Where do we now stand when it comes to strata living and pet by-laws?

Pet ownership in strata is a contentious issue, especially in strata schemes where a majority of owners do not support the keeping of pets.

But can the majority of owners decide to make a by-law banning pets?

NCAT has recently weighed in on the debate and provided clear guidance on the validity of “no pets” by-laws.

In this paper we discuss:

• Ownership of Pets in Strata Living
• NCAT’s Decisions
• Harsh, Oppressive or Unconscionable By-laws
• What Does it all Mean – the Broader Implications

Strata living and pet by-laws –  Where do we Now Stand?

For NSW strata legal, building defects and levy collection advice please contact us here or call 02 9562 1266, we’re happy to assist.

New rules released by NSW Land Registry Services due to COVID-19 allow by-laws to be registered electronically.

We have just registered the first consolidated set of by-laws electronically.

The process is faster and more streamlined than paper lodgement and is the way of the future.

If you would like to inquire about electronic registration of by-laws, please contact us.

For NSW strata legal, building defects and levy collection advice please contact us here or call 02 9562 1266, we’re happy to assist.

Do New Strata Laws Thwart Anti-Airbnb By-Laws?

On 10 April 2020, new strata laws commenced. These laws clarify that an owners corporation is able to make a by-law that can prohibit a lot being used for a short-term rental accommodation arrangement in certain circumstances.

However, the new laws may have unintended consequences that invalidate or limit the reach of existing by-laws that prohibit short-term rental accommodation arrangements.

In this article we take a closer look at the new laws and their unintended consequences that seem to have been overlooked… Are new Strata Laws Anti-Airbnb By-laws?

For NSW strata legal, building defects and levy collection advice please contact us here or call 02 9562 1266, we’re happy to assist.

Government moves to help strata industry with further COVID-19 strata laws.

On 14 May 2020, new laws made by the NSW Parliament as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic commenced.  Those laws amended the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 and the Community Land Management Act 1989 to enable new regulations to be created to deal with the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the strata industry.

Electronic Voting and Meeting Notices

This means there will be power for new regulations to be released that will, for example, allow:

• Notices of meetings of a strata committee, owners corporation or community association to be served electronically even where there is presently no right to do so;
• Votes to be cast at meetings of a strata committee, owners corporation or community association electronically even if electronic voting has not been approved;
• The seal of an owners corporation or community association to be affixed to documents, and the witnessing of the affixing of the seal to be conducted, remotely;
• An extension of a time period in which a thing is required to be done under strata or community title laws.

The new regulations will be able to override a provision in the Strata Schemes Management Act or Community Land Management Act.  The new regulations have not yet been released.  It is expected that the regulations, once released, will remain in force for up to six months.

Electronic Signed and Sealed Documents

The regulations will provide a welcome relief to many strata managers, owners corporations and community associations.  Importantly, the regulations should allow meetings to be convened and held by electronic means and allow documents to be signed and sealed remotely.

The new regulations will enable strata committees, owners corporations and community associations to make legally enforceable decisions and continue to manage their affairs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For NSW strata legal, building defects and levy collection advice please contact us here or call 02 9562 1266, we’re happy to assist.

Although our pets aren’t getting sick, COVID-19 is changing the lives of pets especially for dogs living in apartments.

There’s lots of discussion regarding pets as more people work from home. Dogs in isolation not going for their regular walks, exhibiting destructive and anxious behaviour, increased barking or difficulty settling. Then there are the complaints from all the non pet owners.

So can pet’s be banned from living in strata?

In at least two cases late last year, NCAT decided that “no pets” by-laws were invalid.

So, are pets by-laws banning the keeping of pets no longer worth the paper they are written on?

Given its importance to many strata buildings across the State where does this leave “no pets” buildings?

What about the basic habitation rights of owners who want to live in a “pet free” building?

Where does this leave “no pets” buildings?  Pet By-laws – Is it the End of No Pets By-laws?

Need a pet by-law or some advice during COVID-19 contact us now!

For NSW strata legal, building defects and levy collection advice please contact us here or call 02 9562 1266, we’re happy to assist.

With overdue strata levies on the rise due to the COVID-19 situation many strata schemes will soon find out how many of their owners are struggling to meet their levy commitments.

Also, recent Government announcements to personal and corporate insolvency laws will have a dramatic impact on the way overdue strata levies are recovered.

In this paper we provide:

• A Snapshot of the Changes to Levy Recovery Practice
• An Overview of those Changes
• Details of the Ramifications of the Changes
• Information about Payment Plans for Overdue Levies
• Information about Template Payment Plan Documents

After reading this paper Levy Recovery Practice Changes Due to Coronavirus if you would like a copy of our ‘template payment plan documents’ and/or would like assistance with managing your levy recovery payment plans please email jsmmarketing@muellers.com.au

For NSW strata legal, building defect or levy collection advice please contact us here or call 02 9562 1266, we’re happy to assist.

Is it the right time for a cost recoveries by-law?

Times are tough. Owners don’t want to incur extra costs because of by-law breaches committed by other owners and tenants.

There is no better time than now to ensure you have a by-law in place for cost recoveries.

A cost recoveries by-law will allow you to recover those extra costs from the person responsible for them instead of paying them from the owners corporation’s funds.

Our by-law factsheet covers the following areas:

• What does it do?
• What it does not do?
• What does it cover?
• What can it cover?

Download your free cost recoveries by-Law factsheet and order your by-law here.

For NSW strata legal, building defect and levy collection advice contact us here or call 02 9562 1266, we’re happy to assist.

Land Registry Services new processes.

Restrictions imposed in response to COVID-19 have made it difficult to prepare, sign and witness paper land dealings. All of these land dealings involve a combination of steps, including:

1. Verification of Identity
2. Establishing the Right to Deal
3. Signing, Witnessing and Formal Certification

In order to maintain business as usual and complete these steps for paper dealings during the current COVID-19 environment, LRS have implemented new processes commencing this week from April 27, 2020.

Land Registry Services new processes: What are the new LRS options imposed during COVID-19 restrictions? 

For NSW strata legal, building defect and levy collection advice contact us here or call 02 9562 1266, we’re happy to assist.

Recent articles published in the press about misinformation of COVID-19 strata laws have stated that short term accommodation arrangements through Airbnb have been banned.

There has also been conflicting information published about whether COVID-19 lockdown laws require an owners corporation to close its recreational facilities such as a swimming pool and gym.

In this short article we answer your questions about those issues and clarify the uncertainty surrounding the Misinformation about COVID19 Strata Laws – Clarified.

For NSW strata legal, building defect or levy collection advice please contact us here or call 02 9562 1266, we’re happy to assist.

COVID-19 Risk in Apartment Buildings

 
 Read on for more details or to purchase your by-law click the button below. 

There has been recent talk in the media about the risk of apartment buildings becoming hot spots for Coronavirus infection.

This media attention has focussed on the fact that the recent public health orders and other laws that have been introduced to help stop the spread of Coronavirus do not apply to densely populated apartment buildings.

Apartment Buildings – Are they Cruise Ships on Land?

Indeed, there has been mention of apartment buildings turning into “cruise ships on land” unless stringent rules are put in place to regulate them to help stop the spread of Coronavirus inside them.

For that reason, there is a need for some residential strata buildings to introduce rules to help stop the spread of Coronavirus.  We have drafted a by-law that sets out those rules.  The by-law addresses:

• reporting COVID-19 infections;
• self-isolation;
• social distancing;
• parties and social gatherings;
• guests and visitors;
• changes in occupancy such as short term stay guests via Airbnb;
• use of recreational facilities;
• restrictions on access to and use of areas of common property;
• landlords’ responsibility for tenants;
• responsibility for invitees.

COVID-19 By-law – Power to Help Avoid the Spread

The by-law will prove useful for many residential strata buildings to set out basic rules that owners and tenants must follow to help avoid the spread of Coronavirus and to give owners corporations power to take steps to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 in their buildings.

In the expectation that the COVID-19 pandemic will pass, our by-law provides for the owners corporation to conduct a mandatory review of the by-law and its terms within six months to enable the by-law to be amended or be repealed at the appropriate time and for the by-law to expire at the conclusion of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A One-off COVID-19 By-law for all Your Buildings

We are offering the by-law to strata managers working in the strata management industry for a discounted price of $300.00 plus GST.  For that fee, you obtain a licence to use the by-law and introduce the by-law into as many residential buildings as you like. If you have residential buildings that may benefit from the by-law, please do not hesitate to contact us.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE YOUR COVID-19 BY-LAW

For NSW strata legal, building defect or levy collection advice please contact us here or call 02 9562 1266, we’re happy to assist.