News & Publications
How to Request a Meeting – Qualified Request
If you’ve been spending more time at home due to COVID-19 restrictions, you may have come to realise that you would like to carry out some works to your lot. Once you’ve obtained a by-law to authorise the works, you will need to have it passed by the owners...
Holding Strata Meetings & Voting in the COVID-19 Era
Many professionals, including strata managers, are still working from home due to the COVID-19’s restrictions. But how does this affect the management of the strata schemes and the holding of general meetings in particular? Strata lot owners may be concerned that due...
How to Enforce Against Unauthorised Works?
Unauthorised works are works to common property that are not cosmetic works, as defined by section 109 of Strata Schemes Management Act 2015, and that a lot owner has undertaken without consent of the owners corporation. Minor renovations, which are defined by section...
How to Position Yourself to Get your By-law Approved by the Owners Corporation
Want to do work or have already done work to your lot and need a by-law? We recommend ensuring your by-law contains sufficient information for the Owners Corporation to be fully informed about your works and also include clauses that sufficiently protect the interests...
Owners Corporation’s Meetings: How to Record Them in Compliance with The Surveillance Devices Act 2007
With many professionals currently adapting to working from home and engaging in online meetings with their clients, it is essential to understand that some prohibitions apply to meetings conducted in person as well as to meetings conducted by electronic means (such as...
Lock Boxes for Welfare Access in Strata Schemes – is it beneficial?
Lock boxes are boxes that are installed on common property within the strata scheme so that keys or passes to access the building or lots can be stored in them. The purpose of installing a lock box for welfare access is to enable emergency services, such as the...
Electronic Transactions Amendment (COVID-19 Witnessing of Documents) Regulation 2020
We recently wrote an article about the changes to legislation which enabled an amendment to be made to the regulations imposed upon witnessing documents. The good news is that changes to the regulations were enacted on 22 April 2020, through the Electronic...
COVID-19: Changes to short-term letting legislation since 3 April 2020 – Code of Conduct shelved & government directives on short-term letting
This article is an update on an article written by Allison Benson on short-term letting on 2 April 2020.
COVID-19: The Electronic Transactions Act 2000 & Signing Documents
One of the many questions that is, or will soon be, on the minds of owners corporations and strata managing agents is how documents or agreements will be signed during the COVID-19 pandemic in light of the above order.
COVID-19: Levy Contributions at the Time of the Virus
Due to the COVID-19 emergency and to its financial impact on the global economy, a growing number of strata schemes are considering reducing the level of levies to be raised for their administrative and capital works funds.
However, it is important to note that strict procedures are set out in the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 to determine the amount of levies payable by a strata scheme each year.
New Tool for Strata Managers and Lot Owners – “Do I Need A By-Law?”
This was developed as strata managers and our strata team had been receiving calls and emails from lot owners who did not know when a by-law was required. This tool, should we hope, simplify the matter.
One question that it does not answer, is whether a reverse cycle air conditioning unit needs a by-law.
The answer is – it depends. If the condenser unit can be seen from outside the lot then section 110(7) of the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 means that it is not a ‘minor renovation’ and a by-law is required.
ACT Builder Banyan Constructions Pty Ltd Put into Liquidation
Local ACT Builder Banyan Constructions Pty Ltd, was put into liquidation on 20 January 2020. This is likely to have significant repercussions for the owners of residential units built by Banyan Constructions in the last 5 years.