There have been two recent court cases involving “squatter’s rights” over parcels of land in Sydney.

In both of those cases, people have acquired ownership of parcels of land they did not own through adverse possession by exercising “squatter’s rights”.

Both of these cases raise interesting questions for strata schemes:

• What are “squatter’s rights”?
• Can “squatter’s rights” exist in a strata scheme?
• Do the rules for “squatter’s rights” make it impossible for a person to claim ownership of part of the common property in strata scheme?
• Do those rules make it difficult for an owners corporation to claim ownership of a lot even if it has been abandoned?

Abandoned houses, “dunny lanes”, car spaces, storerooms and more: here we explain this complex area of law and share some recent cases – Squatters Rights in Strata Schemes.

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

In a surprising decision, the Supreme Court has recently held that lot owners are able to start legal action in NCAT to force an owners corporation to grant them a licence to use common property before the owners corporation has rejected their proposal for a licence.

This decision will alter the strategy of some owners who want to obtain special rights over areas of common property and may result in the commencement of litigation to gain leverage over an owners corporation.

Ultimately this case gives NCAT a mandate to attempt to resolve strata disputes in a more flexible way.

Read the full case here Supreme Court, NCAT and A Load of Rubbish

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

In a win for owners corporations, the Supreme Court has just announced that the definition of “major building defects” in the legislation should be given a broad meaning.

Across strata there are many building defects which have previously been categorised as minor. These can now possibly be considered as major and covered by the 6 year warranty period.

As this is a complicated area of law, it is best to seek legal advise ASAP.

This recent case will provide you with more information Strata is your minor building defect now a major defect?

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

The NSW Supreme Court has recently handed down a decision in regards to common property that will have a considerable impact on the practice of strata managers across the State. The Court’s decision answers the following often asked questions:

• What type of resolution does an owners corporation need to pass in order to replace an item of common property?
• Is the replacement of an item of common property a repair that can be authorised by an ordinary resolution?
• Or does a decision to replace an item of common property need to be made by special resolution because the replacement of the item will improve or enhance the common property?

What was the outcome of this recent case that involved a dispute between the owners of an apartment building on a waterfront in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs… Replacing Items of Common Property in Strata?

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

A recent decision of the NSW Court of Appeal has found that the owners corporation of a leasehold strata scheme located in Manly, Sydney and owned by the Roman Catholic Church, had no right to make a claim against the builder or developer of its scheme for building defects.

Are owners corporations of leasehold strata schemes required to foot the bill for the costs to repair building defects?   Leasehold Strata Schemes and Building Defects

Do you need advice on building defects and/or leasehold strata schemes, speak to the experts?

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

In a recent NSW Supreme Court case the builder brought an application to the Court seeking an order that the owners corporation provide security for costs to protect the costs of the builder in the litigation in the event the builder was successful and unable to recover his costs from the owners corporation.

So, did the court grant with the builder’s application? Owners Corporation Litigation Security for Costs

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

A common property rights by-law is a special type of by-law that confers on the owner of a lot special privileges over common property such as exclusive use of part of common property.

While a by-law normally can be made, amended or repealed by a special resolution passed by an owners corporation’s general meeting, a common property rights by-law can only be made, amended or repealed with the prior written consent of the owner of the lot benefited by that by-law.

However, there is one exception to the need to obtain that consent.

So, what is that one exception Common Property Rights By-law

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

Is an owners corporation able to terminate the appointment of a caretaker with whom it is dissatisfied?

In some cases this is possible.

But in recent years, there have been several cases involving attempts by owners corporations to rid themselves of caretakers who they consider are underperforming and these attempts have been spectacularly unsuccessful.

In this article, we review one of those cases Strata Caretaker Agreements

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

The strata legislation contains a number of requirements which must be met for any AGM.

These include requirements for the AGM agenda to contain certain motions and for the AGM notice to be accompanied by various documents.

So, what happens if these requirements are not met? Is the AGM invalid?

A recent decision of the Supreme Court provides helpful guidance on this issue – Supreme Court Strata AGM Guidance.

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

In a recent case in which JS Mueller & Co Lawyers acted for the successful owners corporation, the Supreme Court took an interesting journey back in time to land dealings in the early days of the British penal colony in New South Wales, and clarified one aspect of cases where easements are sought pursuant to section 88K of the Conveyancing Act 1919.

Interestingly, the Supreme Court upheld the validity of easements over land created in 1839 and the validity of easements over the same piece of land ordered by the Supreme Court in 2003.

This highlights the difficulty a party will have in challenging property rights that have existed for almost 200 years.

So, what iconic Sydney buildings did this involve? Supreme Court Upholds Validity of Easements

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