Whitbread Insurance Brokers
Hi *|FNAME|*

Our posts this week:

Don't miss our comprehensive .... and growing .... list of Upcoming Strata Events + Latest News + Have Your Say - found at the very bottom of the newsletter. 

Did someone forward you this newsletter? Lucky you! Make sure we arrive in your inbox next edition by subscribing here.
 
Our community grows from word of mouth. If you enjoy our newsletters, please forward this email to others who may be interested, or simply tell them about LookUpStrata


Visit the Promote Your Business page

Join our growing list of Sponsors. Take advantage of our increasing traffic stats. Advertising spots are becoming limited. Lock down your spot ready for a great second half of 2018! Offering you the best way to reach YOUR target audience.

 

Create Your Own Premium Listing

Whether you are a Strata Management Company or servicing the strata industry, create your own Premium Listing in just a few minutes! Be part of the Strata Marketplace. Your listing is extremely quick and easy to set up. Grab your complimentary Premium Listing Promotional Package and increase your strata business exposure today.
directory banner
Our Strata Services Marketplace provides a dedicated database of businesses and services for strata managers and lot owners.

Looking for a strata lawyer, financial advisor, plumber, and electrician or maybe maintenance work is required?

Australia wide - you'll find what you're looking for here.

 
Start Searching

Latest Articles

NSW: Q&A Damage caused by tree roots from a neighbour


Leanne Habib, Premium Strata
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?
 
Read More
Property Audit & Assurance
QLD Strata Contract

QLD: Q&A Can we appoint a replacement for a current strata contract?

 
Frank Higginson, Hynes Legal
Question: Can the Body Corporate appoint someone to fulfil a current strata contract when the current gardener is leaving due to ill health?

 
Read More
SA Repairing the roof

SA: Q&A Strata Maintenance Adelaide. How to repair the roof

 
Tony Johnson, Horner Management
Question: Our roof is in need of replacement. I’ve been talking to other owners, gathering quotes and looking at our sinking fund contributions. Do I have to wait until the next AGM to raise this?
Read More
PICA Airbnb Guide
NSW Windows

NSW: Q&A Are windows strata responsibility – cleaning and repairs


Andrew Terrell, Bright & Duggan
Question: One of the lot owners of our apartment complex raised the question of who should pay for the cleaning of the exterior glass panel windows?

 
Read More
WA Emptying Bins

WA: Contract with the Local Council to empty bins on common property

 
Leonie Milonas, PSC Property Lync Insurance Brokers
If a Strata Company enters into an agreement with the local City Council to come onto common property for the purpose of emptying the bins, does their insurance cover this?
 
Read More
PSC Property Lync Insurance Brokers
NSW Electric vehicle charging

NSW: Electric Vehicle Charging in Strata Report


Ross McIntyre, Wattblock
Under the Sustainable Sydney 2030 strategic plan, the City of Sydney provided innovation grant funding to study Electric Vehicle (EV) charging in residential apartment buildings.
Read More
QLD Cladding Laws

Combustible cladding laws in Queensland announced


Frank Higginson, Hynes Legal
If you don’t know whether the cladding on your building is combustible (or to use the less scary word – non-conforming), you are soon going to be forced to find out.

Read More
NSW Levies in Arrears

NSW: Levy Recovery and Payment Plans for Levies in Arrears


Adrian Mueller, JS Mueller & Co
You may recall late 2016 the new laws came into play giving lot owners the specific right to request an owners corporation to agree to a payment plan for any levies in arrears. However, before a levy recovery payment plan can be put into place, the owners corporation must accept the payment plan at a general meeting.

Read More

Last Edition's Star Article

NSZW Companion animal

NSW: Q&A ‘No Animals Allowed’ – not even a companion animal

 
Leanne Habib, Premium Strata
Question: There are a number of very vocal apartment owners in my building who are against animals of any type, including a companion animal.

 
Read More

Our Sponsors

Premium Strata

Premium Strata

ASQB Window Safety

ASQB Window Safety

Recent Comments

AGM or Wine?

QLD: AGM or Wine? Why You Should Participate in Your AGM


Response provided by Frank Higginson, Hynes Legal
Question: We came from overseas in April of 2018 and purchased a unit in North Queensland. I was elected to our Body Corporate at the end of April. I wanted to protect our interest in the unit that we purchased. However, I feel that I am being kept out of the loop as I do not receive any information from the Chairperson as what is happening with the Body Corporate. Our last levies were due on June 1 but I have never been advised if all owners have paid. No BC meetings have been held........
Read More

NSW: Q&A Exclusive use of common property. No access! Really.....?

 
Leanne Habib, Premium Strata
Question: I have lived in my strata unit for 16 years. Consecutive managers have neglected the garden area- which is common property so I have added my own mulch 10 years ago and put down fake grass over muddy areas to make them useable, plus trimmed plants.

The body corporate executive recently installed a very ugly and unwanted clothesline despite my objections. I’m now being accused of using the area as my own and the new executive, of new owners, is ‘considering’ issuing a breach notice which means they want me to turn it back into the muddy useless mess it was initially.

 
Read More
ASSD
Your Strata Property

Your Strata Property

Experienced strata lawyer, Amanda Farmer, has built an online community where strata owners and managers can easily access the information and resources they need to live peacefully and stress free in their own homes, increase the value of their investment and, in the case of managers, stand out from the competition.
easyTrades QLD

EasyTrades Painting & Remedial QLD

QLD: Commercial | Strata | Painting | Remedial Repairs
An Award-winning company specialising in strata painting, waterproofing, tiling and remedial works. We comply with all safety standards, our quoting is transparent and we hold all relevant insurances.

News of the Week

NABERS CoS

NSW: Sydney calls for high-rise apartments to get green


The Fifth Estate
The City of Sydney is looking for 20 high-rise apartments to join its free 2018-19 Smart Green Apartments program, which collectively saved last year’s cohort $1 million in energy and water bill savings.
Mental Health

Can the design of an apartment affect your mental health?


Melissa Heagney, Domain
Researchers from Melbourne and Western Australia have launched a study looking at whether state government design policies for apartments help to improve people’s mental health and wellbeing.

NSW: Have Your Say on Short Term Letting

A message from Karen Stiles, OCN:

State Member for Sydney, Alex Greenwich, has launched a petition to have short term letting debated in NSW parliament.  He needs 10,000 signatures.  They must be original signatures so people need to print, sign, and mail/drop off to his office. 
 
We urge NSW LookUpStrata readers to sign, put up in their lobbies, and share with their committees and other lot owners.

Independent MP Alex GreenwichThere has been a strong supportive response to my petition calling for owners corporations the authority to control short term letting in their building, including to place limits beyond state controls or to ban the practice outright. If you support this approach, please sign and collect signatures. Print petition HERE.

QLD: Have Your Say on BUGTA

A message from Department of Justice and Attorney-General:
 

Before making any decisions about possible changes to the BUGT Act, the Queensland Government would like to hear your views about QUT’s recommendations.

You are invited to provide feedback on QUT’s recommendations to harmonise some provisions of the BUGT Act and the BCCM Act to provide bodies corporate operating under the BUGT Act with a more contemporary body corporate legislative framework.

Consultation closes on 24 August 2018.

Find out more HERE.

WA: Have Your Say on Short Term Accommodation in Strata

Have you experienced short term accommodation in strata?
SCA (WA) wants to hear from you!


SCA (WA) is currently seeking feedback from strata managers and SCA owner members on on their experience with short stay accommodation in strata schemes. To complete the survey, please click on the appropriate box.
 

NSW: Apply for the Smart Green Apartments Program

A message from City of Sydney:

Smart Green Apartments is an award-winning free program provided by the City of Sydney to help make buildings more energy and water efficient. To date we've helped more than 50 buildings in the local area save thousands of dollars each year on running and maintenance costs.

Applications close on 14 September 2018.

Find out more HERE.

Upcoming Events

New South Wales

Queensland

Western Australia

Breaking News

Follow us for your most up-to-date and comprehensive stream of strata news.

Facebook
Facebook
Twitter
Twitter
LinkedIn
LinkedIn

The residents busting the myth that apartments lack a sense of community

NSW: Investors Hope To Sell Industrial ‘Super Lot’ In Alexandria For More Than $25M

QLD: Why are luxury apartments booming in Brisbane?

VIC: ‘It is unfair’ – Experts weigh in on Victoria’s Airbnb legislation

 

Urban Forest Fund helps turn concrete common areas into apartment block oases


ACT: Canberra's apartment boom biggest since records began

WA: Major Industry Bodies Urge Opposition To Support Strata Reforms


Strata legislation changes to keep up with innovation

Have you subscribed to this newsletter? Sign up now!