FactSheet: Maintenance & Common Property

• Importance of Regular Termite Inspections After Death in FNQ Jun 2017 - This article stands as a reminder of the importance of having a regular body corporate termite inspection after a recent
• The Age of Concrete Cancer Feb 2017 - Hi-rise apartment buildings built back in the 1970s have been the hot topic of discussion, as the effects of concrete
• Why it is Vital for Strata Owners to Add Value to their Building – PODCAST Jan 2017 - Many buildings just do the bare minimum to maintain the building. There is so much more to be done to
• The Storm Season is Here! Oct 2016 - The 2016 storm season has started! So, what can you do to prepare for the unexpected and minimise any impact
• Are you NBN ready with your lift phones? Oct 2016 - The NBN will affect operation of lift phones, fire alarm panels, back to base security systems, medical alert systems and
• Building Maintenance Plans: Planning for the future Sep 2016 - Implementing a Building Maintenance Plan at your property is a quick and painless way to protect the value of your
• How Hiring a Lift Consultant Can Save Your Building Money Sep 2016 - Sure, you need to consider the costs of engaging a lift consultant, but it’s also worthwhile knowing as a general
• Are You Getting the Most Out of Your Apartment Gym Workout? Aug 2016 - Have a fully qualified and experienced Personal Trainer come to you and ensure your apartment gym workout is suited to
• Lifts: A Guideline to Strata Owners’ Responsibilities Aug 2016 - Our recent seminar covered Strata Owners' responsibilities regarding lift maintenance Australian Standards. It was so helpful, we turned it into
• The advantages of Rope Access Aug 2016 - When it comes to strata building maintenance, which method of maintenance fits my project and, more importantly, which is most efficient -

From Bland to Fab – How to get your Common Areas Improved

Catherine Lezer
Feb 2016: Looking to carry out common property improvement work in your building? Follow this step-by-step guide to success.

Improving Water Efficiency in Your Building

Catherine Lezer
Jan 2016: Common property water bills are one of the biggest expenses in annual figures. So it makes sense to look at ways improving water efficiency in your building.

Procedures for Pigeon Pest Control at Your Strata Building

Nigel Wraight, Wraight Property
Dec 2015: Pigeons carry diseases and parasites which can be harmful to people. Pigeon pest control can be achieved by focusing on a few procedures.

Apartment and Unit Managers Urged to Review Security

Stephen Raff, Ace Body Corporate Management
Dec 2015: Thieves to target empty properties over the holiday period. Get your holiday security checklist for your building organised now.

Balustrades and Strata Liability

Chris Kerin, Kerin Benson Lawyers
Nov 2015: Balustrades Regulations: A defective balustrade is one of the biggest risks to safety on common property, and as such, it is of great importance that an owners corporation ensures that any balustrades in their scheme are structurally sound and comply with the relevant building standards.

Concrete Cancer Epidemic – Don’t bury your head in the Sand

Tyrone Shandiman, Strata Insurance Solutions
Nov 2015: Providing unit owners with insight into how concrete cancer is handled from an insurance perspective and a warning to bodies corporate not to bury their heads in the sand.

Should the Owners’ Corporation develop X-ray eyes?

Michele Hemmings, Exclusively Strata
Nov 2015: Recently one of my strata groups had to spend ~$9000 to rectify damaged common property (mostly the inside of a townhouse) because a long term tenant was prepared to live around falling ceilings, mildew, mould, and rotting timber beams and not report it!

What can your strata community do to reduce crime?

Stephen Raff, Ace Body Corporate Management
Nov 2015: Crime is a big problem in our society and unfortunately strata communities are not immune. There are ways you can help.

Unit Fire and Safety Issues

Christopher Kerin, Kerin Benson Lawyers
Nov 2015: Why is it that in 21st-century Australia, strata title fire safety issues are still making headlines and what can investors do to protect themselves from such issues?

Do tenants have the same rights as an owner?

Paula Byrnes, Metropolitan Strata Reports
Sep 2015: What is the outcome when it comes to owners vs renters rights apartments? What course of action can the tenant take and who do they turn to for information?

Serious Termite Damage – who is liable?

Paula Byrnes, Metropolitan Strata Reports
Aug 2015: When it comes to termite damage strata, who is responsible for inspecting and treatment? How about access – especially if it includes cutting a hole in a timber floor?

Elevator performance and maintenance go hand in hand

Andrew Batynski, ABN Lift Consultants
Jul 2015: Maintenance of elevators: Any lift is an extremely complex system with hundreds of mechanical and electrical parts that must be maintained on a regular basis.

Essential Services – Responsibilities of building owners

Drew Mountney, Melbourne Fire & Electrical
Nov 2014: The recent fire which broke out at a multistorey apartment in Docklands is a timely reminder to owners and owners corporations across Australia that fire maintenance and management is a collective responsibility.

Tendering for Fire Safety

Deborah Sullivan, QIA Group Pty Ltd
Nov 2014: One of the issues we are consistently faced with respect to the maintenance of fire safety measures is how to obtain good value for money for the services that need to be provided.

Tips to help reduce the power consumption of your lift

James Demetrios, Urban Vertical
Oct 2014: Fantastic innovations maybe restricted to new installations or major modernisations, however minor upgrades can help reduce power consumption and provide savings on electricity bills.

Minimum Expectations for Contractors on Your Site

Deborah Sullivan, QIA Group Pty Ltd
Jul 2014: There are very simple ways to ensure that contractors visiting your site are aware of the basic expectations you have of them.

Check your tradie has the right tools for the job – insurance tools that is!

Whitbread Insurance
May 2014: Even though the ‘tradie’ you engage to carry out works on behalf of the Owners Corporation may turn up with the right tools and skills for the job, your responsibility is to check they have the right insurance cover.

• Body Corporate costs hit the roof May 2017 - This was a recent incident which occurred at a set of 4 units. The incident ended up costing in excess
• Q&A: Gym Equipment Maintenance – Better to Own or Hire? Nov 2016 - Question: Why does our BC hire and contract out our gym equipment maintenance? Surely it would be better to buy

• NSW Case Note: What is “unreasonable” to refuse? May 2017 - A dispute over the airspace between two balconies in Queensland has provided the most comprehensive authority to date as to
• NSW: How To Deal With An Owner Making Private Use of Common Property Without Approval PODCAST May 2017 - A lot owner's or occupier's exclusive use of common property is illegal unless approved by way of a registered common
• Strata Case Plan 76888 Statutory Warranties NSW May 2017 - The Court comes to a surprising conclusion regarding the repair of common property in this recent case where an OC
• NSW: Neighbours Come in all Shapes and Sizes and so do your Common Boundary Disputes Apr 2017 - All properties have boundaries and inevitably, at some time or another you may be faced with a dispute arising over
• NSW Window Safety Laws: The Deadline is Looming…13 March 2018 Apr 2017 - That’s right, window locks must be installed on windows in NSW by 13 March, 2018. Otherwise, owners corporations will face
• NSW: Loose Fill Asbestos Hazard: Important Update for Strata and Home Owners 2017 Mar 2017 - If you are a strata plan that has lodged an intent to register prior to 1 August 2016 you now
• NSW: How To Deal With Boundary Fences In Strata – PODCAST Mar 2017 - What steps do you or your scheme need to take to deal with boundary fences strata? The very first step
• NSW Strata Reforms: Cosmetic & Minor Renovations – what can & can’t you do? Feb 2017 - What do I need to know about renovating my apartment in NSW now that the strata laws have changed? What
• NSW: Q&A Are hanging plants on balcony a safety issue? Feb 2017 - Question: We believe hanging plants a on balcony in our scheme to be a safety concern. Can we request the
• NSW Strata Reforms & Installing Air conditioning Systems Feb 2017 - Post the introduction of the NSW Strata Reforms, strata committees and owners corporations should be careful when considering applications to

The Guide to Window Locks Legislation NSW

Compilation Post
Apr 2016: Q: What types of window locking devices are being installed in strata buildings to comply with the new window locks legislation NSW?

Owners Corporation’s Negligence to Repair Common Property

NSW Lot Owner
Mar 2016: This is a heaven to hell account of the persecution and suffering experienced by my wife and I as strata unit owners, brought on by the dishonesty and negligence of a executive committee and strata manager neglecting to initially repair common property.

Dividing Fences and Trees – Part 2: Trees – The Who, What and When

Allison Benson, Kerin Benson Lawyers
Nov 2015: Trees in strata and community schemes can be a huge issue. Although we need them trees can cause neighbourhood disputes when they overhang or they interfere with your neighbours plumbing system, fence, retaining wall or even building foundations.

Owners Corporations, Security Systems and Privacy – What do you need to consider?

Allison Benson, Kerin Benson Lawyers
Oct 2015: With increasingly sophisticated security systems having more capacity at a lower cost than ever before many strata and community title schemes are installing security systems and surveillance devices such as keyed swipe passes, smart lighting and closed circuit television (CCTV) systems. What many schemes do not consider is the use of these systems and their legality. Privacy is, rightly, a key concern of many lot owners and occupiers.

Dividing Fences and Trees – Part 1: Fences – the who what and when

Allison Benson, Kerin Benson Lawyers
Oct 2015: Dividing Fences Act 1991 (NSW) applies to all “dividing fences” but not to a common property fence dividing two lots within the strata scheme or a common property fence dividing a lot and the common property.

Cleaning House – What Can Owners Corporations Do About Unwanted Items On Common Property?

David Bannerman and Mark Pollinger, Bannermans Lawyers
Aug 2015: What To Do About Abandoned Goods On Common Property? Owners corporations and their strata managing agents have been struggling for years to find effective solutions to this issue.

Common Property Letterboxes, CCTV Cameras and Letterbox Theft

Michael Pobi, Pobi Lawyers
Jun 2015: The theft of mail from apartment letter boxes is on the rise given that they are an attractive target for thieves. So, what can you do about it?

How Secure is your Strata Scheme?

David Bannerman and Samantha Saw, Bannermans Lawyers
March 2015: Strata security can be a tricky issue for owners corporations who need to balance the rights of owners/occupiers with an obligation to minimise the risk of crimes such as break ins, theft or damage.

When Do You Need Approval to Remove or Prune a Tree?

David Bannerman and Mark Pollinger, Bannermans Lawyers
Dec 2014: There can be significant differences between tree preservation orders for specific councils and proposals for pruning or removal of trees should be considered in light of the requirements of the tree preservation order applicable to the relevant local government area.

Owners Corporation’s Duty to Maintain and Repair Common Property

Pierrette Khoury, Turnbull Bowles Lawyers
Oct 2014: It is imperative the Owners Corporation is mindful of its obligations with regard to the legislation and ensures the common property is properly maintained and repaired.

Common Property, Lots and Strata Title Issues

Michael Pobi, Pobi Lawyers
Sep 2014: To determine what land, structures or airspace comprise lots or NSW common property in your strata scheme it is necessary to examine the various definitions contained in the legislation.

What Do I Own & What is Common Property

David Bannerman and Sven Bjerkhamn, Bannermans Lawyers
May 2014: For any lot owner and for an owners corporation, the really important question of who owns what needs to be established as the answer will dictate how a strata scheme is correctly managed and who is responsible for what parts of a strata scheme.

STRATA SCHEMES MANAGEMENT REGULATION 2016 – SCHEDULE 3 – Model by-laws, including those concerning common property, for residential strata schemes

Who’s Responsible? a guide to common property

Strata Community Australia (NSW). This report provides information detailing who is responsible for repairs and maintenance – the owner or the body corporate?

How can an Owners’ Corporation identify common property in a strata scheme?

NSW Government: Land & Property Information.

Common property and the lot in a strata scheme

NSW Fair Trading: A strata scheme is a residential building or a collection of buildings where each individual proprietor separately owns a small part, usually their apartment or townhouse. This small part is called ‘a lot’. There are other parts of a strata scheme building or property which are not part of anyone’s private lot. These parts are jointly owned by all the lot owners and are called common property.

• Q&A Why Should I Install Child Proof Window Locks NSW? Apr 2017 - Question: I live by myself and don't ever have small children inside my town house. Why has the body corporate
• NSW: Q&A Safety Regulations for Stairs / Common Stairways Mar 2017 - This Q&A about safety regulations for stairs has been answered by Deborah Sullivan, QIA Group Pty Ltd. Question: I am
• NSW: Q&A Does the Owners Corporation Have a Duty to Define Common Property? Feb 2017 - Question: Does the Owners Corporation have a duty to define common property? Should it not have been put on the

Q&A Plants Stolen from Garden on Common Property

Compilation Post – Leanne Habib, Premium Strata + Renee Cassidy, Whitbread Insurance Brokers + Allison Benson, Kerin Benson Lawyers
May 2016: This interesting Strata Questions and Answers article concerns some plants stolen from a garden on the common property of a scheme in NSW.

Q&A Upkeep the Repair of Common Property

Jan Browne, Ian McNamee & Partners
Apr 2016: Is it the responsibility of the Strata Manager to advise the Owners Corporation to upkeep and maintain the repair of common property?

Q&As NSW & QLD: Children, Commercial Strata Parking Regulations & Strata Insurance

Andrew Jakes, Ace Body Corporate Management + Jan Browne, Ian McNamee & Partners + Whitbread Insurance Brokers
Mar 2016: Some great strata questions and answers about children on common property, commercial strata regulations concerning parking and a strata insurance question!

Q&A Leaky Floors and Outstanding Body Corporate Levies

Andrew Jakes, Ace Body Corporate Management + Hayley Eighteen, Whitbread Insurance Brokers
Feb 2016: In this Q&A post, we answer two NSW Strata Questions: 1. Who pays for a leaky floor and 2. When is interest charged on outstanding body corporate levies?

NSW Strata Window Safety – Peter Berney, Solutions In Engineering

Neighbours and the law

by Nadine Behan. Published by the Legal Information Access Centre (LIAC), State Library of New South Wales, 2012. An easy to understand guide to the different areas of law that are involved in neighbourhood issues and disputes. Covers areas that commonly cause problems between neighbours including: dividing fences, retaining walls, overhanging branches, animals and noise, including a section discussing:

• Dividing fences. Restrictions concerning the style of dividing fence may operate in your local area because of council policies, heritage protection or restrictive covenants (e.g. a subdivision may have an agreement that all fences be of a particular type). Also some fences may need council approval. Check your local council website for any guidelines concerning fences in your area.
• Retaining walls. A retaining wall is a structure that supports excavated or filled earth on a property. The construction of a retaining wall will often require a Development Application. Check with your local council.
• Trees and plants. Trees and plants are a common cause of disputes between neighbours. In NSW legislation largely regulates the planting, pruning, destruction and removal of trees and plants and also deals with some of the disputes. The overall aim, wherever possible, is to conserve vegetation, especially in the urban environment.

• NSW: Lift Refurbishments – Do Owners Corporations Have to Pay Compensation to Affected Owners and Tenants? Jun 2017 - Can an owners corporation shut down the lifts in its building to refurbish them? If so, does the owners corporation
• Fixing a Leaking Roof Apr 2017 - As a Registered Building Practitioner who is also a specialist in waterproofing installation, I have witnessed the devastating consequences of
• NSW: Swimming Pools Act 1992 Jul 2016 - The Swimming Pools Act 1992 has further been amended since 2012 to improve the safety of children around swimming pools

So What Happens if the Owners Corporation Does Not Fix the Building?

David Bannermans, Bannermans Lawyers
Apr 2016: Many owners face problems with strata schemes failing to repair/maintain common property. Is the 2015 Strata Reform going to assist?

NSW: Growth in Mould Claims

David Bannerman and Ben Robertson, Bannermans Lawyers
Mar 2016: Dealing with complicated issues concerning toxic mould claims in buildings is becoming more and more prevalent in NSW.

NSW: Window Safety Requirements – Reminder Compliance Due 18 March 2018

Allison Benson, Kerin Benson Lawyers
Feb 2016: An important reminder for owners corporations to include a provision for Window Safety Requirements in their annual budgets.

Case of the week – Toxic Mould

Paula Byrnes, Metropolitan Strata Reports
Aug 2015: Toxic mould in a rented apartment – who is liable for the issue? The owners corporation, the landlord or the tenant? And how bad can mould really be?

NSW Building defects and maintenance

Media Release, NSW Fair Trading
Jul 2015: What do I do if I have a defect in my apartment? Find out the steps to take when dealing with NSW building defects and maintenance.

Strata Window Safety Locks and Devices

Pierrette Khoury, Turnbull Bowles Lawyers
May 2015: Changes were implemented to window safety strata as a result of fatalities in apartment buildings. Statistics have shown that each year approximately 50 children fall from windows or balconies in Australia.

Annual Fire Safety Statements: What Are They Good For? Sometimes, Absolutely Nothing!

David Bannerman and Carlo Fini, Bannermans Lawyers
Apr 2015: Our experience based on cases we have seen is that owners cannot rely on their annual fire safety statements if they want to make sure that their building fully complies with the Building Code of Australia and any applicable Australian Standard.

Wild Weather & Damage – the Owners Corporation’s Duty to Maintain and Repair the Common Property

Allison Benson, Kerin Benson Lawyers
Apr 2015: This is a quick refresher for owners corporation’s and lot owners on what their respective duties are when common property is damaged due to wild weather.

What Contract Should I Use?

Christopher Kerin, Kerin Benson Lawyers
Nov 2014: Commonly owners corporations completing rectification/maintenance work engage builders without giving proper consideration as to the building contract which should be used for that work.

What Do I Do When a Subcontractor Doesn’t Perform?

David Bannerman and Ben Robertson, Bannermans Lawyers
Oct 2014: Builders need to manage both the “front-end” and “back-end” of works performed by subcontractors so that builders can take appropriate steps if a subcontractor performs defective work or fails to finish a job.

Strata Title Renewal

Property Council of Australia
Buildings have a natural lifecycle. Some of the oldest strata buildings in Sydney are close to 100 years old. The process of decline has been accelerated by lack of maintenance as owners’ corporations have sought to minimise contributions.

Without renewal, buildings are being pushed past their realistic lifespan. We risk the emergence of a plethora of buildings which are unsound and unsightly

Deck and balcony safety

NSW Fair Trading
Is your deck or balcony safe? Recently there have been a number of incidents involving decks and balconies resulting in injury and death. NSW Fair Trading have produced a maintenance and safety guide to help home owners check their decks and balconies are safe and in good repair.

Register your pool and spa

NSW Government: Swimming Pool Register – From 29 October 2013, authorised officers may fine pool owners if their pool is not registered on the NSW Swimming Pool Register. The fine is $220.00.

Selling a Property with a Swimming Pool or Spa Pool

NSW Government: Division of Local Government – With over 300,000 backyard swimming pools in New South Wales, swimming pool safety is a vital issue that affects the whole community. Supervising young children in and around swimming pools and developing water confidence through water familiarisation programs can save lives. Effective pool barriers also help keep young children safe.

• Q&A Smoke Alarms in Strata Units NSW Jun 2017 - Question: In NSW, who is responsible to ensure the smoke alarms in strata units are operational? Who's responsibility is the
• NSW: Q&A Statutory Duty to Repair and Maintain Common Property May 2017 - Question: Our apartment is having rising damp repairs carried out. Are we required to contribute to the cost to repair
• Q&A What is a dilapidation report NSW? Mar 2017 - Question: The difference between section 62 report & a dilapidation report NSW? A 62 report is now 106 Duty of
• NSW: Q&A Strata Maintenance Responsibilities: Air Conditioning Unit Mar 2017 - Question: When it comes to strata maintenance responsibilities, who is responsible for maintaining an individual unit’s ducted air conditioning systems
• NSW: Q&A Retaining Wall Maintenance Responsibility Feb 2017 - Question: Retaining wall maintenance responsibility - Who is responsible for the repair of a retaining wall in the back yard
• NSW: Q&A Eliminating a Trip Hazard in a Courtyard Area Feb 2017 - Question: Should my uneven courtyard pavers be repaired quickly? Who is responsible for the cost of eliminating the trip hazard?
• NSW Q&A: Role of Executive Committee in Repairing Common Wall Cracks Jan 2017 - Question: Some common walls in our building have cracks. What procedure should our Executive Committee follow to repair these defects?
• NSW: Q&A How Does the Committee Organise a Leaky Roof Repair? Oct 2016 - A step-by-step guide to repairing a leaky strata scheme roof. From inspecting the issue and sourcing quotes to chasing up
• NSW: Q&A I’m Not Happy With Repairs to Strata Property Aug 2016 - My strata company allowed shoddy repairs to strata property in 2012 and are now getting the mismatched floorboards replaced by
• NSW: Q&A Termites in Your Strata Complex – Who is Responsible? Jul 2016 - Termite control - is this the responsibility of the individual owner or the Body Corporate to inspect and treat termites

Q&A Parking on Common Property Without Approval & Access Strata Lots for Maintenance

Leanne Habib, Premium Strata
Apr 2016: Answer: The Act does not permit residents to park on common property approaches without the prior written consent of the Owners Corporation.

Q&A Who is Responsible for Sanding & Polishing My Floorboards?

LookUpStrata + Leanne Habib, Premium Strata
Apr 2016: Who is responsible for maintaining / sanding and polishing the floorboards in a strata apartment? Aren’t floorboards part of the common property?

Who is responsible for the maintenance and repair of the internal stop valve connected to the water main?

Question

A plumber had to turn off the water main to fix the internal stop valve in the lot. Who is responsible for the maintenance and repair of the internal stop valve connected to the water main?

Answer

From Simone Balsara, TEYS Lawyers:

The internal stop valve is within the lot and for the exclusive use of the lot. Therefore, the internal stop valve is the owner’s responsibility. It does not matter that it is connected to the water main. However, the main stop valve servicing all lots (usually on an external wall to the building) is the owners corporation’s responsibility.

Question: If there is an internal bathroom not located on the common property and there is a leak from the pipes, who is responsible? Are the pipes still common property?

Answer

From Simone Balsara, TEYS Lawyers:

Normally burst pipes are the responsibility of the owners corporation. However, if a pipe is for the exclusive use of the lot, then if it bursts within the lot, the owner shall be responsible (e.g. pipe in an internal wall feeding the shower).

FAQs: Strata Schemes: Common Property

NSW Fair Trading

FAQs: Strata Schemes: Repairs & Maintenance

NSW Fair Trading

• Strata Lifts: The 90-Day Exclusion Clause – A New Twist & It Can Really Hurt Sep 2016 - Check your lift maintenance contract terms and conditions. A body corporate could be severely penalised by a new exclusion clause
• QLD: Storm Strata Disaster – Double Asbestos Whammy Jun 2016 - Once again and is this becoming a regular event? Destruction from bad weather to Strata Units - this time with
• QLD: Top tips for Bodies Corporate dealing with Storm Damage Jun 2016 - This article discussing how to deal with damage caused by the recent Queensland storms has been supplied by Mario Esera,

Queensland Government introduces changes to overhaul smoke alarm systems

Deborah Sullivan, QIA Group Pty Ltd
Feb 2016: From 1 January 2017, all smoke alarm systems installed will need to be fully compliant for new buildings or when significant renovations occur.

The Risks With Long-Term Contracts: Lift Maintenance Contracts

Unit Owners Association of Queensland (UOAQ)
Jan 2016: Many complexes have long-term lift maintenance contracts: often, for 10 years or so. These contracts include 2 big risks to Body Corporate funds.

Working at heights in management rights

Frank Higginson, Hynes Legal
Apr 2015: Management rights remains a far less risky business from a WHS perspective than most industries. However, care must be taken when working at heights.

The Importance of Annual Fire Compliance in Strata

Pete Berney, Solutions In Engineering
Sep 2013: When the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) clarified annual fire compliance as a legal obligation they introduced a new regime with On-the-Spot fines of $3,000 per breach.

Queensland Fire Compliance in Strata

Joel Carkeet
Apr 2013: With Insurance companies nowadays cracking down on various compliance requirements in Strata Schemes, the largest area of concern is Fire Compliance and the need for Bodies Corporate to ‘tick the boxes’ for their insurance policy to continue.

• QLD: Q&A Health and Safety First Aid Kit Requirements For a Retirement Village Jan 2017 - Question: What are the Health and Safety First Aid Kit Requirements for Retirement Villages? Is it mandatory for a first-aid
• QLD: Q&A Number of Visitors – What Are The Rules For Common Property? Dec 2016 - Heading up the Christmas period, holiday season and long school holidays, are there rules for common property areas about how
• QLD: Q&A Abandoned Cars in the Body Corporate Underground Carpark Aug 2016 - A tenant moves out and leaves his unregistered car in the Body Corporate's underground car park. What can you do
• QLD: Q&A Unreasonable Interference to Prevent ‘Health Risk’ Aug 2016 - Question: Can we stop a resident from using the pool and spa facilities if they pose a potential health risk

FAQs regarding fire door compliance

Peter Pedersen, Spanline Fire Doors
Sep 2015: Do you know your fire door compliance? Here we provide some straight forward answers to some common questions regarding fire door compliance in Queensland.

• VIC: The ‘Twenty-Seven Centimetre Dispute’ between St Kilda Road Owners Corporation and Lot Owner May 2017 - An Owners Corporation for a Melbourne development sought an order from VCAT that a lot owner comply with one of

Maximum OHS fine more than doubling in Victoria

Deborah Sullivan, QIA Group
Apr 2016: The maximum OHS fine in Victoria will more than double – to become higher than the maximum $3 million fine in the harmonised states – under a Government Bill introduced to Parliament in March 2016.

What’s yours and what‘s common property?

Stephen Raff, Ace Body Corporate Management
Jan 2016: Strata managers regularly receive questions from strata lot owners about ‘what is mine’ or ‘where are the common property boundaries’?

Common Property Leases and Licences – Legal Checklist

Nicole Wilde, Tisher Liner FC Law
Oct 2015: In order to validly grant common property leases, the Owners Corporation must pass a special resolution. Have you thought about all the items which need to be considered?

WorkSafe Victoria on Asbestos within Strata Schemes

Deborah Sullivan, QIA Group
Sep 2015: Are Owners Corporations required to gain an Asbestos Assessments under Division 5 (Asbestos in workplaces) for common areas that are not within the lot?

• VIC: Q&A Maintenance of Common Property – Decorative Paintwork Apr 2017 - Question: Our scheme has a deteriorated decorative paint finish. Opinion is divided as to whether this decorative finish is required
• VIC: Q&A Water Leak From Balcony Mar 2017 - Water leak from balcony: I have a drain on the balcony the comes from the roof. There is a leak

Q&A: Strata Living Victoria

Sonya Williams from enLighten Australia and Daniel Hunt from Ace Body Corporate Management
Feb 2016: Over the past week or so we have received a few questions from lot owners asking about different aspects concerning strata Living in Victoria.

Q&A Emergency exits from common property areas

Layton Gale, Australian Essential Services Group
Nov 2015: It is a requirement of all buildings that there must be a safe and unobstructed path of travel and discharge from exit to the road or open space.

FAQs about TAS Maintenance & Common Property

What control does the body corporate have over activities by the lot owners on the common property?

Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water & Environment: Land, Property and Titles

Apartment garage security: keeping strata garages safe from theft

WA Building Manager
Dec 2015: Be alert about apartment garage security after a spate of thefts from apartment carparks have recently occurred across Perth, WA.

• WA: Q&A Water Leak Strata: Who pays for the repair of a leaking water meter? Mar 2017 - Question: I have noticed a leak at the water meter to our unit. I believe that we are not responsible
• WA: Q&A Seperate Water Meters for Apartments Jan 2017 - Question: What is the procedure for installing seperate water meters for apartments in a Western Australian strata scheme?

Question – Emergency Access Gated Communities

WA Lot Owner
May 2016: Demand for gated communities is a growing trend & the issue of emergency access gated communities will certainly increase. A holistic approach is needed!

FAQs about WA Maintenance & Common Property

Survey Plan or Strata Plan: Strata Questions and Answers

Landgate

Guide to Strata Title

This publication contains a Strata Questions and Answers section (page 25) for strata owners and residents containing answers to common questions including:

• I own a lot in a strata scheme established under the 1966 Strata Titles Act. When I bought my unit I thought I owned my garden and car bay, but now I’ve found out that these are common property. How can I own these areas as part of my lot?
• What control does the strata company have over activities by the lot owners on the common property?
• Who is liable to pay for the upkeep and maintenance of dividing fences? (sec 123 STA)