Can a committee dictate a caretaker’s working hours?

By admin,

I am a caretaker. Can the committee dictate what hours I work?

I currently clean from 5 am to 7 am. The pool and BBQ areas are open to occupiers from 7 am to 10 pm. So, I do all the work I can outside those hours to better manage my workplace health and safety obligations.

My work does not disturb anyone or create noise or security issues.

The committee sent me an email stating, "Effective immediately: you are not allowed to work inside the estate before 7 am and after 5 pm.

The contract contains no clause dictating when I can and can't work.

Can a caretaker use the resort pool during work hours?

By admin,

Is there an industry "standard" for a service contractor using the resort pool during their designated working hours? It is accepted that given the QLD heat, the on-site manager may wish to vary their hours to those specified in the agreement. That, in turn, may benefit both themselves and owners. However, it is hardly professional to have guests/people making enquiries faced by somebody in swimming attire who has left the pool to answer their enquiry. Can a committee set ground rules?

Must a body corporate pay caretaker fees during a resort closure?

By admin,

Due to flood damage from Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, our holiday letting resort will be closed for up to nine months, and all 36 villas will be vacant. Our onsite contract caretakers have been relocated and have no letting or caretaking duties. Are we required to continue to pay the monthly caretaker fees in this situation?

What authority does a caretaker have in body corporate matters?

By admin,

It appears increasingly common for owners to express dissatisfaction with the caretaker's conduct.

While the management rights agreement outlines the specific caretaker duties, it is crucial to clearly define the scope of their general involvement in body corporate affairs.

What is the extent of a service contractor's authority in body corporate matters beyond their defined duties? Do service contractors have the authority to determine body corporate policies or procedures?

Can a caretaker request extra pay for additional garden duties?

By admin,

Our body corporate committee decided to remove self-watering hedges and garden beds and replace them with pot plants requiring hand watering. They asked the caretaker to hand-water all the additional plants. Can the caretaker request additional remuneration, or would this extra work be considered part of the caretaker's duty in maintaining the gardens?

Do owners have the right to know who is on the strata committee?

By admin,

I have recently purchased and moved into a unit in NSW. I have been told that the Committee do not make their details available. All correspondence must go through the Strata Manager. I find it very strange that as an owner I don't have the right to know who the committee is - especially the Chairperson, Secretary and the Treasurer.

Can a neighbour prevent you from accessing a strata insurance policy?

By admin,

Can my neighbour exclude me from accessing the insurance policy.

We have a dispute over a fence and he hasn’t put my name on the policy and says if I need to claim regarding the fence he won’t process it. He rents his duplex out but the policy says 100% owner-occupied.

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