• Read more about Interest Charges on Overdue Strata Fees
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I don’t believe the recovery costs for my overdue levies are reasonable.

Under the body corporate manager’s (BCM) “internal debt recovery” procedures, I was charged a debt recovery fee of $50 for being 15 days overdue with my levy payments. The BCM sent a “reminder contribution notice”. I paid my levies and included the 2.5% penalty for my late payment, but not the debt recovery costs, as I did not believe it should have been charged according to the debt management item in our AGM.

• Read more about Commercial Use of Common Property
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• Read more about Appointing a Body Corporate Manager
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Our committee is investigating changing our body corporate manager at the AGM at the end of August. We have read the very comprehensive information very carefully that you have published over time and have found it very useful. Motions for the AGM have to be submitted 6-8 weeks before the AGM date so the current manager would certainly become aware at that time. However, we'd like to know the appropriate or most respectful way and timing to inform the current body corporate manager that we do not intend to renew their contract at the AGM.

• Read more about Should You Remove Asbestos from Your Strata Building?
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• Read more about Apartment Building Evacuation Plans & Emergency Access
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We have moved into a strata managed property with 8 townhouses. There is an entry gate from the main road which can only be opened using a keypad or one remote provided. Is this a fire or an emergency hazard?

How does an emergency vehicle gain access to the lot?

• Read more about How can bodies corporate confirm deadlock installations for insurance purposes?
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I am seeking insurance quotes for our small complex of 8 units. Insurers want to know if we have deadlocks fitted. The body corporate manager stated that, as deadlocks would have been considered ‘improvements’, any units with deadlocks should have been approved. How can I confirm whether each unit has them without having to door knock?

• Read more about Unit Entitlements, Proxy Votes and the Quorum
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I own an apartment in the ACT, and I'd like my son to be my proxy at the AGM. According to our strata manager, I can only assign my proxy vote to another owner or strata manager. They stated it is not possible to nominate a family member or friend as my proxy.

My strata manager quoted the Unit Titles Management Act 2011. Is this part of the Act? Is the strata manager correct?

Who can be my proxy, and could my proxy be a member of the executive committee?

• Read more about Evacuation Due to Strata Building Defects
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• Read more about Strata owner frustrated by lack of council communication
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I am an owner in a six unit complex trying to get common property repairs completed. All owners are part of the council, as no one wanted to take on the positions officially. Most owners do not respond to repair quotes, and there is no group discussion. Owners prefer to respond to the strata manager. Therefore, a majority decision is not reached.

• Read more about Ins and Outs of Rental Pool Managers in Queensland Strata
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In June 2023, Frank Higginson responded to an audience member’s question concerning a letting pool manager who rents units from owners and then sub-lets them. What about letting pool managers who own units in the scheme and include them in the rental pool? Is this a fair arrangement? In particular, is this an arrangement the Office of Fair Trading would be interested in?