 Strata News & Information
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Hello <<First Name>>
Welcome to this edition of Your Strata News.
 While traveling up and down the East Coast last week, I attended the very first meeting of the Strata Bureau of Leading Specialists and Professionals in Sydney, hosted by Mr Dieb P. Khoury of Benjamin & Khoury Solicitors. Attendees in the attached photo include (from left to right) Charles Boustani - Building /Property Manager, Luke Bowen - Sky Living Strata, Erin Perry and Beth Pope from O'Brien Glass, Ruth Smyth - Rockend and Dieb Khoury, Jean-Paul Khoury and Clare Dominello from Benjamin & Khoury. I can be seen in the back RHS corner.
Thank you for an excellent first event, with plenty of networking, support and discussion about strata - both in relation to NSW and around Australia. For information concerning the group or details about future meetings, please contact Clare Dominello, Benjamin & Khoury on Email or P: 0450 003 334.
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THE Strata Directory provides a dedicated database of businesses and services for strata managers and 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.
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VIC: How 'Substantial' is the proposed Owners Corporations Amendment (Short stay Accommodation) Bill 2016?
Nicole Wilde, Tisher Liner FC Law
If passed, the Owners Corporations Amendment (Short-stay Accommodation) Bill 2016 ('the Bill') will nearly triple the number of times the word 'substantial' or 'substantially' appears in the Owners Corporations Act 2006. Under the current legislation, the word 'substantial' is generally referred to in the context of the benefit principle of raising funds for repairs, maintenance or other works.
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NSW: What is Strata Reporting? (post the 2016 Reform Position Paper – Part 2)
Paula Byrnes, Metropolitan Strata Reports
Streamlining the information required to be kept by the owners corporation will do little to improve access to this information. Making owners corporations accountable by the way they make decisions will GREATLY improve consumer protection.
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NSW: How Legislative Changes Around Urban Renewal Affect You As A Strata Owner - PODCAST
Amanda Farmer, Your Strata Property
How recent legislative changes around urban renewal and strata termination in New South Wales affect the people living in Strata.
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Strata Insurance: Testing the Broader Market
Wayne Stevens, Unit Owners Association of Queensland (UOAQ)
What is the advantage of getting a few strata insurance quotes next time your strata insurance is due for renewal? You may be surprised by what you find.
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NSW: Q&A Strata Levy Contributions - How are My Levies Calculated?
Leanne Habib, Premium Strata
The levy income collected by the Owners Corporation is used to cover the cost to repair and maintain the common property as required by an owners corporation under Section 62 of the Strata Schemes Management Act 1996.
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Wild Weather - Emergency ‘Sinking Funds’ a Must Have for all Waterfront Apartments and Unit Buildings
Stephen Raff, Ace Body Corporate Management
Damage Made Worse for Apartment and Unit Owners by “Uncertainty” Around Insurance.
Apartment and unit owners reeling from the recent spate of wild weather are being urged to review if their property has sufficient funds available to respond to emergencies as concern grows over insurance cover.
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Affordability of the Australian Dream
Mr Dieb P. Khoury and Clare Dominello, Benjamin & Khoury Solicitors
No longer is Strata regarded as just an investment to top up ones superannuation or provide an inheritance for the children. Strata Living is now the logical alternative to traditional living.
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Carpark Ventilation - and how to potentially save on costs
Christine Byrne, Green Strata
Carparks that are not adequately naturally ventilated must be mechanically ventilated. Ventilation systems usually consist of exhaust and supply fans with large power ratings.
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NSW: Q&A Strata Unit Entitlements Affecting Maintenance
Leanne Habib, Premium Strata
Question: What are the rules of strata voting at the AGM concerning strata unit entitlements when garages attract voting rights?
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QLD: Department of JAG - BCCM Practice Directions
Chris Irons,
Commissioner for Body Corporate and Community Management
To assist parties who have either lodged dispute resolution applications or who may be considering doing so, the BCCM publishes a number of Practice Directions. The Practice Directions aim to cover most, if not all, of the most common queries about the dispute resolution processes.
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NSW: Submissions on the Strata Schemes Management Regulation 2016 & Strata Schemes Development Regulation 2016
David Bannerman, Bannermans Lawyers
This is a submission from Bannermans Lawyers addressing a number of issues with the draft Strata Schemes Management Regulation 2016 and Strata Schemes Development Regulation 2016.
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NSW Developers to Pay a Bond for Defects in New Residential Apartments
Pierrette Khoury, Turnbull Bowles Lawyers
The amendments in the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 are proposed to take effect from 1 July 2016. Accordingly, Developers who commence construction after 1 July 2016 are likely to be impacted by these changes.
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SA: Q&A Who is Responsible for Repair and Maintenance of Windows
Tyson D'Sylva, Ace Body Corporate Management
Question: Is it an owner or the body corporate responsibility for the repair and maintenance of windows on a strata building?
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NSW New Strata Laws: Procedure for Removing a Motor Vehicle Parked on Common Property Explained
Michael Pobi, Pobi Lwayers
As part of the NSW Strata Refoms, a new regulation 34 made under section 125 of the Act sets out the procedure an Owners Corporation can take to have a motor vehicle left on common property, which blocks an exit or entrance or otherwise obstructs the use of common property, moved.
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The Urban Developer
A Dee Why seller had access to the money from the sale of her property in 10 minutes. She was able to fast track the money into her account by skipping through weeks of visits to lawyers and banks and manual exchanges of documentation.
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Tom Furley, RadioNZ
Residents of an Auckland apartment complex seeking the largest leaky-homes claim ever filed in New Zealand have spoken of the anger and despair that has driven them to court.
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Sydney Water
Over 70% of people flushing wet wipes think they’re biodegradable. However they don't break down in the wastewater system like toilet paper and can lead to blockages in your pipes and the sewer.
Thank you Anthony Montibeler, Norwest Strata for pointing this resource out to me during the week. We have also mentioned this issues previously in an article by Stephen Raff, Ace Body Corporate Management - Time is Now to Review Waste Policy in Strata Buildings.
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Most Read Article From Last Week's Newsletter
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NSW: The New Strata ‘Top Ten’ that will make a Difference!
Adrian Mueller, J. S. Mueller & Co Lawyers
Over 90 new strata laws will come into play later this year and of the 90 these are some changes that will most likely make a difference to your everyday.
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Paula Byrnes, Metropolitan Strata Reports
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