Regularly, LookUpStrata partners with industry leaders to discuss topics of interest for our NSW audience of lot owners, strata industry professionals and the broader NSW community. These strata webinars usually feature Q&A sessions where the panelist/s answer NSW questions that have been submitted by our audience either leading up to or during the session.
NSW: Tools and techniques for running an effective AGM | Rod Smith, The Strata Collective – July 2023
Rod Smith from The Strata Collective joins us to discuss how to run an effective Annual General Meeting.
Running an effective Annual General Meeting is one of the most important functions of an Owners Corporation. It is the Strata Manager’s time to shine and show their knowledge, commitment and passion for their work.
As the Managing Director of The Strata Collective with over 20 years of experience running strata meetings, Rod is the ideal candidate to present this session. Rod has conducted more than 2000 Strata Meetings and has generously offered to share his valuable tools and techniques with us today.
Rod takes us beyond the legislation and into the practical aspects of running an effective AGM:
- Ensure the meeting time doesn’t blow out.
- Get owners on board when dealing with challenging decisions such as levy increases.
- How to make sure you get the right mix of people on the committee.
- Setting up a good culture for the management of your owners corporation.
- A prep list: what strata managers need to take to the AGM.
Links to resources mentions during the session:
- Watch the recordings of Rod Smith’s previous webinars here:
- Be the first notified when we upload a video. Head over to the LookUpStrata YouTube Channel to subscribe, and like or comment on our videos. We thank you for the support!
Download the presentation
Download the slide pack from today’s presentation here: NSW: Running an effective AGM.
Rod Smith
The Strata Collective
E: [email protected]
P: 02 9879 3547
NSW: Resolving building defects with the help of Project Intervene | Bruce Mckenzie, Sedgwick and Yolande Nyss and Elizabeth Stewart, NSW Department of Customer Service – May 2023
Bruce Mckenzie from Sedgwick and Yolande Nyss and Elizabeth Stewart from NSW Department of Customer Service joined Nikki Jovicic from LookUpStrata to explain how Project Intervene is helping to resolve serious defects in NSW strata buildings.
Project Intervene is a NSW government-driven program that works to resolve serious defects in the common property of occupied buildings under statutory warranty (typically, up to 6 years old). One of the major benefits of Project Intervene is there is no cost to the owners corporation. The developer pays for the remediation works and all associated costs. Registration for the project has been extended to 30 November 2023!
The detailed presentation explained how the project works, who can apply and what the process looks like, as well as:
- What defects are addressed by Project Intervene
- What you can expect from Project Intervene
- The benefits of participating in Project Intervene
- Why it’s important to register now (before the new 30 November 2023 deadline), even if you are not sure if you meet all of the requirements
Links to resources mentions during the session:
- More information on Project Intervene including how to register.
- Read the The Shergold Weir Report.
- Watch the Webinar – NAT: Leaky Buildings in Strata James McIntosh and Bruce McKenzie from Sedgwick.
- Watch the Webinar – NAT: Changing the landscape of consumer protection (Project Intervene) Bruce McKenzie and Morris Mellinger from Sedgwick and Corey Nugent from Resilience Insurance.
- Watch the Webinar NAT: Scope of Works Assisting Committees to Manage Rising Costs James McIntosh, Daniel McCullagh and Werner Preller from Sedgwick.
- Be the first notified when we upload a video. Head over to the LookUpStrata YouTube Channel to subscribe, like and comment on our videos. We thank you for the support!
Download the Presentation
Download the slide pack from this webinar presentation here: Project Intervene
Bruce McKenzie
Sedgwick
E: [email protected]
P: 1300 735 720
Yolande Nyss
Program Manager
Register for Project Intervene
Elizabeth Stewart
Director Legal
Register for Project Intervene
NSW: Bylaw breaches – The step-by-step guide to enforcement | Leanne Habib, Premium Strata – May 2023
Leanne Habib from Premium Strata joined Nikki Jovicic from LookUpStrata to navigate us through a step by step guide to bylaw enforcement.
The information contained in the session is invaluable for those battling with breached bylaws. The slides contain excellent resources you’ll refer to again and again:
- The responsibility of the owners corporation to enforce the bylaws
- The step by step procedure for enforcing bylaws (see slide pack)
- Who issues the Notice to Comply and how is it served?
- Tangible steps to take if the breach continues
- Penalties – how much can be awarded?
- Flowchart for mediation and application for NCAT orders
- Four (very) helpful hints to help you with your bylaws breaches
- A case study showing how this process resolved problems with bylaw breaches
Links to resources mentions during the session:
- Watch the Video – NSW: How to Stop Cigarette Smoke From Entering Your Apartment Karen Stiles, OCN + Brenton Pittman, Lot Owner Applicant.
- Watch the Webinar – NSW: Would your bylaws pass the ‘reasonable’ test? Allison Benson from Kerin Benson Lawyers.
- Watch the NSW: How strata managing agents assist committees through difficult times Leanne Habib, Premium Strata.
- Be the first notified when we upload a video. Head over to the LookUpStrata YouTube Channel to subscribe, like and comment on our videos. We thank you for the support!
Download the Presentation
Download the slide pack from this webinar presentation here: Webinar Presentation Enforcing by-law breaches
Leanne Habib
Premium Strata
E: [email protected]
P: 02 9281 6440
NSW: The importance of complete strata records and why you should care | Michael Ferrier, Eyeon Property Inspections – May 2023
Michael Ferrier from EYEON Property Inspections joins Will Marquand from Tower Body Corporate (on behalf of LookUpStrata) to discuss the importance of well-organised strata records.
Here are just some of the important points Michael makes during the session:
- No matter who keeps the records, they belong to the Owners – not the strata management business.
- The records are the shared history of the building.
- Buildings with poor records are often poor in other ways as well.
- Why the transfer of records when a building changes strata
- managers is a flawed process and what you can do about it.
- Michael outlines the major problems with records and offers solutions to overcome these problems.
Michael outlines the major problems with records and offers solutions to overcome these problems.
Download the slide pack from this webinar presentation here: Strata Records: Why good records are important
Michael Ferrier
Eyeon Property Inspections
E: [email protected]
P: 02 9260 5510
NSW: Would your bylaws pass the ‘reasonable’ test? | Allison Benson, Kerin Benson Lawyers – April 2023
Allison Benson from Kerin Benson Lawyers joined Nikki Jovicic from LookUpStrata to discuss reasonable by-laws. What is classed as reasonable? Could your by-laws fall into the harsh, unconscionable and oppressive basket? Can unreasonable by-laws be enforced?
Allison provided an overview of recent decisions affecting by-laws to review what is or is not a harsh, unconscionable and oppressive by-law. Using these cases, Allison shares the two key considerations when reviewing your bylaws. Don’t miss these!
Links to resources mentions during the session:
- Watch the Webinar – NSW + ACT: Helping lot owners deal with strata building defects with Christopher Kerin, Kerin Benson Lawyers.
- Watch the Webinar – NSW: Renovations and what you can and cannot do without OC approval with Allison Benson from Kerin Benson Lawyers.
- Australian Strata Insights 2020 Report published by City Futures Research Centre UNSW.
- Section 139 Restrictions on by-laws Strata Schemes Management Act 2015.
- Section 137B Order with respect to common property rights by-laws Strata Schemes Management Act 2015.
- Section 149 Keeping of animals Strata Schemes Management Act 2015.
- Cooper v The Owners – Strata Plan No. 58068 [2020] NSWCA 250.
- Harsh, unconscionable, oppressive: Angus has the last bark on strata by-law Allison Benson, Kerin Benson Lawyers.
- The sword and the shield: dealing with harsh, unconscionable and oppressive by-laws Allison Benson, Kerin Benson Lawyers.
- To Cook, or Not to Cook? Jasmin H.Singh & Allison Benson, Kerin Benson Lawyers.
- Be the first notified when we upload a video. Head over to the LookUpStrata YouTube Channel to subscribe, like and comment on our videos. We thank you for the support!
Presentation slides: Would your by- laws pass the ‘reasonable’ test?
Download the slide pack from today’s presentation here: Would your by-laws pass the ‘reasonable’ test?
Allison Benson
Kerin Benson Lawyers
E: [email protected]
P: 02 4032 7990
NSW: Voting and Proxies – How to fill in a proxy form | Rod Smith, The Strata Collective – February 2023
The area of proxies is often quite a complicated and technical one. As a lot owner or Strata Manager, it is really important you have a clear understanding of how to complete a proxy form. This session covered some of the common errors that invalidate proxy forms. During the session, Rod demonstrates how to fill out a proxy form and provides some examples of proxy forms that have been incorrectly filled out.
This session provides a framework for completing and registering proxy forms so that participants can be confident proxy forms have been correctly recorded and that the voting at General Meetings is correct and in accordance with NSW legislation.
Rod generously provides the secret spreadsheet used by The Strata Collective to stay on top of proxies, especially when working with larger buildings. This access to Rod’s processes and procedures will assist strata managers to move on to the next stage of community management. It also provides lot owners with a glimpse into the work your strata manager does (or should be doing) when organising for your AGM.
During the webinar, we spoke about:
- Decision of the Owners Corporation
- Decisions of a Strata Committee
- Completing a Proxy
- Existing requirements
- Some common errors.
Links to resources mentions during the session:
- Watch the recordings of Rod Smith’s previous webinars here:
- Upcoming Webinar – Register here: NAT: Insurance premium increases in 2023 – Committee considerations Tyrone Shandiman from Strata Insurance Solutions – 2 Mar
- Upcoming Webinar – Register here: NAT: Changing the landscape of consumer protection Morris Mellinger from Sedgwick and Corey Nugent from Resilience Insurance – 9 Mar
- Upcoming Webinar – Register here: NAT: Solve Airbnb / Trade Access Issues & Improve Safety in Your Building Jake Sharp from MIMOR – 16 Mar
- Be the first notified when we upload a video. Head over to the LookUpStrata YouTube Channel to subscribe, and like or comment on our videos. We thank you for the support!
Download the slide pack from today’s presentation here: NSW: Voting and Proxies.
Rod Smith
The Strata Collective
E: [email protected]
P: 02 9879 3547