Your Strata Property With Amanda Farmer

This week, Associate Professor Hazel Easthope is on the show, sharing insights from her new book The Politics and Practices of Apartment Living. Hazel shares why she thinks the Aussie system of strata regulation is pretty good, though we fall down when it comes to compliance and enforcement. We also discuss how purchasers can make better buying... The post 183. The micro-politics of apartment living, with Hazel Easthope appeared first on Your Strata Property.

This week, I'm coming to you all the way from Paris, France (actually, from inside a wardrobe in Paris, but you'll have to tune in to find out more about that one...) I'm giving you the TOP FIVE by-laws I recommend all buildings have in place. These are the by-laws that quality strata managers are recommending... The post 182. The 5 By-Laws for Strata Managers to Recommend appeared first on Your Strata Property.

This week, Reena and I get stuck into these curly questions: how do we deal with a committee member who does not turn up to meetings and contributes nothing to the running of the committee?why is there a motion on the AGM agenda to restrict the power of the committee? Should we impose any restrictions?how... The post 181. Absentee committee member | restricting committee power | by-law success appeared first on Your Strata Property.

This week, I'm bringing you the recording of the LIVE QandA session, held at the end of my July presentation for City of Sydney Council. I give my answers to audience questions such as: are we responsible for relocating residents when the lifts are out of action?why does my strata manager say we don't need... The post 180. It’s strata QandA time: LIVE from Town Hall House appeared first on Your Strata Property.

This week, Reena shares both a win and a challenge around her recent dealings with insurance brokers; I clarify the rules around general meeting notice periods, including the legislation you need to refer to for the '7 clear days notice' rule (hint: it's not the strata legislation). Plus, we discuss the very first collective sale... The post 179. How to properly calculate meeting notice periods appeared first on Your Strata Property.

This week, we have our first "fire guy" on the show - Rob Broadhead of 2020 Fire Protection. I ask Rob to demystify the fire protection game for us, including letting us know what kind of qualifications a 'competent fire safety professional' is supposed to have (apparently, 'breathing' is about as high as the bar... The post 178. How to find a competent fire safety professional appeared first on Your Strata Property.

This week, Reena and I cover: the tax ruling that requires lot owners to declare income received by their owners corporation on their individual tax returnswhy every building really should have a notice boardhow an owners corporation can assist owners with the rectification of lot property defects, andthe first court-ordered collective sale under the new... The post 177. Owners taxed on OC income | display of fire statement | lot property defects | conversion to strata appeared first on Your Strata Property.

This week, I'm chatting to Cat Carmichael, the current president of the Community Associations Institute in the U.S. We discuss an important paradigm shift in strata management, and why managers can no longer focus on achieving a series of tasks but instead must look to the outcomes desired by their clients.  Cat shares the single most... The post 176. The question all strata managers must ask their clients – with Cat Carmichael appeared first on Your Strata Property.

This week, Reena shares an unusual challenge: what happens when the developer sets aside your car space for disability parking in order to meet a DA condition? I question the meaning of “financial year” in the strata context, and we both celebrate client wins relevant to successful insurance claims.       Links mentioned: Get... The post 175. Parking mix up: why is my car space marked for disability parking? appeared first on Your Strata Property.

This week, I'm joined by Chris Irons: Queensland's Commissioner for Body Corporate and Community Management. In a wide-ranging discussion, we cover:   the unique nature of his role why his office is partnering with the likes of QLD police to deliver the right messages to residents creative responses to the increased demand for good information... The post 174. The unique role of the commissioner’s office – with Chris Irons appeared first on Your Strata Property.

This week, Reena raises an interesting provision in our NSW legislation which apparently means a chairperson need not be financial in order to chair a meeting, but a substitute chairperson must be financial. I provide some important guidance around motions to consider 'general business' and we celebrate an unusually amicable parting of ways between a building... The post 173. Beware the motion to discuss “general business” appeared first on Your Strata Property.

This week, I'm speaking with Dr Nicole Johnston, the lead researcher on the June 2019 report: An Examination of Building Defects in Multi-Owned Properties. Published the week of the Mascot Towers evacuation, this report has formed the basis of many discussions since about how we might fix this current crisis - which has finally been recognised as... The post 172. Exposing Australia’s Building Defects Crisis, with Dr Nicole Johnston appeared first on Your Strata Property.

This week, Reena and I are tackling some tricky topics:   whether an owners corporation is responsible for paying the excess on a resident’s contents insurance claim can motions resolved at a meeting that is later adjourned be actioned? the interpretation of a strata management statement and how to determine the lot boundaries in pre-1974 […]

This week, we have our first New Zealand practitioner on the show: Thomas Gibbons of McCaw Lewis Lawyers. Thomas shares with us the issues currently troubling those living in NZ “unit titles” schemes, and explains why he thinks the NZ courts have been getting a few things wrong lately. Even if you’re not in NZ […]

This week, Reena and I cover:   how to explain the “restricted matters” statutory motion to a disbelieving owner when, precisely, the strata committee members vacate their positions at the AGM the by-law template that just didn’t cut it, and the clever owner purchasing the common property rooftop   Plus, here’s the link to the free City […]

This week, I’m joined by Tim Sara, a licensed senior strata manager at Strata Choice in Sydney. Tim is well known for his clever ‘hacks’ to ensure he gets the most out of every working day, and he’s sharing them with us in this episode. We cover: – why you need to ‘set and forget’ […]

This week, Reena and I cover:   best practice for renovation works by-laws what happens to the budget when AGMs are held 18 months apart the notice requirement for agency agreements reaching expiry, and THAT defamation case: when one email costs you $130,000… Links mentioned: Get the transcript here! Section 50 – Strata Schemes Management […]

This week, I’m flying solo, answering one of the more ‘frequently asked questions’ in recent times: what are the must-know items when it comes to community schemes? How are they different to strata schemes and where are the traps for inexperienced players?  I cover: the purpose of community plans who are the ‘members’ of a […]

This week, Reena and I discuss: the building where no one has paid levies for 18 months a lot owner is given the run around with an insurance claim what it takes to get access to a lot to repair common property an investor-owner losing rent because of a leaking ceiling. Links mentioned: Get the […]

This week I’m joined by Paul Chevrot, the co-founder of Stratabox: the online platform enabling committee members (in particular) to more effectively manage communications within a scheme. Paul explains how his technology is empowering both owners and residents who want to engage more deeply in their community, and why that’s important.  Links mentioned: Get the […]