• Read more about Best practice guidelines for common property cleaning frequency
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Our strata committee continues to defer general maintenance around the property and keep garden maintenance, general cleaning (pressure cleaning the paths, etc) and gutter cleaning to a minimum. Their view is that the paths should be cleaned 'when required'.

Are you aware of any best practice guidelines or documents around cleaning frequency based on the size of the strata complex? For example, a strata site of 50 units should clean internal areas bi-monthly, etc. We've contacted NSW government departments, but they could not assist us.

• Read more about Couriers, Mail and Parcel Delivery to an Apartment
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Is the body corporate obliged to secure residents' mail?

A previous committee removed the resident’s mailboxes. During office hours, mail and parcels are left with the Building Manager. After hours, mail and parcels are left in an unlocked box on the sidewalk, accessible by anyone. I’ve requested the committee and caretaker either put a secure lock on the box or provide a better system. The committee refuse to answer.

• Read more about Seeking Reimbursement for Water Leak Expenses
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In a multi-lot commercial property, one lot experienced unsightly water damage to ceiling tiles as a result of water ingress from a damaged roof. The roof has been replaced. The lot owner would like the strata company to replace all ceiling tiles as the new tiles do not perfectly match the 30-year-old tiles. The council of owners only wants to replace the damaged tiles.

Is the strata company required to replace all tiles so they match? What would be a fair outcome?

• Read more about Applying for Conciliation - Form 22
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Conciliation is a total waste of time and money. A body corporate committees will most likely, having made the decision, refuse to compromise. It will hide behind “the committee decision” and “we have made this decision for the benefit of all owners”, so will not lose face by agreeing to a change.

A body corporate committee does not always act “reasonably”, but rather enjoys having the power and control that comes with being on the committee. And frequently it's a single voice requesting something, so has next to no chance of getting anywhere.

• Read more about Can I Access Body Corporate Records?
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A body corporate organised report indicated varying unit maintenance requirements, and the committee performed maintenance on seven units.

Payment made to the company for each unit's work was the same amount for each unit. An additional payment of the identical amount was paid for three of the seven units.

Given that the reports varied for each unit, it is difficult to understand why there was unity in the maintenance cost for all units.

Can an owner request copies of the quotes approved by the committee? Is the committee obliged to supply the quotes?

• Read more about Duty to Maintain and Repair Common Property
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• Read more about Who determines which documents form the Strata records?
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• Read more about Who takes the bins out each week?
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Whose responsibility is it to take out the bins on a weekly basis? We have a communal bin area but each unit has its own bins.

No one else takes any action so it falls to me each week. If I don’t do it, they won't get emptied. I’ve left their full bins and they just keep piling up their rubbish in the bin area or use my empty bin.

How do I get everyone to take their own bin out or take it in turns?

• Read more about Allocated the Wrong Parking Space and Storage Cage - For 11 yrs!
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GET THE LATEST STRATA NEWS DIRECT TO YOUR INBOX HERE I purchased my 2 bedroom Unit in the ACT approximately 11 years ago. The complex is around 40 years old. The listing agent was also the complex manager (being licensed to sell only within the complex) and showed me the associated car park and 3 metre square storage cage adjacent to the car park and I have happily used both for 11 years.

• Read more about External painting in mixed-use strata: Who pays what?
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I'm on the committee of a mixed-use residential and commercial building. We're considering a major external painting project, but the strata manager says it's not automatically a shared cost.

When it comes to painting costs, is the commercial lot a completely separate entity, even though it's the same building? How do we determine if the commercial lot needs to contribute to the painting costs, and what document controls this contribution? Furthermore, how do we determine who is responsible for their part, and what can we do if they are unwilling to contribute?