Heated pool temperature increased in strata: Can you ask for it to be turned down?

By admin,

I live above the heated pool in an apartment complex. For 17 years, after some discussions when we first moved in and found the apartment too hot, we have had a constant temperature that although warm, is liveable. Recently, a couple of tenants wanted a warmer pool and the new concierge has turned the pool up several degrees. This has resulted in temperatures of 25 to 26 degrees in our bedroom at night. This is not comfortable. Am I in my right to ask them to turn it down? Should we escalate the matter to VCAT?

Collapsing boundary retaining wall in strata: Is the body corporate responsible?

By admin,

Should my body corp be responsible for replacing a collapsing boundary retaining wall and fence?

A report that was done in 2015 stating termite damage and confirming the wall was not structurally built correctly. We purchased our property in 2016 and the boundary wall is at the side of our property. We have been told this is not a committee issue but a local council issue. I've submitted 2 quotes for the replacement of the wall and fence, however 3 months later nothing has changed.

Should I seek legal advice? We are concerned about the safety risk of the wall collapsing.

Skylights in a strata 10-year plan: Does insurance coverage mean strata is responsible?

By admin,

I live in a strata complex of 11 units. We have just had the 10 year plan done. In it, they mentioned that of the 11 units some had evaporative air conditioners, skylights and solar panels put in after the units were built and sold. Presumably, these assets were put in by the original owners.

The skylights are under the strata insurance but the air conditioners and solar panels are not.

Strata key fob not working: Who pays for replacement and is it a defect?

By admin,

My key fob has stopped working on the door from my car park to the apartment building. It works on the main entrance and lower level car park doors.

The strata company suggests it has lost its programming and wants me to pay for a new fob. As the Fob is not lost or damaged given it works on other doors why should I pay for a new fob? Isn't this a defect?

Exterior painting in a high-rise strata: Managing costs when external walls are lot boundaries

By admin,

I was wondering how, in accordance with the strata legislation, you can correctly manage the exterior painting of a high rise scheme where the boundaries are the external walls.

What happens when we need to paint and the walls of the building are technically not common property? How does our strata company divvy up the cost? Are painting contractors able to separate the quote?

Do other strata companies add some kind of by-law to pass the responsibility of the above to the strata company? Wouldn't this be deemed invalid as it contravenes the Act/boundaries?

Internal dividing fences in strata: Did the 2020 amendments change maintenance responsibility?

By admin,

Have amendments to the Strata Titles Act 1985, introduced in May 2020, changed the liability for upkeep and maintenance for internal fences within a Strata Scheme? Are internal fences now solely Strata's responsibility? I thought that previous to May 2020, if an internal dividing fence repair or replacement was required between lot owners or a lot owner and the common property, the cost was to be shared equally between both parties.

Strata leak from above: How to gain access when a lot owner refuses entry

By admin,

The laundry tub waste pipe from the unit above mine is leaking into my bathroom ceiling, causing issues with mould and peeling paint. I have two plumbing reports from two different licensed plumbers stating that they need access to the unit above but the above lot owner will not allow this. Strata have sent the owner an email but there has been no response to date.

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