• Read more about Strata buildings in bushfire prone areas: Should you review building materials?
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Given that our strata plan is in a bushfire prone area, this prompts considerations about the BAL rating and the necessary repairs for the common property. It also raises questions about appropriate materials and who should oversee these matters. Should the control rest with the strata manager, the committee, individual lot owners, or perhaps a collaborative effort involving all three parties?

• Read more about Does a small strata scheme need machinery breakdown insurance?
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We are a small four lot strata group located over two storeys, i.e. two units on the ground floor and two on the first floor.

The development does not have a lift, gym, swimming pool, etc. Each unit has a garage with a garage door, reverse cycle ducted air conditioning and water heater. A common property electronic main gate gives access to the units in the development. The strata company does not own any other significant machinery or equipment.

Should we include cover for machinery breakdown in the residential strata insurance?

• Read more about Can the council of owners remove floorboard cover from strata insurance?
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In a 45 apartment strata complex in WA, our strata building insurance included cover for timber floorboards in apartments. Owners were informed that, in an effort to reduce the premium, the council of owners decided to remove floorboards from insurance cover in our renewal.

Can the COO change the insurance cover or does this decision need to be voted on at an upcoming AGM?

• Read more about Should strata non-compliance be disclosed to the insurer?
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Our strata property has non-compliant issues that we haven't disclosed to our insurer. An owner proposed a motion at a meeting to contact our insurance company and clarify our coverage.

• Read more about Do owners have the right to review strata insurance before renewal?
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Our strata insurance policy renewal date is well before the AGM scheduled date, and thus, the insurance renewal is approved later at the AGM. Owners never receive a Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) to review and/or approve. Our strata company has had several insurance providers over the past 8 years. Thus, the committee has accepted the new PDS and policy terms and conditions without owners' consent. What right does an owner have under the legislation to review the policy and voice their approval or non-approval before the renewal is paid on their behalf?

• Read more about Who pays for replacement fobs in a strata building?
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I own an apartment with underground parking in Canberra. Two fobs were provided when I took ownership 2 years ago. They are the fobs that work the underground parking gates and the doors to the building. I was not provided with the individual fobs that just work the underground parking gates.

• Read more about Who is responsible for pest control in common areas of a strata complex?
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Myself and others in the complex have reported seeing rats in the common area. These rats are entering our terraces and leaving droppings.

The committee states that we need to obtain a pest investigation report for inside our apartment before they decide to do anything. We believe that the committee will not do anything as there is no pest control of any type in any of the 7 apartment blocks and they avoid taking responsibility. This is a common property issue and we certainly do not have rats inside our apartment.

• Read more about Do you need owners corporation approval to erect a fence in a Class B strata?
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I understand that in the ACT for class B units under the Unit Titles legislation, the Common Boundaries Act applies to common boundaries between two lots.

For erecting a fence where one did not exist previously, do Owners Corporation approval requirements apply or do the two relevant neighbours just need to agree?

• Read more about Who is responsible for courtyard maintenance in a strata scheme?
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Is the owners corporation or lot owner's responsibly for maintenance and repairs of courtyards (specifically tiles, waterproofing etc)? Our strata manager is claiming courtyards are not balconies (which would normally be an owners corporation responsibility as a defined area of a Class A) because the original unit plan identifies balconies and courtyards with different symbols. I can find no definitions in any relevant legislation that speaks to courtyards.

• Read more about Who is responsible for roof leaks in a Class A strata building?
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