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Strata News & Information

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In this edition of Strata News, we continue to WELCOME and also thank Whitbread Insurance Brokers for their continuing sponsorship of our fortnightly newsletter!

Editors picks not be missed this week:

Exclusively Strata article - Should the Owners’ Corporation develop X-ray eyes? This article appears in our published blog posts this week. During the article, Michele Hemmings posed three questions about access and responsibility of the Owners Corporation to repair common property. Allison Benson, Kerin Benson Lawyers, was very helpful in providing detailed responses to all three questions.

Kerin Benson Article - Energy efficiency and strata: The hidden costs of ‘upgrading’ lighting systems. Christopher Kerin's sustainability article from last week's edition of the newsletter has received some comprehensive comments from the team at Enlighten Australia. Don't miss this!

Young Strata Network Launch Event - Happening in Melbourne on the 26th Nov including Keynote Speaker – Darren Vincent – Local Operations, Airbnb. See our Events section below for more details.

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Take advantage of our growing traffic stats & talk with me about becoming a site sponsor or listing a Strata Job.

We are keen to talk with people who are interested in contributing quality strata articles to our blog.
Present your strata knowledge to the Strata Community.
Contact me for more information - nikkij@lookupstrata.com.au

NSW Strata: My Strata Manager won’t help … want can I do?

Paula Byrne, Metropolitan Strata Reports
The Executive Committee’s role is to make decisions on behalf of the Owners Corporation … so what can be done about Executive Committees who act in the best interest of themselves, thereby disenfranchising the other owners?

Common area lighting – Repair, Replace or Upgrade?

Sonya Williams, enLighten Australia
An analysis of the pros & cons of common area lighting for Strata Managers, Building Managers & Executive Committees of strata title and community schemes.

NSW: Dividing Fences and Trees - Part 2: Trees - The Who, What and When

Allison Benson, Kerin Benson Lawyers
Trees in strata and community schemes can be a huge issue. Although we need them trees can cause neighbourhood disputes when they overhang or they interfere with your neighbours plumbing system, fence, retaining wall or even building foundations.

A Dash of Tonic for the Unit Owners Association of Queensland…But With a Twist

Wayne Stevens, Unit Owners Association of Queensland (UOAQ)
A large inner-city complex in Brisbane resolved to take out building membership with the UOAQ. Is this a reasonable body corporate committee decision?

Urgent Warning for Strata Owners to Prepare for Bushfire Season

Stephen Raff, Ace Body Corporate Management
Strata communities are being urged to prepare for what could be the worst bushfire conditions in two decades and there is concern that too many residential buildings don’t have a bushfire plan in place.

Competition Funniest Entries: The Sticky Strata Saga Up North

LookUpStrata
How do you clean up a load of bitumen accidentally dumped down the common property driveway? Especially when volatile owners and personal conflict get in the way!

ISO 9001:2015 - History and Changes to the Standard

Peter Greenham, Independent Inspections
What are the practical implications of the ISO 9001 quality management system in today's strata management / body corporate administration company? You may just be surprised!

NSW: Q&A Disabled Access - Can I install a stair lift on common property?

LookUpStrata & Leanne Habib, Premium Strata
Question: I need to installation a stair lift on common property. If the proposal is not well received by the Owners Corporation, can I go ahead at my expense?

Should the Owners' Corporation develop X-ray eyes?

Michele Hemmings, Exclusively Strata
Strata building inspection report: Recently a strata group had to spend ~$9000 to rectify damaged common property because a long term tenant was happy to live with disrepair.

How Airbnb is leaving property owners exposed

Jennifer Duke, Domain

Significant financial risks for AirBNB hosts were made apparent this week with news of a father’s death in an Airbnb rental home in Texas, revealing that in unregulated homes, safety isn’t always guaranteed.

NSW: Ten doggone reasons for stopping pets in apartments

Jimmy Thomson, Domain
When the strata reforms come into force next year, instead of the rule that says you can’t have a pet without permission, it will say you can have a pet unless permission is specifically refused. Then, as now, permission must not be unreasonably withheld.

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The most read article from our last newsletter?

QLD: What does ‘acting reasonably’ mean?

Hynes Legal
If you only read one article from us this year, make it this one on acting reasonably – because it is the most significant strata case in Queensland since the High Court’s decision on building defects.

NOV 18:
OCN (NSW): Protecting your Investment and Adding Value to your Community

NOV 20:
SCA (VIC): Strata Insurance Claim Trends Update

NOV 21:
Downsize With Style (NSW): Start Decorating

NSW: Owners Corporation Network General Meeting

NOV 24:
OCN: Experts answer your property questions (Members Only)

NOV 26:
Young Strata Network Launch Event (VIC)

Visit our Strata Events Page

Have Your Say

Victoria:
Plan Melbourne refresh discussion paper

The Victorian Government is undertaking a refresh of Plan Melbourne, and is seeking your input. Click through to read the discussion paper, and share your ideas for the future of Melbourne.

Submission will be accepted until 5.00pm AEST 18 December 2015.

Breaking News

For the most comprehensive stream of strata news in Australia - follow us on Twitter.

We need to build family-friendly apartments: please tell the state government SMH

What are going to be the property ‘hotspots’ in 2016? Smart Company

NSW: How to detect a dodgy developer Domain

Sydney Apartment Supply May Reach 61,000 By 2017 The Urban Developer

NSW Strata Legislation Passes Parliament Your Investment Property

QLD: Wave Of New Apartments Predicted For Brisbane Through 2016-2018 Your Investment Property

VIC: Evacuation threat for Harvest Apartment owners after flammable cladding found The Age

Melbourne’s supersizing downsizers reinvent apartments Domain

WA: Waterbank takes city to the river The West Australian

Perth rental vacancies rise 64 per cent over one year Perth Now

Queensland Waters Down ‘Off the Plan’ Protection Laws - See more at: http://sourceable.net/queensland-waters-down-off-the-plan-protection-laws/#sthash.Y9OIcQxd.dpufVIC: