Recently, a lot of publicity has surrounded luxury items, for instance, the potential for constrained sales of strata units by a high percentage of proprietors, the 2% defects bond, and the modification to pet bylaws.
While these are important, what happens to the other changes that may affect you? Find out below:
- Due Care
Strata committee members must work with due care and diligence for the owners corp profits.
Committees are considered the nightmares of strata living; they don’t accomplish as much as necessary and do their best to avoid spending sinking funds or to putting money in them. They also often disregard bylaw breaches, such as neighbour’s conflicts.
- Parking
Owners corps will be entitled to comply with the local council to permit parking officers into their facilities to apply fines to crook parkers.
Within strata, parking is one of the most conflicted aspects. One of the reasons this is the case is that it is almost impossible to keep an eye on negligent drivers. From now own, to control their car parks, owners corporations can make settlements with council parking officers who guard their car parks.
This will also mean that those residents who park in the visitors area, even for a short time, or those surpassing the limits of their parking spot could be fined.
- Fewer residents per unit
Owners corps can limit the amount of inhabitants allowed in each apartment, with the maximum limit not less than two adults per bedroom.
The limit is used to avoid crowding and multi-occupancy. A first offence can cost up to $ 11,000; subsequent ones go up to $22,000.
- Committee members must be owners
Strata managers, real estate agents, and building administrations can only be on the strata committee if they are also an owner for the strata schemes for which they are on the committee for.
- Representative farmer restrictions
Representatives’ votes will be restricted to 5% per holder. Secretaries and committee members can easily access owners and handle information, granted they get the votes that keep them in power.
- Smoking
The statute law has labeled the smoke derived from smoking as a “nuisance.”
Smoking at the entrance of a housing block is forbidden in order to prevent it from affecting others, but smoking on the balcony is allowed. This definition now brings smoking under the same legislation that prevents residents from creating a nuisance to their neighbour/neighbours.
7. Strata managers contracts
Strata administrators are hired for one year during the initial building’s existence and afterward they get three-year contracts.
Usually, a developer recommends a manager who collaborated with them while setting up the scheme, which means homeowners, who pay the manager’s fees, don’t know how the strata manager will work. During the first year, a manager can show its suitability to the committee, and after the first year, if the owners corp doesn’t find the service suitable, they can replace the manager.
8. Low payback charges
If a particular developer granted excessively low levies when closing the sale, owners corps will be entitled to receive a recompense.
Fraudulent developers may promise fabulous facilities at risible costs. When paying time comes, developers are gone and owners find the real numbers. Owners corps can initiate actions through the tribunal.
9. Changing the looks
Appearance changes are permitted and minor modifications require committee permission. A rigid interpretation of the strata laws could consider you breached for having hammered a tiny nail or having replaced wiring installation! Nevertheless, under other laws, owners can be charged for damaging common property as a consequence of their actions.
10. Voting options
Different voting means, such as electronic or postage, is now permitted if agreed to by the committee. Previously, voting must have taken place in person or by representation.
11. Strata Committee
The strata committee is the new name for the executive committee.
Terms such as “executive” could confuse some individuals and make them believe they had a hierarchy or power they didn’t. The new name strata committee is now more in line with the duties and powers.
If you have questions about building a new home or real estate, contact us to speak to a qualified real estate agent. We’d be happy to offer advice.
You can also check out our blog for more helpful tips and information.