This Q&A article is about community schemes and strata title trees and hedges.
Table of Contents:
- QUESTION: If the owners of a Strata decide to vote to pay for removal of trees that are not common property but part of a lot, does this require a Special Resolution of 75% and is the owner of the lot who is receiving this financial benefit entitled to vote on the issues?
- QUESTION: Due to lack of funds, the committee refuses to remove a dangerous tree. They will not raise a special levy. What do we do?
- QUESTION: We need to remove a dying tree from common property. Is this considered maintenance or a change to common property? Do we need a general meeting and special resolution?
- QUESTION: Is a special resolution required for the removal of a large hedge at the front of our five lot strata building?
- QUESTION: Two large common property trees are blocking views and sunlight in our 5 lot scheme. The majority want them trimmed, but two owners disagree and say we cannot trim the trees. How do we proceed?
- QUESTION: One townhouse in our complex has a tree growing within their lot that is now covering a section of the roof and contributing to blocked gutters. Can you please confirm whether or not it is the unit owner or the Strata’s responsibility to prune the offending tree?
- QUESTION: A large tree in our garden blocks the view of the harbour for 2 of the units in our building. Who should pay for pruning if the benefit of pruning is for 2 units only?
- QUESTION: What are strata’s legal obligations if there is a dangerous and dead tree on the property requiring removal?
- QUESTION: I’m concerned about the height of the trees in my yard. Should I have insurance other than contents insurance just in case the trees damage my property?
- QUESTION: The owners corporation has removed a tree which provided our apartment with shade and privacy. Does the owners corporation have any obligations to replace the tree?
- QUESTION: In a duplex, we each have exclusive use of our yard and garden. Isn’t this therefore our responsibility to maintain? The other lot owner would like the owners corporation to remove a tree.
- QUESTION: Our boundary hedge overlapped common property. With no consultation, 2 committee members arranged for it to be trimmed severely resulting in damage to the fence. How can this be right?
- QUESTION: One of our lot owners has experienced damage caused by tree roots from a neighbour. Who is responsible for the cost of the remedial works to the adjoining property, the strata neighbour or the strata body?
- QUESTION: A tree is on private property but passes into my airspace and into common property airspace. If it presents a potential threat to the common property roof because it leans over it, who is responsible for the removal of dangerous trees?
Question: If the owners of a Strata decide to vote to pay for removal of trees that are not common property but part of a lot, does this require a Special Resolution of 75% and is the owner of the lot who is receiving this financial benefit entitled to vote on the issues?
Answer: This requires an ordinary resolution, not a special resolution as it is not an alteration of common property. If voted upon by the owners corporation, the owner is permitted to vote.
Matthew Jenkins
Bannermans Lawyers
E: [email protected]
P: 02 9929 0226
This post appears in Strata News #647.
Question: Due to lack of funds, the committee refuses to remove a dangerous tree. They will not raise a special levy. What do we do?
I have a huge gum tree leaning across the boundary of 3 properties. An arborist’s report states the tree is in imminent danger of falling and must be removed as soon as possible. The local shire council have inspected the tree and agreed.
If this tree falls, the stump and roots will severely damage my back deck, the fencing and neighbouring properties.
The strata committee met and decided not enough funds were available. If a special levy was raised, owners are unable to pay. As far as the committee is concerned, the tree’s removal is my issue.
The strata management company have everything in place to remove the tree. Quotes have been arranged, the tree removal company is waiting and council approval has been arranged. The committee still refuses to raise a special levy.
Can a special levy be enforced by the strata manager even with the committee voting no?
Answer: You can apply for free mediation through NSW Fair Trading.
It is unclear how it has been determined that the dangerous tree is 100% the owners corporation’s responsibility. On the assumption this is correct, the strata manager, pursuant to its delegated powers as secretary, could include a motion to raise the required special levy for all owners to vote on at a general meeting of the owners corporation – however, the strata manager may be reluctant to do so if the strata committee does not support this stance.
Alternatively, you can apply for free mediation through NSW Fair Trading. If no agreement is reached or if the owners corporation refuses to attend, you may then apply to NCAT to have the matter considered there, and, if successful, the owners corporation could be ordered to remove the tree.
Leanne Habib
Premium Strata
E: [email protected]
P: 02 9281 6440
This post appears in the May 2023 edition of The NSW Strata Magazine.
Question: We need to remove a dying tree from common property. Is this considered maintenance or a change to common property? Do we need a general meeting and special resolution?
Our owners corporation has a dying tree on common property. Would the removal of this tree be considered, under Strata Regulations, a change to common property that requires a general meeting and special resolution? We’ve had trees removed here in the past and had the motions approved in strata committee meetings. Our Strata Manager has told us that, in this instance, we require a general meeting and special resolution.
We aren’t removing a tree to improve or enhance the common property. We are removing the tree because it’s dying and we want to remove the risk of the tree falling down. Isn’t this more a repair and maintenance responsibility of the owners corporation?
Answer: As the tree is situated on the common property and it is technically in a state of “disrepair”, the owners corporation could resolve to have it removed or replaced without the requirement for a special resolution.
In our view, as the tree is situated on the common property and it is technically in a state of “disrepair” ie dying, the Owners Corporation or its strata committee could resolve to have it removed or replaced without the requirement for a special resolution. This is because, as you correctly state, you are not “enhancing” the common property but merely repairing and maintaining it (depending of course on the cost involved if this exceeds any limit on the spending of the strata committee).
Leanne Habib
Premium Strata
E: [email protected]
P: 02 9281 6440
This post appears in Strata News #634.
Question: Is a special resolution required for the removal of a large hedge at the front of our five lot strata building?
Our block of 5 units has a very large hedge at the front of the property. The hedge provides privacy from the street for two of the apartments. The hedge also provides the building with its streetscape appeal. Is a special resolution required for the removal of the hedge?
Answer: In our view a special resolution would be required.
In our view, yes, a special resolution would be required because you are “changing” the common property for the purpose of improving or enhancing it (as opposed to exercising the owners corporation’s repair & maintenance duty). Additionally, you should ensure you comply with local council’s requirements regarding removal of the hedge.
Leanne Habib
Premium Strata
E: [email protected]
P: 02 9281 6440
This post appears in Strata News #559.
Question: Two large common property trees are blocking views and sunlight in our 5 lot scheme. The majority want them trimmed, but two owners disagree and say we cannot trim the trees. How do we proceed?
In a block of 5 units, we have two trees in our common garden. The trees have grown considerably and now block views, light and sunlight.
The majority in the block would like to trim, not remove, the tree. The vote was 3 for and 2 against. The two top units object, as the tree height doesn’t affect them and they are insisting that we cannot carry out works. How do we proceed?
Answer: The common property tree should be pruned by the Owners Corporation as part of its repair and maintenance function.
The common property tree should be pruned by the Owners Corporation as part of its repair and maintenance function. As the Owners Corporation has a positive duty to repair and maintain the common property, it can’t vote against doing so unless a special resolution has been passed to determine that the item of common property is inappropriate to maintain, renew, replace or repair and that that decision will not affect the safety of any building, structure or common property in the strata scheme or detract from the appearance of any property in the strata scheme.
Before any pruning takes place, you should contact your local council, as in NSW, most councils require a permit unless an exemption applies. You need to make these enquiries from Council and also seek the Owners Corporation’s consent for pruning of the tree (the Owners Corporation would likely need Council consent for pruning too). You may not prune the tree without authorisation from the Owners Corporation.
You may have rights against the Owners Corporation to seek Orders that the Owners Corporation maintain the tree through NCAT. You will need to seek legal advice on the issue of obstruction to sunlight, views etc as this may fall under the law of nuisance which may require Supreme Court relief.
Leanne Habib
Premium Strata
E: [email protected]
P: 02 9281 6440
This post appears in Strata News #518.
Question: One townhouse in our complex has a tree growing within their lot that is now covering a section of the roof and contributing to blocked gutters. Can you please confirm whether or not it is the unit owner or the Strata’s responsibility to prune the offending tree?
Answer: Once you determine where the tree sits, in lot property or common property, that will then determine the responsible party to prune that tree.
That’s a tricky one because you have to go back to the strata plan. The strata plan will generally define where the common property starts and finishes (the depth). Generally, they might say that the lot owner space is from the upper surface of the hard flooring or the tiled surface in a courtyard, (I’m assuming there’s a courtyard where the street is located), and then it might limit the height to two metres high or three metres high. If the tree exceeds the height limit that’s noted on the strata plan, it now becomes common property.
Let’s say the limited height is two metres and the tree is three metres high. The Owners Corporation will prune it back to two metres, then anything below two metres will be the owners responsibility because it’s going back into their lot space.
You’d need to go back to the strata plan and have a look at what the definition of lot property versus common properties is for the courtyard and the cubic air space within that courtyard to determine where the tree sits. Once you determine where the tree sit, in lot property or common property, that will then determine the responsible party to prune that tree.
This is assuming the tree is in a courtyard that is attached to an individual lot as opposed to a communal courtyard. If the tree is in a common courtyard, then the Owners Corporation is responsible to prune the tree back.
Leanne Habib
Premium Strata
E: [email protected]
P: 02 9281 6440
This post appears in Strata News #506.
Question: A large tree in our garden blocks the view of the harbour for 2 of the units in our building. Who should pay for pruning if the benefit of pruning is for 2 units only?
We have a beautiful jacaranda tree in our garden which has grown and now blocks the view of the harbour for 2 of the units in our building. We are a building of 5 units. The 2 units on the ground level do not have a view of the harbour due to the configuration of the garden in relation to those units. The two units on the middle level have partial views which are obstructed by the jacaranda tree. The top unit has views as it is higher than the tree.
The middle 2 units want to prune the tree to give them better views. They want the strata to pay for the pruning under the heading of garden maintenance.
Who should pay for pruning if the benefit of pruning is for 2 units only? The tree itself is healthy and otherwise does nor require pruning.
Answer: If the base of the tree, bush or hedge is on common property, then the Owners Corporation will have a responsibility to keep this managed. If it’s on the individual lot owner’s parcel of land, then the responsibility to trim or maintain it will be theirs.
If the base of the tree, bush or hedge is on common property, then the Owners Corporation will have a responsibility to keep this managed. If it’s on the individual lot owner’s parcel of land, then the responsibility to trim or maintain it will be theirs. Issues, where there are disputes, are addressed under the Trees (Disputes Between Neighbours) Act 2006 (NSW).
There is a process that can assist in this matter. Firstly, a 21-day notice must be provided to the owner of the lot with the tree in question by the affected owner/s, with the notice detailing what orders will be sought if the matter is taken to the Land Environment Court. During this time, the owner of the lot with the obstructing tree in question can attempt to come to an agreement with the affected owner/s. If owners reach a resolution, then the following steps will not be needed.
If no resolution is reached, then an application to the Land Environment Court can be made by the affected owner/s to resolve the matter. The Land Environment Court can make orders that the said tree be pruned and maintained at a specific height.
Michael Smythe
NSW Branch Manager
Civium Communities
E: [email protected]
This post appears in Strata News #460.
Question: What are strata’s legal obligations if there is a dangerous and dead tree on the property requiring removal?
What are strata’s legal obligations if there is a dangerous and dead tree on the property requiring removal?
Are there regulations around how often trees must be inspected and, if so, what is the timeframe for this? Surely there are obligations to inspect and remove any large dead trees that pose a risk. A tree on our common property was noted as dead for 3+ years. It was requested to be removed one week ago and since then it has fallen and damaged 3 cars.
Answer: If the tree is on the common property it is the responsibility of the owners corporation.
If the tree is on the common property it is the responsibility of the owners corporation. Your owners corporation should have taken steps to stabilise/isolate the tree and should have approached local council to obtain permission to remove it. We are not aware of any regulations regarding the frequency of tree inspections, however, the owners corporation does have a duty to repair and maintain the common property including the subject tree.
Leanne Habib
Premium Strata
E: [email protected]
P: 02 9281 6440
This post appears in the December 2020 edition of The NSW Strata Magazine.
Question: I’m concerned about the height of the trees in my yard. Should I have insurance other than contents insurance just in case the trees damage my property?
I live in a happily managed block of 11 townhouses. In my back courtyard, I have two tall paperbark trees. I’m concerned about their height.
I have been told that if the trees damage either my or my neighbours property, I am solely responsible. Should I have insurance other than contents insurance in case this occurs?
Answer: The basic principle when owning in a strata is to ensure you have contents insurance with a reputable company to avoid any gaps in cover.
The basic principle when owning in a strata is to ensure you have contents insurance with a reputable company to avoid any gaps in cover.
Contents insurance should include cover for Public Liability (also known as legal liability). This is designed to provide cover for legal liability associated with damage to others property.
Legal responsibility is a matter that is determined by legal professionals (and judges if the matter goes to court) factoring all considerations.
At the time of a claim the insurer should indemnify the insured and either seek to settle or defend the claim for damages.
Tyrone Shandiman
Strata Insurance Solutions
E: [email protected]
P: 07 3899 5129
This information is of a general nature only and neither represents nor is intended to be personal advice on any particular matter. Shandit Pty Ltd T/as Strata Insurance Solutions strongly suggests that no person should act specifically on the basis of the information in this document, but should obtain appropriate professional advice based on their own personal circumstances. Shandit Pty Ltd T/As Strata Insurance Solutions is a Corporate Authorised Representative (No. 404246) of Insurance Advisernet Australia AFSL No 240549, ABN 15 003 886 687.
This post appears in Strata News #373.
Question: The owners corporation has removed a tree which provided our apartment with shade and privacy. Does the owners corporation have any obligations to replace the tree?
The owners corporation has removed a tree from our boundary fence. It provided my apartment with privacy.
I was not notified it was being cut down. We now have no privacy and other apartments can see directly into our property.
Can we request a new tree as it has changed the temperature and privacy of our place? Does the owners corporation have any obligations to replace the tree?
Answer: If the tree was on common property there is no requirement to replace it.
If the tree was on common property, there is no requirement by the scheme under the Strata legislation to replace it.
If it is within an owners lot space they probably can remove the part of the tree that has gone into common property (ie is not in the owners air space), but this would not include removal of a whole tree.
Karina Heinz
W: https://www.prostrata.com.au/
E: [email protected]
P: 02 9389 9599
This post appears in Strata News #373.
Question: In a duplex, we each have exclusive use of our yard and garden. Isn’t this therefore our responsibility to maintain? The other lot owner would like the owners corporation to remove a tree.
I live in a duplex. Both units have exclusive use of their yard and gardens.
The owner of the other unit is requesting the owners corporation pay to remove a tree that they have been maintaining for years.
Is the exclusive use of an area the responsibility of the lot owner? Do we each have to maintain our own gardens etc?
Answer: Not always.
Not always.
You will need to review the by-law in question because the terms of the exclusive use by-law will specify who is to repair and maintain the tree (or remove it).
You should double-check your strata plan too, because it is unusual for a duplex to have exclusive use of their respective gardens/courtyards. Generally, these would be on title.
Leanne Habib
Premium Strata
E: [email protected]
P: 02 9281 6440
This post appears in Strata News #371.
Question: Our boundary hedge overlapped common property. With no consultation, 2 committee members arranged for it to be trimmed severely resulting in damage to the fence. How can this be right?
We own a townhouse in a strata complex with 17 other units. My husband and I have owned the unit for approximately 8 yrs.
Our townhouse, as documented with the NSW Land & Property Information indicates we are owners of ‘anything within the cubic air space of the lot belongs to that lot and is the responsibility of that lot owner’. This is mainly in reference to our lot private courtyard. The stratum of the courtyard extends between 3 metres below and 5 metres above the upper surface of the ground floor of the respective adjoining respective unit except where covered.
The problem is our back timber fence is only 1.5 meters high. This fence divides our lot between council nature strip, main road and a bus stop in which is approx 2 meters in distance from the dividing fence. My husband and I planted a Lilly Pilly hedge in our lot 4 yrs ago to give privacy, security and improve the courtyard appearance.
My husband is on the Executive Committee as secretary. The hedge’s soft green foliage was thick and beautifully cascading over the road side of the fence and was enhancing our street view for our lot.
Without any prior warning or written consent, 2 members from the executive committee arranged our lawn mowing contract worker to cut off the foliage extending over council property. This was done using a chain saw and was cut 1 metre above the 1.5 meter dividing fence. Our privacy hedge was severely damaged by this chain saw, including damaging the timber fence (common property). This was done and arrange on a Friday evening while we were not home.
Our beautiful foliage was removed and organised to be taken to the local tip using the strata funding.
My husband and I are distressed with the violation of our property and damage to our hedge which took years to achieve a beautiful privacy screen. What is our legal position with this violation of our property that was planted in our lot?
Answer: You may have rights to pursue the Owners Corporation in the Land & Environment Court for damage to your tree.
You may have rights to pursue the Owners Corporation in the Land & Environment Court for damage to your tree. Also, the Owners Corporation is liable for damage caused to your property and to repair the damage caused to the common property.
There may be issues of trespass if they entered your property without your consent. Further, pruning of the trees may be in violation of Council requirements.
You should contact the local council first.
This website has useful information: Find Legal Answers: Neighbours and the Law
Leanne Habib
Premium Strata
E: [email protected]
P: 02 9281 6440
This post appears in Strata News #236.
Question: One of our lot owners has experienced damage caused by tree roots from a neighbour. Who is responsible for the cost of the remedial works to the adjoining property, the strata neighbour or the strata body?
Our strata scheme in NSW self-manages our six properties. I am hoping that you can provide some advice on the following matter.
Each of the six properties has a back garden area within their lot boundary which is maintained and upgraded at the owners expense. One of the properties has a large tree within their lot boundary that was originally planted by the developer. The current owner purchased the property new when the tree was relatively small and over the last few years, the tree has become quite large (over 3 metres).
Recently one of the owners in an adjoining strata property encountered problems due to damage caused by tree roots from a neighbour. The tree roots encroach underground into the boundary of their lot, resulting in the need for remedial works be undertaken. The owner of the damaged property paid to put in a root barrier system and re-laid damaged pavers in their entertainment area within their lot. My questions are as follows:
- Does the strata body have any responsibility for the tree within the owner’s lot boundary?
- Who is responsible for the cost of the remedial works to the adjoining property, the strata neighbour or the strata body?
- Can either the strata body or the neighbour ask the lot owner to remove the tree at their own expense to ensure that other properties are not affected by damage caused by tree roots from a neighbour?
I thank you for your assistance in this matter.
Answer: What is within the lot owner’s boundary is the responsibility of that individual owner.
Does the strata body have any responsibility for the tree within the owner’s lot boundary?
What is within the lot owner’s boundary is the responsibility of that individual owner. However, it appears that the tree has encroached into common property and caused damage to a neighbour’s property.
Who is responsible for the cost of the remedial works to the adjoining property, the strata neighbour or the strata body?
Your strata plan will likely indicate what the stratum of the lot is and how far the tree roots have encroached. If you are certain that that lot owner’s roots have caused damage to the neighbour, then the root lot owner is responsible. In other words, the root lot owner should pay for the remedial works and all other damage caused by his tree.
Can either the strata body or the neighbour ask the lot owner to remove the tree at their own expense to ensure that other properties are not affected by damage caused by tree roots from a neighbour?
Council will have restrictions on the type of planting and whether trees can be removed, so ensure you consult Council first. Also, the development consent for the building may impose requirements for the planting of specific trees. Further, the tree may be subject to a tree preservation order. In any event, you may have rights to sever the roots at the boundary line but you would need both consents of the tree owner and approval of Council.
So, while you may certainly ask, it is unlikely the owner will want the expense and inconvenience of removing the tree and all the approvals must first be obtained.
Leanne Habib
Premium Strata
E: [email protected]
P: 02 9281 6440
This post appears in Strata News #204.
Question: A tree is on private property but passes into my airspace and into common property airspace. If it presents a potential threat to the common property roof because it leans over it, who is responsible for the removal of dangerous trees?
I live in an NSW over 55 complex comprised of 12 lots. There is a 20 metre high tree that was there when the development was approved and it grows in a private courtyard on ground level below my unit.
The tree extends beyond the courtyard owners airspace (4.5 metres above ground level as per the survey plan) past my airspace and above my unit over the common property roof. I can touch the branches from my balcony as the tree leans toward the building.
The tree leans over the common property roof and there is quite a large amount of overhang – as assessed by an arborist who said it needs a trim and the dead branches above need lopping. This will give it stability and strength.
Problem: the tree leans toward the building and directly over my living room. I am concerned it will fall in a storm and cause damage to my unit or injury to me or visitors if it falls.
Taking all of this into account, who is responsible for the removal of dangerous trees from common property?
The Strata Manager advised me it is between me and the owner below as he has seen many cases like this in the Land and Environment Court and they have held it depends on where the tree grows from and in this case it grows from a private property so I have to ask the owner to trim the tree. In other words, the removal of dangerous trees is not an Owners Corporation issue.
I think it is of concern to the owners as it may damage the roof and it deposits needles and twigs in the gutters. The owner keeps promising to have it trimmed but does nothing.
I have put two motions on EGM’s under sec 106 Duty of owners corporation to maintain and repair property but the motion was lost both times. Can you shed light on this somewhat complex issue of who is responsible for the removal of dangerous trees?
As the tree is on private property but passes into my airspace and into common property airspace if it presents a potential threat to the common property roof because it leans over it and it may end up in my living room why isn’t it an Owners Corporation issue under sec 106?
Also, I would like to query a further complication in relation to a Lot Owner’s responsibility when the tree was there when the building was approved as part of the DA application. In this case, the original owner passed away and the subsequent owner has rented the property. Does the responsibility for the maintenance of the tree lie in the hands of the Owners Corporation as the owner at the time was compelled to leave the tree in situ as part of the DA?
Answer: The owners corporation is responsible for such parts of the tree in the common property and the lot owner for those parts situated within their lot space.
We agree this a highly technical and complex question raising difficult legal issues and serious outcomes. However, we would argue that that part of the tree which protrudes beyond the stratum of the lot is in common property air-space and therefore the liability of not only the offending owner but also the Owners Corporation.
In any event, the Owners Corporation would have a duty of care to ensure that a liability which poses risk to the Owners Corporation (ie the building) is investigated. The critical issue is that the Owners Corporation’s insurer should be notified of this new risk and the Owners Corporation should seek confirmation that loss, damage, personal injury, death as a result of the tree (albeit emanating from private property but passing through Owners Corporation air-space) is currently insured by the current policy.
If there is a real risk, the Owners Corporation will be under a duty to mitigate damage. Further, depending on the lower boundary strata notation, some parts of the tree (eg roots) might be common property, the trunk to the height of the stratum lot property and the balance the risk of the Owners Corporation because it passes through the common property air-space.
There may be a breach of 151 Owners, occupiers and other persons not to interfere with support or shelter provided by lot or with services
An owner, mortgagee or covenant chargee in possession, tenant or occupier of a lot in a strata scheme must not do anything or permit anything to be done on or in relation to that lot so that:
- any support or shelter provided by that lot for another lot or common property is interfered with, or
- the passage or provision of water, sewage, drainage, gas, electricity, garbage, artificially heated or cooled air, heating oil and other services (including telephone, internet, radio and television services) through or by means of any pipes, wires, cables or ducts for the time being in the lot is interfered with.
There will almost certainly, based on your comments, be a breach of Section 153:
STRATA SCHEMES MANAGEMENT ACT 2015 – SECT 153
153 Owners, occupiers and other persons not to create nuisance
- An owner, mortgagee or covenant chargee in possession, tenant or occupier of a lot in a strata scheme must not:
- use or enjoy the lot, or permit the lot to be used or enjoyed, in a manner or for a purpose that causes a nuisance or hazard to the occupier of any other lot (whether that person is an owner or not), or
- use or enjoy the common property in a manner or for a purpose that interferes unreasonably with the use or enjoyment of the common property by the occupier of any other lot (whether that person is an owner or not) or by any other person entitled to the use and enjoyment of the common property, or
- use or enjoy the common property in a manner or for a purpose that interferes unreasonably with the use or enjoyment of any other lot by the occupier of the lot (whether that person is an owner or not) or by any other person entitled to the use and enjoyment of the lot.
The needles and pins may be construed as breach of by-law 16 (rubbish on the common property).
The owners corporation would not have been in existence at the time of the lodgement and approval of the original development application.
The owners corporation is responsible for such parts of the tree in the common property and the lot owner for those parts situated within their lot space. We reiterate our recommendation that the owners corporation take such steps as required to mitigate damage and resolve the dangerous tree issue.
Leanne Habib
Premium Strata
E: [email protected]
P: 02 9281 6440
This post appears in Strata News #118.
Have a question or something to add to the article? Leave a comment below.
Read next:
Are you interested in more information about strata title trees, common property or information particular to strata legislation in NSW? Visit Maintenance & Common Property OR Strata Legislation NSW pages.
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Are you not sure about some of the strata terms used in this article? Take a look at our NSW Strata Glossary to help with your understanding.
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stephen says
“In our view, as the tree is situated on the common property and it is technically in a state of “disrepair” ie dying, the Owners Corporation or its strata committee could resolve to have it removed or replaced without the requirement for a special resolution. This is because, as you correctly state, you are not “enhancing” the common property but merely repairing and maintaining it (depending of course on the cost involved if this exceeds any limit on the spending of the strata committee).”
I feel removal of a dead tree could qualify as improving. Surely the commons is improved by removing the risk exposure. Removing a tree is not repairing or maintaining under the meaning of those terms as espouse by the Court of Appeal.
It is a bit of a strange answer because the model being put forward is that if something is in a state of ‘disrepair’ then the OC can just remove it and we know that is not the case. Try doing that with the fabric of the building and see how you go.
This is what is horribly wrong with strata agents advice that sails very close to being legal advice. It creates greyness where there can be black and white.
The Act is not perfect and the Parliament an [removed by admin] it comes to pressing for a better model. As things stand you arguably should just pass the resolution and remove it.
In a SP with half the owners having email for notifications and with as half competent SC you can have a GM for less than $2 a head.
If you are in a position where the SP relies on the agent to have a GM then the SP has failed the Parliament because “The legislation has always envisaged that generally, strata schemes would be managed by ordinary lot owners for their own benefit.”
J Bordon: Nulama Village P/L v Owners Strata Plan 61788 (Strata & Community Schemes) [2006] NSWCTTT 550 (25 September 2006)
Best practice is to just have the meeting and pass the motion.
Nikki Jovicic says
Hi Stephen
We have received this response from Leanne Habib, Premium Strata:
We do not follow your reasoning that if you remove a “dead tree” or item in disrepair that its removal enhances the common property. If the Owners Corporation had properly exercised its repair and maintenance functions, the tree would not have died and posed any risk. In other words, the tree’s demise and consequent risk arose directly because of the Owners Corporation’s breach of its own repair & maintenance duties.
It does not appear to be the intention of the Act to require an Owners Corporation to be subjected to a higher threshold of approval (ie special resolution) for something arising from the exercise of its statutory function (eg ordinary resolution for repair & maintenance).
We disagree with your view that the “removal of the tree” would constitute an enhancement due to the elimination of the risk because had the Owners Corporation complied with its duties, the risk would not have been created in the first instance.
Further, we are merely interpreting words on their ordinary interpretation and on the basis of our experience and not as lawyers. This platform is not intended to be or to be relied upon as a substitute for legal advice.
Lastly, we query your statement that “It creates greyness where there can be black and white” – if the matter was “black and white” for you, why post the question at all?
Response from admin: We agree with the above statement from Leanne. Our free Q&A service provides guidance for readers with similar problems. Responders can only rely upon the information provided within the question. The content is not legal advice and should not be relied upon as a substitute for legal advice. Reader’s specific circumstances vary. The number of Q&As contained on the site and the number of queries we receive each week indicate that strata across Australia is very rarely black and white.
John says
Hello Nikki,
I have a situation when a hedge that provided a certain amount of privacy was cut to the base. It was not pruned but butchered.
I am so infuriated, and it may be a case of me asking that the hedges be maintained in the first instance, and requesting that dying plants be replanted as a matter of the OC exercising its obligation to preserve what is there or was there, that the secretary thought it funny to cut the hedge down to nothing.
What can I do in this instance? I don’t want this ridiculous behaviour to continue and hold the secretary accountable if they are breaching their responsibilities.
Thank you.
Nikki Jovicic says
Hi John
There seems to be more to the situation than simply trimming the hedge. Without trying to read too much onto the question, you may find these videos helpful:
Bullying in Strata: The signs, the facts and some solutions
Challenge Accepted: Challenging People In Strata – And How To Deal With Them
C says
Hi. We are renting a ground floor apartment with a private courtyard in Sydney. This week our strata chopped down a tree in our courtyard without prior notice or consent, under the guise of requiring access to remove a tree on adjacent common property. This has completely eliminated our privacy and our previous green sanctuary is now on public display, directly overlooked by another apartment building. This tree also provided valuable shade of the building in summer, keeping ours and the apartments above cool in summer. This sudden and nonconsensual destruction of our home has also been very distressing to me.
My question is – can they really do that and are we able to make strata replace the tree? If so, how? It feels criminal to me but I would like to know what rights I have, as a renting occupant.
The tree roots were causing a small amount of damage to the boundary fence and was approximately 3 storeys tall.
James Kozak says
I think Karina Heinz, in replying whether a strata corporation has to replace a tree they removed, is absolutely wrong in stating, they do not have to replace.
The legislation is clear, they are to renew, maintain, replace, not destroy and remove.
That otherwise is removing a valued common property amenity (the tree), appurtenant to Owners land titles.
Liza Admin says
Hi James
The following response has been provided by Karina Heinz, Progressive Strata:
For clarification, a tree would be like any piece of common property. Whilst not noted on a strata plan, it can still be considered common property to maintain or replace.
If the tree is older than the strata plan and therefore was present at the time of registration, then it may need repair/replacement like any common property. Or the scheme may have made a special resolution to plant the tree or not maintain it.
Accordingly, there are many factors that determine a scheme’s responsibility here. Another is local govt requirements which vary significantly from council to council, so it is a good idea to pay for legal advice to ensure what you do meets all the laws affecting your scheme. People are often passionate about trees, and so if litigated you want to ensure any resolutions were the right ones at the time authorising your decision.
Stephen says
Excellent comment and let us remember the key thing here is what do the words mean.
.
The legislation is clear, they are to renew, maintain, replace, not destroy and remove..
That means what the Court says it means not what you or i think it means. Thinking one knows what words means is a trap for novice players.
Always find meaning for terms in some Court ruling, and the higher the Court the better.
Here is an example of the type of legal jargon you are going to have to wade through.
“However, “maintain” is not so limited in its meaning. Keeping in good repair assumes the continued existence of the property in question; maintaining the property includes preserving it by not removing, replacing or destroying the property. So much is clear from the dictionary definition relied on by McColl JA in Ridis at [158]. ”
There are literally pages on what these terms mean.
Big problem is when it comes to living things with use by dates. They get to a point where they can’t be maintained or repaired.
Ginny Lowndes says
The strata committee has decided without consultation with the owners to remove all the eucalyptus trees on our common property. They do cause the odd plumbing problem but it is not excessive otherwise they give more than they take. This will leave the strata exposed to both the eastern and western sun and make the units unlivable..
E. Law says
My neighbor is planting vines and bushes in the garden bed in COMMON PROPERTY immediately next to my unit. We are worried about pests growing (we have seen some insects and lizards coming out of the vines). It is a townhouse complex in NSW.
What can we do to stop my neighbor from planting vines and bushes in the COMMON PROPERTY.
Liza Admin says
Hi E. Law
The following response has been provided by Allison Benson, Kerin Benson Lawyers:
Most schemes will have by-laws dealing with damage to the common property, specifically to common property lawns and plants that prohibits lot owners and occupants from:
(a) damaging any lawn, garden, tree, shrub, plant or flower being part of or situated on common property, or
(b) using for their own purposes as a garden any portion of the common property.
If this type of by-law applies it this means that your neighbour must not plant plants without authority from the owners corporation. I suggest that you have a look at your by-laws to see if you have a by-law along these lines and that either you, or you can ask you strata committee or strata manager to, draw your neighbour’s attention to the by-law and ask them to stop and to remove any plants.
Perhaps, as a compromise, they can be given permission to re-plant the plants elsewhere in the common property gardens.
Jennifer Foord says
Great, helpful article, thank you.
I’m looking at purchasing a very old (80 year) ground floor apartment. Two, very large trees are in the courtyard which is on title and tower above the roof of the two storey block. My concern is damage to pipes and/or the building from the roots as one tree is virtually on top of the water pipes to the block and only feet away from the building. Does OC cover repairs or can I take our separate insurance?
Concerned it may cost me many thousands in repairs to mine and other lot owners.
Patricia Wicks says
Hi. I have 8 ground units next to my property. There is a huge tree next door and leaves are falling into our yard. We have just paid $35,000 to have the pipe reclined and now it is filling up with leaves. Shade is a big problem. The body corporate have told me the people who own the unit are responsible for that piece of land. Are they obligated to tell me who owns it. It is being rented. Please help
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