• Read more about How can owners ensure fair use of common property storage?
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I own a unit in a complex of 4 lots. There is a common property room behind the shared laundry room which is currently being used as a storage area by the owners.

One owner is taking up 60% of the space with items densely packed on top of each other, making it hard to access the common property. The other 3 owners utilise the remaining 40% of the space between themselves. There is no existing by-law justifying the one unit's unequal use of this common property.

• Read more about Can a building manager take over common property without approval?
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I am in a lot owner in a NSW residential 3 floor unit block. We have a common area drying room on each floor. The building manager has taken over the drying room on the second floor, installed a lock and now uses this space as a storage room.

Can they owner take over the room and lock the door even though it was a common area? Can the manager change the room description and use without consulting all owners?

• Read more about What Percentage of Owners Must Approve an Exclusive Use Car Space By-Law?
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What percentage of owners need to vote on an exclusive use bylaw to grant a car space on common property? What percentage of owners have to vote to validate the special resolution?

Does it only require a quorum of owners i.e 25% of the total owners and then 75% of that number voting for the special resolution by law or conversely no more than 25% voting against as set out in the legislation?

• Read more about What strata information must be provided to buyers before ordering a strata report?
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We self manage our own strata.

One of the units is going up for sale. What, if any, strata information (such as minutes) has to be provided to potential buyers before a strata report should be ordered?

Is there a specific form and cost for a strata report?

• Read more about Buying a townhouse: Should you be concerned about a covered car park vent?
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• Read more about Will you still pay a special levy if you replace your own window?
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I am about to renovate my unit and want to replace an old window with a louver. This process will cost about $5,000. I don’t mind paying, however, if strata want to replace all windows in the future, will I have to pay the special levy for the windows if my window is already replaced?

The committee have talked about replacing the windows for over 2 years, nothing has been done and I am just tired of waiting.

I am getting a bylaw made for my kitchen and bathroom renovations and am thinking I can just include the window replacement in this.

• Read more about Do you need a new by-law for additional strata renovations?
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What is the ongoing benefit of a renovation by-law that has been registered against a lot? I have a building I manage where a lot owner obtained a by-law to do renovations in the lot, most specifically to the bathroom and waterproofing membrane. After the renovations, the lot owner sold the unit.

• Read more about Who pays for a dilapidation report in strata renovations?
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I own a unit in a block of four. The owners below me intend to renovate, including removing load-bearing walls. The engineers have recommended a dilapidation report be prepared for my unit before the renovations begin.

• Who is responsible for paying for this report?
• If there is damage to my unit from their renovations, how would this be managed and funded?

• Read more about Can you combine two strata lots into one?
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We own a two-bedroom strata apartment and are considering buying the one-bedroom apartment next door to increase our overall space and give each of our daughters their own room, etc.

If no one else's lots, building stability, etc. are affected and we engage a structural engineer to assess/advise on the work, then commit to make good repairs prior to our sale of either apartment downstream, could we install a doorway between the 2 lots?

Are there any existing precedents for this kind of thing in current strata law?

• Read more about Do you need strata approval to build an outdoor entertaining area?
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In a Villa complex can an owner build an entertainment area in their backyard?

The structure’s roof is attached from the facia board under the eaves of the back of the villa to the dividing fence, using the fence as walls for the entertainment area. The fence height has been raised to 2.2m. A sink has been installed, lighting & a fan.

Does any of this need strata approval or is this structure allowed?