Strata News & Information

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I am filled with gratitude while sending this last newsletter out for the year 2016. We have seen such huge growth over the last 12 months! Watch out for our first newsletter next year for some interesting 2016 stats. Thank you all for your support, emails and feedback. I have a huge amount of gratitude for all of our readers, contributors, specialists who supply responses to queries and sponsors.

Wishing you all a safe, loving and happy holiday season and I look forward to seeing you again in the New Year!

Please note: Our office will be closed from COB 22nd Dec thru to the 13th Jan. Our first newsletter of 2017 will be out on the 18th Jan.

I will be checking emails during the break, but may not respond quickly. Our wonderful strata specialists across Australia who help with our Q&As are taking a break over the holiday season, so it may take a little longer to get back to you with responses to any strata queries.

Catch up on the latest Q&As, with these articles:

Position yourself for an extraordinary 2017. Reply to this email to discuss our supplied newsletters or great sponsorship deals. Put a campaign in place now and set up your 2017 for success. "Being different may get you noticed, but being amazingly relevant to specific people with specific problems will get you business" - Arlene Taveroff.

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Latest Articles

QLD: Q&A Number of Visitors - What Are The Rules For Common Property?

Frank Higginson, Hynes Legal
Heading up the Christmas period, holiday season and long school holidays, are there rules for common property areas about how many visitors are allowed in, say, the pool, BBQ area etc in Queensland strata?

NSW: Q&A Confirmation of the Previous Minutes from the AGM

Leanne Habib, Premium Strata
Question: I was always of the opinion that discussion and confirmation of the previous minutes was just a procedural thing and did not require a motion to be put.

NSW: What are the New Works By-laws?

James Moir, J. S. Mueller & Co Lawyers
The new reforms provide clearer, common sense approvals for owner renovations. The new laws recognise three kinds of renovations: cosmetic, minor or major. Read more about the categories, and what needs to be done for each. Access a PDF of the comprehensive table to refer to later.

VIC: Light, Space And Storage For All New Apartments

Victorian Minister for Planning, Richard Wynne
The Better Apartments Design Standards, in place from March 2017, mean the growing number of people living in apartments will have access to natural light, airflow and storage.

QLD: Audits, Auditors & Planning For the Unexpected | EXCLUSIVE

Wayne Stevens, Unit Owners Association of Queensland (UOAQ)
Many owners would be familiar with the confusion, and difficulty, in ensuring their body corporate financial statements are audited. The first step on the strata audit trail is always the hardest.

Noise, Nuisance, Neighbours, the Silly Season and Strata

Allison Benson, Kerin Benson Lawyers
Common complaints around this time of year are increased noise, smoke drifting into lots (from BBQ’s or the dreaded cigarette), guests or other owners or occupiers parking in visitors parking or on the common property and guests or other owners and occupiers creating a mess in the common areas.

Whitbread’s helpful hints for a drama free holiday!

Lidia Siljanoski, Whitbread Insurance Brokers
The holiday season is here! To help keep your home safe and secure while sunning yourself on holiday, careful preparation is key. We’ve prepared some useful tips so you can enjoy a drama free break!

Better Apartments for Victorians

Victorian Government
The Better Apartments Design Standards will greatly improve the amenity and liveability of new apartments, for the future wellbeing of Victorian communities.

Apartment owners in Sydney’s most exclusive residences prepare to battle Airbnb

Heather McNab, The Daily Telegraph
A SUPERGROUP of apartment owners in some of Sydney’s most exclusive towers have declared war on Airbnb.

Testimonial

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Have Your Say

Property Law Review – Have Your Say On Body Corporate Issues

Last Chance Queensland

A review of Queensland’s property laws is being conducted by the Commercial and Property Law Research Centre of QUT for the Queensland Government.

QUT has recommended that a new system for dividing costs in community titles schemes be adopted.

The Government would like to hear from the community and industry about whether they consider QUT’s recommendations to be a fair and practical.

Submissions Due: COB 23 Dec 2016

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Fire Safety Reforms

The NSW Government is seeking to improve fire safety in new and existing buildings and is asking for your feedback on changes to relevant legislation and certification.

To view the draft Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Fire Safety and Building Certification) Regulation 2017 and to have your say on the proposed changes, please visit the Department of Planning and Environment's consultation page.

Submissions can be made until 31 January 2017.

Find Out More