After several plumbing failures and rising premiums, what is the best way to minimise future water damage claims?

By admin,

We’ve had several plumbing failures leading to damage to various apartments. This has led to increased premiums and deductibles and our Broker is now only able to source one insurer.

My car was broken into three times due to broken security gates — is strata responsible and can I claim on strata insurance?

By admin,

I'm renting an apartment in a strata block. I park my car in my designated parking bay. It was broken into three times.

Two gates on the property are continuously broken, and the property is not secure. What are the strata council's responsibilities here? Does strata insurance cover this?

I accidentally damaged my cooktop — does strata insurance cover it and who is responsible for the excess?

By admin,

I'm an owner occupier in a strata apartment in WA. I accidentally broke my cooktop. When I contacted my contents insurance holder, they mentioned I may be able to claim the repair on the strata insurance. When I contacted my strata manager, they said strata insurance didn't cover this, then backtracked to say the cooktop was common property. They also informed me it would cost $ 5,000 in excess to make a claim, and as it was accidental damage, the cooktop was my responsibility to repair. They've threatened me with a breach if I make a claim.

Can I report the strata manager for organising unauthorised access to my lot by a pest company?

By admin,

Our strata manager allowed a Pest Company to attend my lot without notifying me. The first I knew was when I found them trying to enter my yard. When I asked the contractor what he was doing and why didn't he contact me first for approval to enter my property said he was 'told to do it' by the Strata manager. The contractor was very unprofessional and almost damaged the property trying to gain access to my lot. His behaviour escalated so I asked him to leave and re-book with the Strata manager.

My allocated parking spot has a tree blocking access — what can I do to force a resolution?

By admin,

I am currently renting a strata unit with an allocated parking spot. My allocated parking spot has a tree in front of it which makes entering and exiting the spot especially challenging. I have written to the property agent, who has forwarded it to the strata managers, who said they will put it forward to the strata committee's decision. I have followed up multiple times but was told they have not decided. I suspect that they are just going to ignore me and hope that I give up. Is there anything I can do to push for a decision?

What power does the owners corporation have to enter a lot when the lot owner refuses access for repairs?

By admin,

One owner in a block of 8 units is refusing to allow access for a plumber to fix a leaking cistern and taps. He is also ignoring emails and failing to answer his mobile. As the block has a shared water meter, all owners are paying for water charges which have more than doubled in 2 years.

What power does the Owners Corporation have in these circumstances to enter the lot?