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Watch out for more Quick Polls in upcoming editions of Strata News. Got an idea for a Quick Poll? Let us know at [email protected].
Don't miss our comprehensive .... and growing .... list of Upcoming Strata Events + Latest News + Have Your Say - found at the very bottom of the newsletter.
If you enjoy our newsletters, why not forward it onto others who may be interested?
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Join our growing list of Sponsors. Take advantage of our increasing traffic stats. Advertising spots are becoming limited. Lock down your spot ready for a great second half of 2018! Offering you the best way to reach YOUR target audience.
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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.
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NSW: Q&A Access to the Communal Fuse Box in our Apartment Building
Leanne Habib, Premium Strata
Question: For some reason, I have a key to the communal Fuse Box in our apartment building and I have been providing access for tenants who trip their fuse. I’m just trying to help. Why is this a problem?
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QLD: Q&A Strata AGM Motions and Incorrect or Misleading Information
Frank Higginson, Hynes Legal
Question: Should strata AGM motions be ruled as Out of Order if they are based on and contain incorrect and misleading information?
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SA: Q&A Cracks in Apartment Walls. Should we wait until AGM to take action?
Flavia Ger, Ace Body Corporate Management
Question: A few lot owners have cracks in their apartment walls. We want this investigated quickly, but the Strata Manager has suggested we wait until the AGM.
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ACT: Q&A Deregistering Unit Plans for a Dual Occupancy
Jan Browne, Whittles Strata Partners
Question: For our dual occupancy units, we have obligations under Unit Titles Management Act which can be exempted. Should we look at deregistering the unit plans?
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NSW: Q&A Apartment renovations without approval. Oops … What do we do now?
Leanne Habib, Premium Strata
Question: We have recently renovated our kitchen without approval from the Owners Corporation. Will have to return the kitchen to the original condition or be fined?
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QLD: Q&A Pet Approval … after already moving in with our dog
Frank Higginson, Hynes Legal
Question: We have moved into our apartment, with our dog, prior to receiving pet approval. It is another two months before a committee meeting. Our dog is very well behaved. Are we doing the right thing?
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QLD: Schoolies and bodies corporate
Chris Irons, Commissioner for Body Corporate and Community Management
If you own a lot or are part of a committee in a scheme frequently used for holiday letting, as Schoolies begins this weekend you should have already started thinking about what impact Schoolies might have on you and your property.
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NSW: Government Plans to “Open Up” NSW Residential Apartment Blocks to Holiday Makers
Karen Stiles, Owners Corporation Network (OCN)
The NSW Government has clearly stated its intention to open up all residential dwellings in NSW to holiday letting. The essential land use planning assumption is that short term letting has a very minor impact on residential living. If you disagree, here's what you can do about it.
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Last Edition's Star Article
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NSW: Q&A Is piano playing for hours a day a breach of our peaceful enjoyment?
Leanne Habib, Premium Strata
Question: Our neighbour has recently been playing their piano for hours every day. Is this a breach of the peaceful enjoyment bylaw and how can we make this stop?
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A Selection of Recent Comments
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NSW Q&A: How Do I Stop Cigarette Butts Litter from Neighbours Upstairs?
Answer supplied by Leanne Habib, Premium Strata
Minal: We recently bought a new property (brand new) and paid extra for a bigger balcony hoping to enjoy some fresh air. But are unable to enjoy it due to our neighbours. We don’t know who they are but we have 4 levels above us. The continuously throw cigarette butts (no properly extinguished), saw some spitting in our balcony after eating pan masala and litter – used toilet paper roll. We found one really close to clothes stand which could have caused fire in this weather. Have been complaining to strata, they put common notice which doesn’t help.
Please advise what can be done? We want to buy some plants and a hammock for the balcony, but are afraid of fire hazard.
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Qld: Q&A Process to appeal the refusal for a pet
Answer provided by Frank Higginson, Hynes Legal
Diana: A relative bought an apartment, there are already one cat and three dogs allowed there. She has applied for permission to have her cat and build a cat enclosure in her private courtyard. Enclosure would be professionally built and easily dismantled for removal if necessary. She is desperate to get it built asap so her cat can go outside. Strata management has had a committee meeting but she is told it will take 21 days for any decision to be made. She feels they are making things as hard as possible for her as she has also called to their attention some urgent repairs that need to be done to the building. They appear reluctant to do any maintenance at all in spite of high body Corp fees.
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Are you happy with your Strata Manager? [POLL]
Brett: Our strata manager is terrible. No clue on agendas, minutes and the correct procedural requirements to run a transparent and informed strata plan. The committee are complicit and the manager is happy to run that way. It appears the less well informed the owners are the fewer the complaints. Keep them in the dark and feed them…well you know the rest.
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QLD: Pets and parking cause most upsets
Commissioner Chris Irons, Real Estate Kevin Turner
Pets, parking and noise are the most common areas of disputes according to the Queenslands Body Corporate Commissioner. Chris Irons joins me to discuss these disputes.
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National Property Clock: November 2018 - Units
Herron Todd White
What time are you at?
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**Last Chance**
NSW: Proposed amendments for short-term rental accommodation
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Exhibition of proposed amendments for short-term rental accommodation
The NSW Department of Planning and Environment is calling for feedback on proposed amendments to planning rules in order to provide for short-term rental accommodation (STRA) in NSW.
Following growth in STRA, the NSW Government investigated policy options to regulate the industry in NSW in consultation with communities, councils and industry. As a result of these investigations, the Minister for Planning and the Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation announced a whole-of-government framework which includes:
- state-wide planning rules
- an industry-wide mandatory Code of Conduct
- changes to strata legislation
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Help to open doors to renting reform in Queensland by sharing your experiences as a tenant, property owner or property manager.
How do you feel about renting and how well the system is working?
Complete the survey and help shape the future of renting in Queensland.
This survey closes at 5PM AEST on Friday 30 November 2018.
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WA: Have Your Say on Entertainment Noise in the Northbridge Area
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WA Government is seeking input from the WA public about proposed reforms designed to preserve Northbridge’s vibrancy
The Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage, on behalf of the Western Australian Planning Commission, and the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation have prepared a joint discussion paper, Planning for Entertainment Noise in the Northbridge Area: Public Consultation Paper. This paper outlines proposed reforms that address the issue of entertainment noise impacts in the Northbridge mixed use entertainment precinct.
The reforms aim to achieve an effective balance between protecting the economic viability of entertainment activities and minimising the impact of entertainment noise from venues on existing and future noise sensitive development.
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