NSW Q: Our 3 unit lot has one visitor space. All units are rented and one tenant has been given permission to use the visitor parking. Why can't I, or the other resident, use this spot as well?
ACT Q: Would removing carpet and/or ceramic tiles and installing a floating timber/laminate floor be considered an alteration or an addition? I would think the carpet is “affixed”, as would the trim securing the floor.
WA Q: Has anyone set up a template list of standard by-laws? These could be a great starting point for conducting a bylaw review to reflect the latest requirements under the Act in Western Australia?
NSW: Don't Forget to Dot Your I's and Cross Your T's
The case sends an important message for strata managers to ensure that they have a strata management agency agreement signed by the owners corporation before providing any services to the owners corporation. Adrian Mueller,
JS Mueller & Co Lawyers
QLD Q: I'm a lot owner who has taken the Body Corporate to Conciliation about not enforcing by-laws. If we proceed with adjudication, where does this leave us when we are not familiar with the legalities?
QLD: We recently purchased an apartment and receive approval for a pet. We've decided to short term let for a few months and have advertised it as "pet friendly". The Strata Manager has demanded we stop short term letting and stated there are to be no unknown pets at the property. Can they do this?
NSW Q: We have court action against the developer for building defects. The developer and his family members are lot owners in the building. How do we limit his influence on the vote about the defect report and proposed special levy?
The Carbon Rating Finder App will help you make better climate-friendly purchases
The zero-carbon 2030 Carbon Rating Finder App allows you to look up and compare companies’ Carbon Ratings based on their climate commitments and actions. The App gives you the information you need to make informed, climate-friendly purchasing decisions and support companies that are proactive on climate change.
The app was launched in a beta-test mode on 8 February. It also allows users to suggest companies they want zero-carbon 2030 to Carbon Rate. It can be downloaded from the App store for both Apple and Android mobile devices.
WA Apartment Advocacy - Awards for Council of Owners
The WAAA has launched a new awards programme which seeks nominations from Council of Owners. The awards which opened on 1 February and closes on 31 March is calling for nominations from Council of Owners to demonstrate best practice within Strata Companies. Good luck!
Enter due: 31 March. Awards Presentation Night: 21 May
LookUpStrata will be conducting a Q&A video session about the National fee free NABERS ratings offer in an upcoming video with Alex Sejournee, HFM Asset Management. We invite our national audience to submit questions about the NABERS fee free Offer and we will address as many as possible during the video. This video, packed full of NABERS answers to your questions, will be launched in the March edition of The WA Strata Magazine and shared to our national audience in the following Newsletter, towards the end of March.
Read more about it here: NAT: Why Residential Buildings Should Take Advantage of Fee-Free NABERS?
Submissions close 28 February 2021
More than one million people in NSW are being invited to have their say on how laws can be changed to improve the experience of the growing number of people living and working in strata communities.
Read more about it here: Help shape the future of strata laws
Submissions close 7 March 2021
Improving consumer confidence in residential strata buildings
The NSW Government are working with SCA (NSW) to collect information from NSW Strata Managers about Class 2 residential buildings to understand the scale & nature of major defects.
This is part of a strategy to increase consumer confidence & reduce the burden defects have on Strata Managers & occupants of apartments in NSW.
Submissions close 28 February 2021
The City has undertaken to provide a commercial Container Deposit Scheme (Containers for Change) service to those commercial and residential premises in Perth CBD who would like to be involved. The scheme facilitates greater recycling, reduced overall waste costs and provides work for social enterprise groups. There is currently no charge for this service under our trial, and we will provide you with 240L specific bins on a weekly or on demand collection basis.
Please register for a scheme ID through the website or find a charity close to your heart to donate towards. The scheme pays back 10c for each eligible container collected. Please contact us on 9461 3828, or email us to register to be part of our trial or for more information.
Management Rights in QLD: Owners & Occupiers Review
The voices of commercial interests in strata buildings often drown out the voices of owners and occupiers. Prior to the recent state election, a UOAQ newsletter published a letter from the Deputy Premier Steven Miles that invited the UOAQ Committee to contribute to a legislation review regarding management rights in our buildings. We are seeking to present the views of owners and occupiers via the results of an online survey that reviews various aspects of the management of our buildings. We would appreciate your feedback. Please complete the survey using the following link.
The State Government is seeking feedback on a proposed draft Medium Density Code. This Code will form part of SPP 7.3 Residential Design Codes Volume 1 (R-Codes), to encourage greater diversity of well-designed housing to meet the changing needs and expectations of our community.
Submissions close 16 Apr 2021
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