We want to change our fire door lock to a keypad — how do we know if it complies with fire regulations?

By admin,

We wish to change our fire door lock to one with a keypad and key entry. Our current apartment fire doors are impossible to lock when exiting the apartment without a key. Even if the internal lock is engaged, the door remains unlocked from the exterior until you lock it with the key. Will our new lock have to conform to the same locking functionality?

Can a body corporate committee compel an owner to provide renter names in order to issue a breach notice?

By admin,

One household in our community title scheme has an owner-occupier who rents out 3 other rooms in the house.

One of the renters persists in parking on the grassed verges which are common property, despite being asked to stop. We know who it is but do not know their name and they are not forthcoming. Our BC Committee has issued general letters to the household covering the bylaw and asking for the behaviour to stop.

If the body corporate uses sinking fund monies to purchase shares in a Pty Ltd company, who are the shareholders?

By admin,

If the body corporate uses sinking fund monies to purchase shares in a Pty Ltd company, who then are the shareholders in the case of a body corporate?

If all owners are deemed to be shareholders in the company (and NOT just the committee), do all owners then have a vote in relation to company matters?

Who covers costs when floorboards are damaged due to delayed common property repairs?

By admin,

The building manager agreed to fix a leaking stop cock but did not carry out the repair until 17 days later. During that time, water damage occurred to my floorboards, and I now need to replace the flooring in the whole room. The flooring cannot be replaced like for like. Who is responsible for the replacement?

The definitions in our CMS differ from the wording in our bylaws — which takes precedence?

By admin,

We are under the accommodation module/Building Format plan. When our CMS was submitted there was a list of definitions. The wording in the definitions is different to the wording in the by-laws. For example; the definitions state "a vehicle" whereas the by-laws state "a registered vehicle".

Without going into the problems this has caused the committee with differing opinions/interpretations, does the definition override the by-laws? Or do we have to go down the path of reviewing the by-laws with a general meeting to approve the proposed changes, new CMS etc.

Can a non-lot-owning volunteer strata manager be removed for bullying and abusive behaviour?

By admin,

As a new lot owner in a ten-lot over 55s strata, I've witnessed a non-lot-owning volunteer strata manager (VSM) consistently bullying and controlling elderly residents during meetings.

The VSM also sent me an abusive letter regarding my concerns about the state of the common property. Does this pattern of bullying and abusive behaviour provide sufficient grounds to remove the VSM?

What accounting resources are available for body corporates and how should asset purchases be treated?

By admin,

I have just been appointed treasurer of an 80-lot scheme. The financial reporting provided by our body corporate managers is poor. They have a budget that nobody can explain at the line-item level, no forecast of expenditure, and they compare expenses only against the annual budget.

Is there an accounting resource for body corporate communities that shows expected average costs per unit for a similar 80-lot scheme?

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