Our building is one of eight grouped apartment buildings. The same strata management company manages our building and five of the others.
Our strata committee is managing defect rectification works in our owners corporation (OC). We've received conflicting advice about the declared design. The builder argues that our defect experts are asking for too much detail and insists the declared design is adequate. Our experts say they cannot sign off on the rectification works until the builder corrects and updates the declared design.
Does the builder need to provide a compliant declared design before defect rectification works commence, or can the works proceed while the design is still in dispute?
In our building, there are 16 apartments. The 14 upper-floor apartments have balcony glass balustrades, but the two ground-floor apartments do not. There is a proposal, subject to owner approval, for the strata company to upgrade and modernise the balcony balustrades on the 14 upper-floor apartments. The new plain-glass design would remove the existing top rim, improve the building’s appearance, and provide better outlook and views for those apartments.
Our committee is directly managing the maintenance and upgrade of our common property outdoor cabana. We’re using only licensed and insured tradespeople. If quotes exceeds $3,000, do we need to register the work with the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC)?
We have received reports of ongoing noise coming from a balcony in a rented unit throughout the day. The household includes a child with additional needs. Neighbours have already spoken with the parents but remain concerned about the impact on their peaceful enjoyment of their lots and have now asked the owners corporation to consider action under the relevant by-law.
Given the sensitive nature of this situation, how should the owners corporation respond appropriately and fairly, while considering the household’s circumstances and minimising the risk of legal complications?
Concrete cancer treatment has started on our Victorian strata building. The contractor advised that they will only remove and repair areas of concrete that have visibly spalled, even though it appears that all of the reinforcing steel has some level of rust. In several places, rusted rebar ends protrude from the concrete. What level of rust on the reinforcing steel is considered acceptable before it must be exposed, cleaned, and treated, and at what point should the rebar be replaced entirely?
I own a car parking space in a commercial building that is part of an owners corporation (OC). I rent out my car space. Another lot owner told me I am not allowed to do this, and threatened to report me to the owners corporation manager.
There is nothing in the OC rules that says I cannot rent out my space. Am I allowed to rent out my car parking space? If so, do I need approval from the committee or the owners corporation manager?
There’s an ongoing power struggle within our NSW strata committee. A few dominant members make most of the decisions, while the rest of us feel excluded from having any meaningful input. What are some best practice steps or governance measures we can take to promote transparency, equal participation, and fair decision-making in our committee meetings?
I am on a body corporate committee in Queensland. Lot owners must apply to the committee for approval before carrying out renovations to their lots. These works are usually non-structural but can include wet area waterproofing, plumbing and electrical work, and penetrations through fire-rated ceilings and concrete floor slabs for services such as air conditioning.