Strata & Community Living Autumn 2024

2024 Autumn Edition

Cleaning, cleaning and more cleaning
Making multi-site energy agreements easier
The Importance of a painting maintenance schedule
Quality of site management influences strata repairs
Easy window maintenance tips from the experts
Fire risks of having lithium-ion battery operated devices
NSW Court of Appeal : no finger pointing allowed
Security access control systems and fobs: what to look out for
NCAT enforces by-law for renovation works despite owner’s refusal

 

Cleaning, cleaning and more cleaning

There’s no way around it, as the trees start to lose their leaves in the autumn months, it’s important to keep an eye on your roof and gutters and remove the excess. The falling leaves will clog your gutters and downpipes, leading to water damage to your roof and building, as well as damage to your gutters and downpipes. To prevent these problems, you need a routine gutter clean schedule.

Making multi-site energy agreements easier

There are now more than 2.5 million Australian’s choosing apartment living, making strata communities a fast-growing part of the property industry. It’s important then, that strata managers get the support they need to manage their portfolio’s energy needs so they can pass benefits on to their strata communities.

For strata managers, multi-site energy agreements make it easier to roll their portfolio of sites together and allow them to get great rates for these community’s common area energy. This support includes accessing more competitive energy rates for multiple communities’ common areas, energy savings tips, usage insights and data reports, and solutions to ensure they are on the right energy plan for them.

The Importance of a painting maintenance schedule

Maintaining a strata building requires attention to detail combined with a comprehensive painting maintenance schedule. Why? Regular painting maintenance not only preserves the aesthetic appeal of a building but also ensures its longevity and protects it from deterioration.

By regularly cleaning and touching up your surface coatings, you can extend their life expectancy by more than 50% – saving your tenants money and the overall disruption of re-painting the building.

Quality of site management influences strata repairs

Owners corporations are tasked with appointing remedial builders for repairs to common property. The stakes are high in ensuring that all stakeholders – starting with lot owners – are satisfied during site work and on completion.

What are the qualities and benefits of a good Site Manager?

• Aiming Straight
• Solving problems
• Eying the details
• Adapting to changing situations

Easy window maintenance tips from the experts

1. Why do windows need maintenance?

2. What happens when there’s no maintenance?

3. How do I arrange window maintenance?

4. What can I do in the meantime?

Fire risks of having lithium-ion battery operated devices

Lithium-ion batteries have seamlessly integrated into our daily lives, powering a many everyday items such as smartphones to electric vehicles. Despite their convenience, it’s crucial to recognise the potential risks they pose if not handled properly, especially within strata properties where fire can spread rapidly throughout a building.

To minimise fire risks in strata properties, regular fire safety checks should be prioritised by the strata committee. It’s essential to be aware of the mandatory fire safety requirements specific to NSW, ensuring your building complies. Fire safety equipment such as extinguishers, sprinklers, and smoke alarms should undergo regular servicing and maintenance to guarantee their functionality, and fire doors must be kept clear of obstructions.

NSW Court of Appeal : no finger pointing allowed

NSW Court of Appeal finds that proportionate liability DOES NOT apply to claims under the Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020.

In a massive win for consumer rights in NSW, the Court of Appeal on Wednesday handed down its decision in The Owners – Strata Plan No 84674 v Pafburn Pty Ltd [2023] NSWCA 301, finding that defendants claims for breach of the statutory duty under section 37 of the Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020 cannot reduce their liability to a plaintiff by deflecting blame to other parties.

Security access control systems and fobs: what to look out for

The use of security fobs and cards to access strata buildings has significantly increased over the last 10 years. Residents of modern apartment buildings expect to live in a secure environment with keyless access and will often pay premium rates to live in this type of building.

Whilst the technology is available to provide secure and protected buildings, it’s really important that these electronic systems are installed correctly and well managed by the Security Company, Owners Corporation and Strata Manager.

NCAT enforces by-law for renovation works despite owner’s refusal

Recently the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (the “Tribunal”) held that a lot owner must consent to the terms of a by-law relating to unauthorised works that he had carried out on the common property of a strata scheme. Pursuant to section 149 of the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 (NSW) (“SSMA”), the Tribunal held that even though he had rejected the by-law, he was required to abide by its terms and replace the works.

 

 

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