Herald Mr Canny was one of 26 plaintiffs who took legal action against the Elizabeth Bay Gardens’ owners corporation after it enacted a by-law to prevent them using car spots that had been purchased for as much as $210,000.
VIC: Budget to include $25 million to crack down on combustible cladding
Benjamin Preiss, The Age Many people living in apartments still don't know whether their homes are covered in combustible cladding, with the state government moving to increase safety inspections of potentially dangerous buildings. The Andrews government will commit $25 million in total to check buildings for flammable cladding and crack down on builders who disregard the safety regulations.
NSW: “Keeping you Connected”
Slow internet, phone problems, want to connect ...... BUT CAN’T? Trouble with your provider and need advice you can trust. CALL US FIRST…..
NSW: The experienced pest problem solvers
We solve your pest problems fast. Completely safe for children, pets and plants, for your peace of mind.
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).
Quick NSW 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: We received a recent maintenance schedule and it showed $400 for a gas leak.
I have since spoken to the owner of one of the units at our 4 lots who made the call and he stated that the agency told him that the smell was simply coming from the overflow pipe and a call out was not necessary.
What are the rulings when a Strata company just puts down gas leak $400? Can I request for a bill breakdown and work order as proof? Rod Smith, The Strata Collective replied: A: I think it is important that the owners corporation is happy with the work provided. I agree that it would be a good idea to ask for a copy of the invoice and work order.
The charge for $400 does not seem over the top for such a repair however it is important to be comfortable with the processes and steps taken by the strata manager.
