Is the owners corporation responsible for maintaining an amenities room used only by gardeners?

By admin,

Our building is about 50 years old. We have a bathroom in a separate building attached to our electricity room, which is only used by outdoor workers who tend to our extensive gardens. Because I live next door to the room, I have been cleaning and supplying toilet paper, etc, to the room for about 12 years. I get reimbursed occasionally.

I cannot continue this service due to poor health and would like the committee to employ a cleaner. Although the cost of the cleaner would be low, half the committee argued that a cleaner is not viable.

What options are available when urgent common property repairs are needed but funds and contractors are limited?

By admin,

The OC has a duty to maintain common property. However, torrential rains cause delays. Engaging an engineer and going to tender with qualified builders all takes time.

My lot is the only one with a diagnosed waterproofing issue. The owners corporation is responsible but won't cover all costs. What are my options?

By admin,

I'm a lot owner in an owner-managed strata, and my lot has a waterproofing issue. We have established that the owners corporation (OC) is responsible, obtained a waterproofing consultant's report and a repair scope of work, and obtained quotes against that scope of work. Quotes for repair are around $30k.

Is the owner or the owners corporation responsible for soil subsiding in the backyard of a lot?

By admin,

In the backyard of one lot, the soil has subsided and exposed steel rods that were embedded below the soil between the boundary wall and the external unit walls. These rods were probably inserted as anchor rods when the complex was built. Is the owner or owners corporation responsible for replenishing the soil so that the backyard doesn't become a trip hazard?

Who is responsible for notifying owners of maintenance issues in their investment lot, and what options do they have regarding unapproved work?

By admin,

I live in QLD and have an investment unit in Sydney.

In early 2024, owners paid a special levy for painting, gardening issues, water leaks, etc. After several requests for a report on how this money was spent, I received a small Word document with very little information. The report mentioned that my unit was one of the units experiencing water leaks. I’ve never received formal notification from the real estate agent, body corporate or strata manager.

Should a strata committee report to owners even when nothing is going wrong?

By admin,

Our scheme is well maintained, and we all get on well, but we struggle to communicate that to owners.

Is there value in actively reporting on committee actions and achievements even when nothing major is going wrong? Could that help with engagement and trust building?

 

Do we need to formally decline a developer's approach to buy our strata scheme?

By admin,

Our strata scheme has 12 lots. We received an unsolicited request from a developer to acquire the scheme in one line.

Our strata committee has decided it is not viable because at least 40% of lot owners, and likely more, will not sell.

Neither the Strata Schemes Development Act 2015 nor the Registrar General's information page covers the process for declining an initial approach. Both only state that the strata committee must decide if the proposal is viable, and if it is not, it lapses.

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