Question: My apartment is undergoing major structural works. No details about the damage or repairs have been disclosed to me. As a lot owner, do I have any right to receive information directly related to my lot?
I am a lot owner in Sydney where currently three apartments are undergoing major structural and insurance repair works to the large terraces within each lot.
My lot is one of the major lots that is affected.
The other two lots are owned by the chairman and a committee member.
The chairman has refused to release any reports or provide detailed updates regarding the repairs and the major defects they have found within my lot, ie structural cracking of the terrace balustrades and exterior walls etc.
I have recently been advised by the repairer that the support beam to our living room has rusted 2/3 through and that emergency works need to be undertaken to stabilise our apartment.
We are currently in temporary accommodation due to the works and we receive no updates except that engineers have been engaged.
I have heard nothing about the rusted beam from the OC or our strata agent despite my query to them to let me know what is happening.
Besides inspecting Strata records, should I as an affected lot owner have any right to receive information that is directly related to my lot?
Answer: Do a search of the owners corporation books and records
I suggest doing a search of the books and records via your strata manager. You are entitled to arrange this as an owner. It’s only $34.10 to arrange and they are required to place the reports (if they have any) on file.
This is the way to go.
If you want a professional to do the search, it will cost more (probably $300). Cleaver Consulting are good if you need a name.
This is of course assuming that a report has been done which I assume it has. ‘Arranging an engineer’ could mean anything, especially from a strata committee!
This post appears in Strata News #518.
Rod Smith The Strata Collective E: rsmith@thestratacollective.com.au P: 02 9879 3547