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In this article, we look into some of the general questions owners may have surrounding insurance commissions within the owners corporation industry in Victoria. In particular, we discuss what managers should be doing to establish and maintain open and transparent disclosure with owners.
NSW: Q&A Charging lot owners who use the visitor parking spaces
Leanne Habib, Premium Strata Question: Some residents in our building use the visitor parking spaces as an additional parking spot. Is it possible to increase levies for these few residents and not all lot owners?
VIC: Q&A Damage caused by a water leak from balcony above
Tyrone Shandiman, Strata Insurance Solutions Question: Is there any way I can get the body Corporate or the Insurance company to take responsibility for damage caused by a water leak from balcony above?
Pets in Strata Qld: Q&A Process to appeal the refusal for a pet
Frank Higginson, Hynes Legal Question: Our Body Corporate has refused a proposal for a resident to keep a cat and a dog. The resident is appealing the vote. What process does this appeal take and, during the process, do we get a chance to support the Body Corporate’s decision?
How Should I Pay My Electricity Bill? Best… and not so best ways to pay
Ben Chester, Locality Planning Energy
When comparing electricity offers, the choice of how bills are paid consistently ranks at the top of people’s priorities. At the end of the day, it should be up to the consumer how they want to pay, yet some offers are only available if you agree to pay by Direct Debit or accept reduced payment terms.
NSW: Air Conditioning Issues Heating Up Your Scheme?
Bannermans Lawyers
Air conditioning issues concerning installation and maintenance are a common source of disputes in strata schemes. There are a number of reasons for this, but the major problem is the answer to questions like “what approvals do I need to install equipment” and “who is responsible for maintenance of the equipment” depend on circumstance, preventing schemes from adopting a “one size fits all” solution.
Victoria Leads On National Approach To Cladding Insurance
Minister for Planning, Richard Wynne
Victoria is pushing for an Australia-wide approach to deal with an impasse in professional indemnity insurance (PII) facing the building industry, as the combustible cladding issue affects professional premiums.
Answered by Frank Higginson, Hynes Legal Question: I have visited the QBCC site and have found no information relevant to me.
I am secretary/treasure of our Body Corporate, Small Schemes Module. Number CTS34246. Our buildings consist of 2 separate duplexes. they are ground level only and made of brick. (No external cladding)..
Do I have to submit some form to whoever so that I can obtain confirmation that the new cladding law does not appy to this complex and thus not be liable for any penalties for inaction?
NSW: Q&A ‘No Animals Allowed’ – not even a companion animal
Leanne Habib, Premium Strata If the dogs were there before the bylaws were either changed or strengthen, would not the matter of dogs residing be governed by previous/original bylaw?
NSW: Compliant Specialist since 1999 Fire Safety Constructions perform all BCA compliance and fire safety upgrade works including fire doors, fire stopping, balustrade upgrades, compartmentation, intumescent painting, fire detection systems, hydrants/FHR’s, sprinkler systems, associated general building works.
News of the Week
VIC: Should renters be able to have environmentally-friendly fittings installed and changes made?
Jemimah Clegg, Domain Tara O’Toole wants a compost bin. So she should just go get one – simple, right?
It would be, if she weren’t renting in a mid-rise apartment building without her own garden.
NSW: Sydney unit owners face uncertainty over who will foot $7m bill to remove illegal cladding
Tawar Razaghi, Domain Colin Knowles thought he was buying his dream home in Pyrmont in 2000. Little did he know his apartment building was covered in a flammable and dangerous cladding now considered illegal. Eighteen years on and Mr Knowles and his neighbours face a $7 million bill to have it replaced because of mounting pressure first by insurers and now legislated by the state government to remove it.
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.
Before making any decisions about possible changes to the BUGT Act, the Queensland Government would like to hear your views about QUT’s recommendations.
You are invited to provide feedback on QUT’s recommendations to harmonise some provisions of the BUGT Act and the BCCM Act to provide bodies corporate operating under the BUGT Act with a more contemporary body corporate legislative framework.
WA: Have Your Say on Short Term Accommodation in Strata
Have you experienced short term accommodation in strata?
SCA (WA) wants to hear from you!
SCA (WA) is currently seeking feedback from strata managers and SCA owner members on on their experience with short stay accommodation in strata schemes. To complete the survey, please click on the appropriate box.
NSW: Apply for the Smart Green Apartments Program
A message from City of Sydney:
Smart Green Apartments is an award-winning free program provided by the City of Sydney to help make buildings more energy and water efficient. To date we've helped more than 50 buildings in the local area save thousands of dollars each year on running and maintenance costs.
