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 Strata Manager Complaints and Unprofessional Advise
Leanne Habib, Premium Strata Question: We got several pieces of advise and recommendation from our Strata Manger – some of those pieces are very unprofessional, not applicable or totally ignoring previous recommendations given. Where can I make strata manager complaints?
QLD: Q&A Can Chairman Hold All 3 Positions on the Executive Committee?
Frank Higginson, Hynes Legal Question: At our recent AGM, our chairman received majority votes (9 votes for all executive positions). Our Body Corporate Managers advised us that it is legal for one person to hold all three positions on executive committee.
ACT: Q&A Checking for asbestos while replacing the roof
Christopher Kerin, Kerin Benson Lawyers Question: We are undertaking a roof replacement. Should the Contract with the roofing firm contain a clause regarding checking for asbestos in eaves and cladding prior to acceptance of a quote by owners?
VIC: Q&A Rising Insurance Premiums due to multiple break ins
Tony Overell, The Knight Question: Our complex has had multiple breakins at the same entry point. As we are facing rising insurance premiums, can we mandate that insurance claims will not be accepted unless the targeted premises are secured by deadlocks or security doors on external entrances?
NSW: Fair Trading Providing Incorrect Information About Window Safety Devices
Adrian Mueller, JS Mueller & Co Information on the NSW Fair Trading site is resulting in some incorrect conclusions that it is possible for an owners corporation to relieve itself from the responsibility for installing window safety devices.
We Pay for Power – Paying Your Strata Levies on Time
Bailey Compton, Leverage Group – Solicitors & Academy Failure to pay strata levies leaves you disenfranchised and without a vote. In other words, if your levies are not up to date you will not be permitted to vote at an annual general meeting or extraordinary general meeting.
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?
NSW: How can we ensure healthy high-rise communities?
Cameron Jewell, The Fifth Estate Last week the City of Sydney revealed a program to improve connection amongst its high-rise residents, following a survey that showed half weren’t satisfied with the sense of community, and about the same percentage didn’t think they could reach out to neighbours for help.
QLD: Professional TV Antenna Service For You Today
Take your entertainment to the next level – with Install My Antenna’s cost-effective packages and budget-friendly prices, you won’t have to settle for less.
WA: Building Inspection Masters!
Providing the highest quality building inspection reports available in Perth’s residential and commercial property markets.
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 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: Can a body corporate bully a resident into having to give up their exclusive use area for a car park. Frank Higginson, Hynes Legal replied: A: An exclusive use park is on the title to a lot in effect so it is the lot owners to retain. A body corporate cannot make anyone give up a right like that.
