Members only videos

Heather’s building prevents occupiers keeping pets without the approval of the Owners Corporation and Heather’s request to keep a greyhound has been unreasonably refused. I walk Heather through how she might prove “unreasonableness” under section 157 of the NSW law, including the practical steps she can take immediately to fast track her success.  I am…

In this call, I assist Mary to defend a (seemingly) spurious penalty application for breach of a by-law: in Mary’s case, the “behaviour” by-law (model by-law 6, NSW). We also discuss her options for pursuing a cost order after an earlier application was withdrawn by her owners corporation.

Sandra is an owner in an unusual 2-lot scheme: her unit entitlement is 35 and her neighbour’s is 65. As you can imagine, this is causing some problems, particularly when it comes to the repair and maintenance of common property. In this call, I arm Sandra with the tools she needs to resolve moisture ingress…

In this call, I’m helping Terry with what is (in my experience) an unusual application: for an order varying levies on the grounds that they are excessive. Terry’s building recently resolved a 48% increase in levies and Terry believes the increase should have been half that. I give Terry my tips for ensuring his application…

In this call, Stefan explains the various problems he has been having with his strata committee, including ineligible people elected to the committee, unauthorised work on the common property, failure to comply with the provisions of the NSW legislation, defamatory publications and more. I explain the level of dysfunction the Tribunal needs to see before…

In this call, I answer strata manager Andrew’s excellent questions about:  whether NSW community associations can impose blanket bans on the keeping of animalshow building management committees and strata management statements workwhat avenues NSW buildings have if they have an underperforming strata manager This is a very ‘hands on’ call filled with practical guidance for…

Clare is an owner in a 60+ lot NSW scheme, under a partial compulsory appointment. The building is about to embark on a $10m rectification works project. The present dysfunction arises from a difficult strata committee and Clare and her group of supporters are ready to oust the incumbent at an upcoming general meeting. The…

Isabella is an owner coming out the other side of years of neglected repair work at her townhouse property. I answer her questions about the potential removal of the strata committee and managing agent, claiming her losses (“is it worth it?”), getting the right trades on the job and ‘training’ the committee to make better…

In this call, I assist James with a number of problems currently facing him in his 2-lot scheme, including: life after compulsory managementhis neighbour’s refusal to agree to adequate leviesthe illegal installation of a fence on the common propertythe installation of a surveillance camerareimbursement for costs expended on behalf of the Owners Corporation. Here are…

Assistant strata manager Donovan had been saving up all the ‘hard’ questions for just this call!  The call is jam-packed with practical information for strata managers and committee members alike, including my answers to Donovan’s questions about by-law enforcement, committee meetings, defects warranty periods, subdividing common property and more. Here are the links to the…

In this call, I arm Carol with the tools, resources and contacts that will help her successfully put her building’s strata management contract out to tender. As an owner in a small Western Australian strata scheme, Carol is also concerned to understand the correct legal procedure for council (committee) meetings. We talk about the specific…

Dean is an owner in a Western Australian strata scheme. His strata council has taken to wheel clamping visitors parked in the designated visitor-parking area, should they overstay their welcome. Dean asks: does the strata company need a by-law to be able to do this? (they don’t have one). Is it legal for the strata…

Chris is an owner and committee member in a NSW scheme and wants to know if its possible to require only those owners benefiting from common property work to pay for that work (known as “the benefit principle” in Victoria). We talk this through, and also discuss a way that his scheme can legally stop repairing and…

Khristina is a committee member in her Sydney strata scheme. An owner’s partially complete bathroom renovation has come to a standstill due to additional work being identified. The committee has been left in a state of confusion over whether this additional work constitutes repair and maintenance, or improvement and enhancement. The owner suggests it’s repair…

Henry comes to us from Victoria with a few challenges relating to tenants who fail to comply with the by-laws. I arm him with strategies to combat the bad behaviour, including methods for communicating effectively with the property manager/leasing agent. We also discuss CCTV and how the installation of CCTV sits comfortably with a ‘right…

Bruce is an owner and committee member in a NSW scheme that is functioning reasonably well, but is ready for some revitalising after 17 years. This includes bringing fresh ideas to the strata committee. In this call, I give Bruce some strategies for how he might assist an ‘ok’ strata committee transition to a ‘great’…

Adam is an owner and council member in a WA scheme and in this call, we’re discussing the steps he can take to better engage residents – both owner-occupiers and tenants – including improving care and respect for shared common areas like the BBQ area. I also provide my tips for dealing with a troublesome,…

In this call, I consider Natalie’s proposal to seek NCAT orders requiring her owners corporation to repair and maintain the common property. The building’s failure to do so for almost 4 years has resulted in water penetration to Natalie’s two bedrooms. We discuss the relevant sections of the NSW legislation and my recommendations for what…

In this call, I help Greg – an owner and committee secretary – who is having trouble getting various initiatives past his fellow committee members. I point out to him a very handy section of the NSW legislation which grants considerable power to a committee secretary. We also discuss the terms of a “diplomatic” campaign…

In this call, I help Dorothy – owner and committee member – to ensure the smooth termination of the building manager, including answering her question about his entitlement to termination payments. We also walk through the process for filling a vacancy on the strata committee, and cover off the legal duties and personal liability of…

In this call, I give Leanne some practical strategies to deal with a domineering strata committee and a bad dose of bullying.

In this call, I help Britt to understand a set of orders recently received from the Tribunal, which were based on an out-of-Tribunal settlement agreement. We also discuss how these orders might be enforced, as her fellow lot owner looks certain to breach them.

In this call, I give Elizabeth a step by step guide to dealing with a difficult strata committee that does not want to repair her broken windows. I explain the path she needs to lay to ensure her Tribunal application has the best chance of success. .

In this call, I walk Marissa through the process of amending a common property rights by-law, so that she can enclose the outdoor seating area for her restaurant. We also discuss the need for council approval, and what to do about installing a sign.