Can owners corporations recover lawyer and debt collection costs from defaulting owners?

By admin,

In a previous response you mentioned that when recovering late levy payments, the fourth letter of Demand should be “by lawyer/debt collector”. Who is preferred in the first instance, a lawyer or a debt collector, and why?

Can the Owners Corporation recover the costs of using a lawyer/debt collector from the recalcitrant owner?

If the services of a lawyer become necessary, do the lawyers charge their fees to the Owners Corporation or do they pass their fees on to the recalcitrant?

Who pays a special levy after settlement in NSW strata?

By admin,

We recently bought a townhouse in NSW. We have since received a special levy notice of $7000 to repair balconies. We received the bill, but surely as this was agreed upon prior to settling on the property we should not be liable to pay? We were not informed by the strata management or consulted that these works were going ahead. Should this bill fall onto the previous owners?

Can you withhold strata levies to recover costs for common property repairs?

By admin,

After repeated requests from the Strata Manager, some of the long standing activities of strata are not completed so we've withheld the quarterly levies.

Over the last few years, special levies were collected for rectification works and these have not been completed. In addition, there have been issues with the internal exhaust fans that were not completed by the strata manager and I replaced them on my own account.

What to do if your strata manager fails to send levy notices

By admin,

I think my strata manager is withholding some of my levy notices. They say I am unfinancial, therefore I could not vote at the last AGM. I’ve sent three emails asking for the levy notices that I’m missing.

How do I ensure these late notices are sent to me, as the strata manager is ignoring my emails?

Can you challenge ongoing special levies in strata and seek a refund?

By admin,

We purchased a unit in April 2018 with special levies meant to finish in June 2020. The strata have continued to raise special levies and the quote agreed on in 2016 (apparently) has more than doubled.

I want this money back. I do not want the doors and windows replaced. My windows are in excellent condition and don't need replacing.

Must strata special levy funds be used for their intended purpose?

By admin,

Our strata raised a special levy last year for $9,000 for painting. We all paid the special levy but it was used for other expenses. We have received another notice for us to pay a special levy for painting, this time for $15,000.

I contacted our strata manager and raised my concerns requesting that this special levy be used for painting. They've responded that they can not guarantee that no as other expenses may arise. Is this legal?

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