Pets by-law expert, Adrian Mueller, Strata Lawyer talks pets with LookUpStrata in this recent webinar, covering the recent ‘Cooper’ case:

1. How will you respond to the recent decision of the Court of Appeal in the Cooper case which says that a by-law prohibiting pets is invalid?
2. Will you wait for the dust to settle before deciding what you will do?
3. Or will you act now and change any by-law that prohibits pets?

As well as delving into this recent case and what it means for you, Adrian has also covered Q&A’s specifically focused on the topic of pets in NSW strata buildings.

NEED A PETS BY-LAW REVIEW CLICK HERE NOW!

For all NSW strata legal advice including by-laws, building defects and levy collections contact us here or call 02 9562 1266, we’re happy to assist.

The Strata Schemes Management Amendment (Sustainability Infrastructure) Bill 2021 is expected to commence in mid-2021.

Overview of New Laws

The key features of the Bill are as follows:

1. An owners corporation will be able to authorise the installation of sustainability infrastructure (such as solar panels) on common property by passing an ordinary resolution.

2. Any decision by an owners corporation that would unreasonably prohibit the keeping of an animal on a lot will have no force or effect.

3. It will be possible for a by-law to prohibit the keeping of an animal (such as a dangerous dog) on a lot if that prohibition is reasonable.

4. An owners corporation will need to keep voting records regarding a secret ballot confidential unless directed to make those records available for inspection by a court or NCAT.

5. NCAT will need to provide a copy of any strata application that is lodged by any person to the owners corporation of the strata scheme concerned.

6. An owners corporation will need to serve a copy of any NCAT application it receives on each owner instead of just placing a copy of the application on the noticeboard.

7. NCAT will have the power to require a person to pay a penalty of up to $5,500.00 for breaching an order made by NCAT.

8. A person who owns more than one lot in a strata scheme will be able to appoint a single proxy in respect of all of the lots (to prevent the limitation on the number of proxies a person can hold stopping this from occurring).

9. A proxy appointment form for a meeting will still be valid even if the meeting is adjourned to a later date.

Conclusion

These new laws will make it easier for owners corporations and owners to install solar panels and implement other “green” initiatives, clarify the validity of “no pets” by-laws and close a loop hole in the strata legislation that prevented NCAT imposing penalties on people who breach orders.

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

Did you know there are 81,717 strata schemes registered in NSW and every year this number grows by more than 1,000 across Sydney and regional NSW?

That’s why the NSW government has recently recognised the importance of strata living laws and the need to ensure that they stay relevant and address some fundamental issues that have arisen since the laws were re-written in 2015.

An online survey has been developed and the NSW Government is asking you to ‘have your say’ here now.

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

A recent decision by NCAT has provided guidance on what needs to be done for an owners corporation to approve renovations done by an owner.

This case involved a dispute between the owners corporation of a large mixed use building in Milsons Point and the owner of a commercial lot in the building who wanted to fit-out his lot as an office involving alterations to common property.

The case produced a surprising outcome and is likely to change the practice that is followed by owners who seek owners corporation approval to renovate.

So, does a common property rights by-law authorise an owner to carry out works affecting the common property?

Here we share the case and outcomes: Get Your Renovations Approvals Right

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

There have been a number of important key changes made to strata laws over the last 6 months.

This includes changes to legislation and recent court and NCAT decisions.

In this article we provide an overview of those key changes to help you get across them and make recommendations as to what you should do get the most out of them and to ensure you comply with them.

The article covers the following strata law key changes:

• Building Defects – duty of care
• Removing abandoned goods and illegally parked cars – the new rules
• Developer and common property rights by-laws
• No pets by-laws
• NCAT – can now award damages
• COVID-19 – strata regulations extended
• Short term rental accommodation – mandatory code of conduct

The full article and recommendations are available here An Overview of Recent Key Changes to Strata Law

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

How will you respond to the recent decision of the Court of Appeal in the Cooper case which says that a by-law prohibiting pets is invalid?

Will you wait for the dust to settle before deciding what you will do?  Or will you act now and change any by-law that prohibits pets?

Any owners corporations that wait for the dust to settle following that decision before changing their pets by-law may well live to regret that decision.

In this article we take a closer look at each of different approaches and recommend why playing the waiting game could be your undoing.

Read the full article here: Why is it important to update your pets by-law NOW?

CONTACT US HERE TO REVIEW YOUR ‘NO’ PETS BY-LAW

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

On 20 October 2020 the Department of Fair Trading announced the mandatory ‘Code of Conduct’ for the short-term rental accommodation arrangements (STRAs).

This Code of Conduct was published in the Government Gazette on 28 October 2020 and is scheduled to commence on 18 December 2020, just in time for the Christmas/New Year festive season and school holidays.

Your strata scheme should take this opportunity to read the ‘Code of Conduct’ and to consider reviewing and if needed, updating its short term rental accommodation by-laws.

This will ensure the changes made to legislation governing this space in April 2020 and now with the publication of the new mandatory ‘Code of Conduct’ are covered.

Especially as the festive season and school holidays are just around the corner – 38 working days until Christmas Day!

In this paper we review the Short Term Rental Accommodation New Code of Conduct

Did you know there are only 38 working days until Christmas day? To ensure the right short term rental accommodation by-laws are in place for the festive season click below now and we’ll be in touch.

Short Term Rental Accommodation By-law

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

Recent Court and NCAT decisions and changes to strata laws have impacted on the validity of many by-laws.

This means that it is now essential to again review your strata scheme’s by-laws.

In this article we take a look at the types of by-laws that need to be reviewed due to these recent cases and changes to the law. These include:

• No Pets By-laws
• Short Term Letting By-laws
• Abandoned Goods and Illegally Parked Vehicles By-laws
• No Smoking By-laws
• No Hard Floor Coverings By-laws
• Prohibiting Business Activities in Lots

The full article can be reviewed here: Strata Law Changes Means By-law Reviews

Did you know there are only 58 days until Christmas day? To ensure you have the right by-laws in place for the festive season click below now and we’ll be in touch.

NEED A BY-LAW REVIEW CLICK HERE NOW

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

The NSW Court of Appeal has overturned a by-law banning pets in the Horizon building in Sydney.

This decision means that “no pets” by-laws are unenforceable.

This will require owners corporations with “no pets” by-laws to now rethink their approach to the keeping of pets in their buildings and likely result in the replacement of “no pets” by-laws with by-laws that restrict (but do not ban) the keeping of pets in strata buildings.

In this paper we discuss the case and ramifications of “no pets” by-laws and more… Pet Owners Rejoice

Do you need your “no pets” by-laws reviewed’? Contact us here now!

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

In a recent decision, the Appeal Panel of NCAT has approved of a by-law which introduced a “user pays” system for the cost of electricity used to keep hot water supplied to some but not all lots in a mixed-use strata scheme.

This decision confirms that an owners corporation is able to make a by-law that introduces a “user pays” system for utilities costs such as water, electricity and gas expenses.

Based in Byron Bay this case is an important step in confirming that an owners corporation is able to introduce a “user pays” by-law for the cost of utilities that are supplied to some but not all lots.

JS Mueller & Co Lawyers has drafted many of these types of by-laws which are not uncommon.

To read the full article click here: NCAT Gives the Green Light for User Pays By-laws

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