At insurance renewal time, how can lot owners be confident all information is disclosed? What are the committee's obligations on behalf of the body corporate to ensure the building insurer is informed of known structural defects?
I understand the new WA Reform Act will provide an easy path if you have separate multiple strata bodies within a mixed use building. Where we have a number of commercial offices and a number of residential lots is it feasible and easier under the new Act to separate these two interests?
As an ordinary committee member it has come to my attention that there are several email correspondences between mainly the executives Chair, Treasurer and Secretary that have not been shared with all other committee members including myself that pertain to the BC. I have asked the Chair to send all these onto the rest of the committee without any reply or response. Can I take this matter further as I am aware that all BC emails are not private and must be shared when requested?
While trying to park in our assigned car space in our basement garage, the battery of my daughter's car died. She managed to push the car to the nearest available space to avoid blocking access. Later, an aggressive resident knocked on her door, demanding that she move her car. She explained the situation, and the other resident calmed down.
A lot owner in our building (BFP) is aware they have water traps on their lot. They have leaky covers on rooftop access doors, plus a leaky and poorly constructed pergola on their exclusive use rooftop terrace. These items are not maintained or repaired so that they work properly to prevent water damage. The resultant water damage becomes the cost of all owners to fix. Can the owner be pursued for the cost of the resultant repairs?
We received an email from the strata chairman stating we can only wash our balconies before 7am or after 10pm to avoid annoying neighbours who use their balconies between these times.
This seems absurd. Most residents in the building are over 70, so it would be unsafe to be doing this so late and in the dark. Also, if we were to employ professionals, they wouldn’t work during these hours anyway.
Can the strata Committee impose such rules?
I'm a resident lot owner in a group of 4 free-standing townhouses. We have a shared driveway, a small garden, and service supply lines but no common buildings. Our last building valuation was four years ago. I believe we're very underinsured.
Two other lot owners are investors and prefer low insurance fees. At the next AGM, I expect I'll be outvoted again as owners most likely won't want to authorise payment for a re-evaluation or increase the building insurance.
We applied for and were approved for internal renovations three years ago. We are Building format.
The committee passed a motion approx 6 years ago that any structural modification needs an engineers report. This was never made by law. Is this motion enforceable?
We removed a non-load-bearing wall at the end of the kitchen bench.
My builder's opinion is that the modification is not structural and therefore outside the control of the motion.
Is there a legal definition of what constitutes a “structural” modification?