Determining the level of detail to include in a renovations by-law can be a daunting experience. To ensure that relevant obligations are met please ensure to engage suitably experienced service providers.

Have your say in our survey about barriers to installing sustainability infrastructure for apartments, townhouses and villas in NSW.

Question: Can you please clarify the anniversary of the annual general meeting held after the original owner control period ends?

Question: Are we required to have an audit of our body corporate accounts carried out? If so, how often and who should conduct the audit?

Does the owners corporation have the right to repeal a common property rights by-law granting exclusive use or special privileges over common property to a lot owner without obtaining the written consent of that owner?

Question: We need extensive repairs to the car park. As we all own equal shares of this area ie one car space plus common property, why should we pay based on lot entitlement rules?

The fear stems from strata communities having to struggle with social distancing rules, due to the proximity and density in which they reside, and common facilities they’re required to share, increasing the risk of transmission.

On 8 July 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services released a document entitled Restricted Activity Directions. So, what should your owners corporations’ do if short term letting operations are still happening in your building?

What is required to amend the caretaking agreement to address issues with the caretaker’s duties or remuneration – with a specific focus on the lesser known, and often overlooked, statutory review process.

Question: What legal capacity is there for a common property asset (a tennis court) to be re-purposed by a limited number of unit owners?

When we speak to Strata Managers or Council of Owners the general feeling is that there is uncertainty as to what can be done to reduce or safeguard future energy costs.

Question: A lot owner has requested to install CCTV cameras. I’m the only owner to object because it affects my privacy the most. Can I do anything to stop this from going ahead?

Committees have a statutory obligation to enforce the body corporate’s by-laws. However, by-laws are often forgotten about until they are actually needed to be enforced.

Want to do work or have already done work to your lot and need a by-law? We recommend ensuring your by-law contains sufficient information for the Owners Corporation to be fully informed about your works and also include clauses that sufficiently protect the interests of the Owners Corporation.

Question: If a person living on their own in strata needs an ambulance and calls 000, how do the paramedics gain entry into the apartment complex if the person is immobile?

A new addition to the Act now permits a strata scheme in WA to “refurbish, renew or upgrade” its facilities allowing for modern upgrades to older buildings including cost saving improvements such as solar panels.

Question: At our next EGM we will be voting on whether to take out a Strata Loan to cover remedial works. What procedure is required for acceptance of this Motion?

A recently incident involving an exploding gas cylinder in a strata building in Adelaide resulted in property damage and loss of life. We show you 3 things every person should do to ensure an incident like this does not occur in their unit.

Question: Our building needs major rectification work costing $2,000,000 due to 20 years of defects which have never been addressed. Can we sue the strata manager of 20 years tenure for failing to not insist the strata committee address the maintenance of the building?

It can be difficult to identify directions that specifically apply to bodies corporate. Here we summarise some of the more relevant directions that committees should be aware of, and apply, even as restrictions are relaxed.