Do I have to pay a special levy for cladding repairs if I already fixed the leak in my apartment at my own expense?

By Neziah,

I have already spent $7000 to repair a leak in the exterior wall of my apartment, repaired by a tradesperson from inside my unit. The owners corporation plans to collect a special levy to address cladding leaks on the building's exterior, with a special resolution meeting scheduled for next month. Since I have already covered the cost of fixing the leak in my unit, am I required to contribute to the special levy? In other words, will I be expected to pay twice for the remediation work I have already taken care of out of my pocket?

Does our tier level change our insurance requirements

By Neziah,

I've read that Victoria moved to a five-tier system for owners corporations. Our building is a tier 2. I think this affects how often we need a valuation, but does it change anything about the type or amount of insurance cover we're required to carry, like minimum sums insured or specific cover types?

James Cooper

By Neziah,

James Cooper is a law graduate who supports legal practitioners across property, land tenure, and regulatory compliance matters.

He holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) from Deakin University, giving him a solid grasp of property law, contractual arrangements, and the statutory frameworks governing land use and ownership.

Fausto Di Palma

By Neziah,

Fausto Di Palma is a Senior Paralegal at JS Mueller & Co Strata Lawyers and a lawyer admitted in the High Court of South Africa. He has more than a decade of cross-border experience across community scheme, strata, property, energy, finance and litigation. Having completed his requalification requirements for admission as a solicitor in NSW, his admission application is currently in progress.

Ben Seccombe

By Neziah,

Ben leads Mahoneys' dispute resolution group and brings more than 20 years of experience in commercial litigation and dispute resolution.


A nationally recognised litigator, he works across Australia on corporate and commercial, construction, property, insolvency, defamation, and intellectual property disputes. Ben has a strong track record of securing practical outcomes for clients, whether through court, mediation, or negotiation, and is widely regarded as a leading practitioner in strata and body corporate disputes.

The Fatal Gate Collapse Incident Analysis: A Case Study

By Neziah,

The tragic incident of a fatal gate collapse at an industrial strata scheme in New South Wales in 2020 serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of workplace health and safety (WHS) in all environments, including strata schemes. In a webinar on 5 September, 2024 Scott Bellerby from B Strata, Marcus Munstermann from QIA Group and Carolyn Meighan from Bugden Allen Lawyers cover the key lessons learned by conduction an analysis of the fatal gate collapse incident, focusing on the roles of strata managers and owners in ensuring a safe and compliant workplace.

Pitfalls and benefits of embedded networks for strata buildings in Australia

By Neziah,

Embedded networks offer a compelling solution for strata buildings in Australia seeking to enhance energy efficiency, reduce costs, and contribute to a more sustainable future. By centralising energy management and distribution within multi-tenanted complexes, embedded networks provide a range of benefits that can significantly improve the overall performance and value of strata properties.

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