In a major development for the strata industry, NCAT has recently held that Biowood cladding installed externally on a Sydney building is combustible and must be removed as it is a major building defect.

There are a number of multi-storey buildings in NSW with Biowood panels that are combustible and pose a risk of fire spreading from one part of these buildings to another.

Faiyaaz Shafiq, Senior Lawyer, said, “it is now up to owners corporations and strata managers to ensure these panels are removed and lives are not put in danger.”

Owners corporations of buildings which have Biowood cladding require urgent assessment of the risks involved and their rights in light of this new decision.

For more information… Biowood Cladding NCAT Rules Combustible and also refer to media coverage in the Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) and news.com.au.

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

There are many strata managers who are preparing and registering consolidated sets of by-laws for the strata schemes they manage.

We have recently come across several by-law consolidations prepared by strata managers that contain critical and costly errors.

In many cases, the professional indemnity insurance policies held by strata managers may not cover the negligent preparation of consolidated by-laws.

Here are some examples of mistakes we have seen… By-law Consolidations – When they go Wrong?

CLICK HERE FOR HELP WITH YOUR BY-LAW CONSOLIDATIONS!

Pecuniary Interest Disclosures – When are they Required?

When does a strata committee member need to disclose a pecuniary interest they have concerning a decision to be made by the committee?

The position is clear when a committee member has a direct pecuniary interest in a matter to be decided by the committee. A disclosure of that interest must be made by the committee member.

But what about indirect pecuniary interests? What are they and when do they need to be disclosed?

An example is where a committee member wishes to engage a company to carry out work for an owners corporation and his or her relative is a director or shareholder of that company. Is that an indirect pecuniary interest which must be disclosed?

The most likely answer is “yes”. This is because a committee member will have an indirect pecuniary interest if a person connected with them (such as a relative) has a direct interest in the matter to be decided by the committee.

What are the Grey Areas?

There are some grey areas. For example, can it be said that an indirect pecuniary interest arises when the committee member’s relative is merely an employee of the company that will be engaged by the owners corporation? In those circumstances, does the relative (as an employee rather than director or shareholder of the company) stand to benefit from the company’s appointment by the owners corporation?

The answer to that question is also most likely “yes” because the legislation simply requires the relative to have a “direct interest” (not necessarily a direct pecuniary interest) in the matter in order for the committee member to fall under an obligation to make a pecuniary interest disclosure.

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

In at least two recent cases, NCAT has decided that “no pets” by-laws are invalid.

Are strata pet by-laws banning the keeping of pets no longer worth the paper they are written on?

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 contact us now!

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

The Land and Environment Court has recently approved a collective sale of a strata scheme.

This is the first time the Court has approved the collective sale of a strata building since the strata renewal laws commenced on 30 November 2016.

The case highlights the importance of ensuring each step in the collective sale process is followed to the letter of the law.

The case also provides guidance on how various problems created by the strata renewal laws will be resolved by the Court including problems determining the amount of compensation that should be payable to the owners.

In this article we take an in-depth look at the case and what lessons can be learned from the Court’s decision First Strata Collective Sale Approved by Court

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

Did you know that an owners corporation can be served with legal documents at the address recorded on the common property certificate of title? Do you know if your common property certificate of title contains the proper address for service of legal documents on your owners corporation?

You want to make sure the proper address is recorded. In a recent case we saw, an owners corporation had not updated its address for service. Legal documents were sent to the old address and never passed on to the owners corporation. The NSW Civil & Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) made orders against the owners corporation in default of its appearance. The owners corporation only found out about the orders made against it after the orders were made!

So, how do you avoid this embarrassing situation? Common Property Certificate of Title Address

Read on to learn why you should make sure your current address is registered on your common property certificate of title as your address for service. Your current address may be either the address of your building or your strata manager’s address.

If you require help to update your address on your certificate of title please contact us.

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

In 2018 the High Court concluded that NCAT did not have jurisdiction to resolve disputes between residents of different states.

This meant that NCAT could not resolve disputes between strata owners who lived in different states such as NSW and QLD.

A recent decision of the Appeal Panel of NCAT clarifies that NCAT can decide a dispute between an owners corporation and a lot owner or occupier who is resident in another state. This is a sensible decision and clarifies uncertainty as to the extent of NCAT’s jurisdiction to resolve strata disputes.

What was the case that led to this decision and why? NCAT Clarifies the Extent of its Jurisdiction

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

The NSW Government proposes to change the laws regulating short term accommodation in NSW.

Recently, the key aspects of those new laws were published for public comment and submissions. The submission period has now closed.

In this article we take an in-depth look at those proposed changes to the laws regulating short term accommodation.

We consider the impact those changes will have on strata laws and planning laws (and strata living) and also review the key features of the Code of Conduct that will regulate participants in the short term accommodation industry.

What are the Proposed New Laws for Short Term Rental Accommodation?

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

Strata Managers are often unfairly the focus of criticism by lot owners, when something happens which those owners don’t like.

In some instances a dysfunctional owners corporation will have a compulsory strata manager appointed to try and get things back on track.

When a strata manager receives a request to put their name forward to be appointed as a compulsory strata manager it can be a difficult decision to make, as to whether to agree to put yourself forward.

The good news is that a recent NCAT Appeal Panel decision has provided some Helpful Guidance for Appointment of Compulsory Strata Managers.

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

The cost of fixing the unfolding national building crisis involving building defects including the use of dangerous combustible cladding, could soar past $6.2 billion, according to a new economic analysis.

It is estimated that around 3,461 residential apartment blocks across the country have flammable exterior cladding that’s 170,000 apartments mostly constructed in the last 10 years, the majority of these in NSW.

So, what can you do, whilst the issue is being addressed, to mitigate and minimise your strata blocks risk?  Cladding and the Warranty Period – How can you Minimise your Risk?

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