A NSW Lot owner is wondering what to do about another committee members who constantly sends bullying emails full of offending words and disrespectful terms. Rod Smith, The Strata Collective provides the following response.
Question: What are my rights as a committee member who is abused in emails constantly with offending words and disrespectful terms about quotes and repairs for the block from another committee member?
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I’d like to find out about rules around strata bullying Australia. What are my rights as a committee member to be abused in emails constantly with offending words and disrespectful terms about quotes and repairs for the block from another committee member?
Answer: Harassment and intimidation is never ok.
Harassment and intimidation is never ok. This kind of behaviour is beyond the scope of the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 and regulations.
I would suggest discussing the issue one on one with the person responsible after your next meeting. It may be useful to invite an independent person such as a fellow committee member to act as a go-between for the conversation.
Stay calm and don’t get aggressive, the key is to communicate how this issue makes you feel and how you want to move forward. I would open with a discussion stating that a strata committee is required to be run professionally and that you request that they refrain from using offensive and disrespectful terms in emails.
If this issue is unable to be resolved, I would recommend that your building adopts a strata committee charter at your next AGM. Please see here for The Strata Collective’s charter: The Importance of a Strata Committee Charter for Good Governance
This post appears in Strata News #199.
Rod Smith
The Strata Collective
T: 02 9879 3547
E: rsmith@thestratacollective.com.au
“This article is for reference purposes only and is not intended to be a comprehensive review of the developments in the law and practice or to cover all aspect of the subject matter. It does not constitute legal or other advice and should not be relied upon this way. Readers should take legal or other advice before applying the information containing in this publication”
Owner Advocates and Strata Bullying Australia – Podcast
May 2016 – This podcast on how Owner Advocates can help you, especially during cases of strata bullying Australia, is part of Amanda Farmer’s Your Strata Property podcast series.
How An Owner Advocate Helped A Strata Owner Overcome A Bad Case Of Bullying From His Strata Corporation — With Kellie Wright
Key Points / Timestamps
- 00:00 — Introduction and Overview
- 01:04 — What is an owner advocate?
- 01:52 — Why is it critical for Strata owners to have an owner advocate?
- 02:49 — Strata legislation can be very complex and overwhelming for many investors
- 03:24 — Case study around how Kellie helped a client as an owner advocate
- 05:08 — Examples of safety and security issues that were ignored (and how an owner was bullied by the strata corporation)
- 06:38 — Even owner advocates have difficulty dealing with building managers
- 07:24 — How to educate yourself and conduct due diligence as an owner before buying a unit
- 08:31 — What Wright and Lee can do for you as a strata owner
- 09:43 — What are the most common challenges owners face with Strata properties and how to overcome them
- 11:44 — Action steps owners can take to get quick wins when it comes to strata
- 12:56 — Books that have had a big impact on Kellie and why
- 15:30 — How listeners can find out more about Kellie Wright
- 16:23 — Wrap up and thank you
Resources / Links Mentioned
Books Mentioned
Play the Strata Bullying Australia Podcast
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Your Strata Property – the podcast for property owners looking for reliable, accurate and bite-sized information from an experienced and authoritative source.
This podcast first appeared on the Your Strata Property website.
Are you interested in more information about strata bullying Australia OR further information about legislation applicable to strata living in your state or territory? Visit our Strata Noisy Neighbours, Strata Committee Concerns OR FactSheets: NSW Strata Legislation pages.
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