News & Publications
Project Remediate – Interest Free Loans to Rectify Combustible Cladding on Class 2 Residential Apartment Buildings in NSW
Project Remediate is a three-year program introduced by the NSW Government to assist in rectifying combustible cladding on Class 2 residential apartment buildings in NSW. The NSW Cladding Taskforce was established to identify buildings with combustible cladding....
Update – Extension of Temporary COVID-19 Legislation to Assist Strata and Community Title Schemes
Due to the continuing impact of COVID-19 on strata and community schemes, the Government has passed the Strata Schemes Management Amendment (COVID-19) Regulation (No 2) 2020 and the Community Land Management Amendment (COVID-19) Regulation (No 2) 2020 to extend...
Notice to Comply with By-laws: How to Ensure the Notice Satisfies the Requirement for Penalty Orders
If you’re a strata committee member or strata manager, no doubt at some point a lot owner or occupier will breach a by-law and the suggestion will be made that a notice to comply with the by-law (sometimes called a “breach notice”) be issued to the person who has...
Harsh, Unconscionable, Oppressive: Angus Has the Last Bark on Strata By-law
Why it is important to Pay your Strata Levies on Time: Consequences for Late or Non-Payment
All owners of a lot in a strata scheme must pay contributions levied on them in accordance with the schedule determined at the annual general meeting of the owners corporation for that year (and any special contributions determined during the year). Usually, the...
Who is Responsible for Fixing The Fence?
A fence servicing a strata scheme could be owned by any number of people. To determine ownership and therefore responsibility, the first step is to consult the strata plan. If the fence is located within the air space of a lot but is not shown on the strata plan, then...
Commencement of Unit Titles Legislation Amendment Act 2020
On Sunday 1 November 2020, the amendments to the Unit Titles (Management) Act 2011 will commence. Please find the following link for our summary table of the amendments. Unit Titles Legislation Amendment Act 2020 Summary Table
Was the Noise from the Café Downstairs a ‘Nuisance’?
This was the question determined by NCAT’s Appeal Panel on 3 June 2020 in Chehelnabi v Gourmet and Leisure Holdings Pty Ltd [2020] NSWCATAP 102 (03 June 2020). In the first instance, the appellants sought orders from the Tribunal to improve the alleged noises, smells...
Disposal of Abandoned Goods on Common Property
Seemingly without warning, as of 1 July 2020 section 125 of Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 and clauses 32 to 34 of the Strata Schemes Management Regulations 2016 which regulated the disposal of abandoned goods on common property were repealed. The legislation that...
By-Laws 101: Approval and Registration of Renovation By-laws
The process to authorise major works in a lot within a strata scheme can be complex and it normally involves the adoption of a special by-law making the lot owner responsible for any damages to the portion of common property affected by the works. Under section 111(b)...
Strata 101 – What is It and How does It Work?
The University of New South Wales’s City Futures report in June 2020 found that over 1.1 million people, approximately 15% of the NSW population, lives in a strata scheme. This number is expected to grow year on year. As the number of people residing in a strata...
Building Management Committees 101: What are They and Where will You Find Them?
When will you encounter BMCs? You will find Building Management Committees (“BMCs”) in stratum developments (also called part strata plan developments). Land can be subdivided by a strata plan or by a part strata plans. In subdivision by a strata plan, the land and...