Changes in Legislation to Annual Fire Safety Statements (AFSS)

By admin,

I'm a strata committee member for our 70-year-old, 25-unit building. Our yearly fire inspection revealed low water pressure, requiring a new 25,000-litre water tank. Installation of a new tank is costly, and we have no land available. Our fire protection company cannot sign off on the AFSS due to our lack of a compliant fire safety system.

A December 2024 report from Sydney Water indicated that our building does meet their flow and pressure requirements. What can we do?

Reimburse for replacing external blinds - 10 years ago!?

By admin,

I'm in a block of 5 units and two of the units need external blinds replaced on their front windows. This, of course, would be covered by strata.

One of the other units had their external blinds replaced about 10 years ago and she claims she paid for it out of her own pocket. This lady is the only person left from all of the owners from 10 years ago. She had no receipt but is demanding strata repay her for the blinds.

How do we Deal with Strata Manager Complaints and Bullying?

By admin,

To terminate our strata agent, the committee authorised an EGM to be convened without notifying the current strata manager. We held the EGM on time, achieved a quorum and passed the resolution. However, the strata agent said the EGM was illegal. How do we force the agent to accept the EGM?

What counts as 'unfair influence' by a building manager in committee elections?

By admin,

We have an upcoming AGM, and I’ve self-nominated for chairperson of the committee. However, the on-site building manager has sent an email to many owners expressing support for re-electing the existing chairperson. They have also indicated support for a particular job quote over another. I’m concerned the building manager has created a bias towards one nominee and one contractor.

Exclusive Use of Common Property

By admin,

My garage is at the opposite end of the building to my unit. All other nine garages under our building are generally directly underneath each relevant unit.

The previous owner of my unit told me he had swapped garages with the previous lot owner of another unit. Can owners agree to swap garages? Would this be a decision of the owners corporation? At settlement, I was given a hand drawn layout of the unit floor plan, including the garage - but not the location of the garage.

Air Conditioner Units in a Body Corporate

By admin,

My new unit's air conditioner condenser is in a locked room on body corporate common property. Although I'm happy to service and maintain the condenser as if it is my asset, my contract doesn't say I own it. I have Home and Contents insurance, but I am unsure if the air conditioner is covered, as it is not on my plan or Title. Who is responsible for the maintenance of the air conditioner?

What about good old body corp community?

By admin,

We have no onsite manager, all committee members are investors and don't live in the complex, and our Body Corporate Manager is approx 30kms away.

The Body Corporate Manager has organised for one of the resident owners to act as a main point of contact for tradies. She has not been officially appointed as the onsite manager, however, she keeps keys for some areas of common property that others do not have. There are no minutes about this matter.

Can be the scheme managed like this?

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