In my complex we have 90% owner occupier. Just a handful a rented and it has been this way since day one. And also since day one we have had 90% of owners wanting no involvement in the day to day running of the complex save to complain at each and every AGM about the day to day running of the complex (but do not say anything through the year).
Over and over we find a problem in the complex that would be an OH&S issue that an owner will say “Oh yeah, I noticed 6 months ago that was broken/not working”. Then there are the problems that exist within their units that they only mention at the AGM with “this problem has existed for over a year…..” . Or worse “I have noticed this leak through the roof for 4 years now and this morning the ceiling collapsed”. Not a word in those 4 years, and yet the EC doesn't do anything about fixing problems.
It's not once, it's not twice, it's not three time…the above scenarios have happened continuously throughout this complex's history. They buy into strata, they pay their fee and someone else has to look out for, arrange, notify and pay for absolutely everything. The EC should know what is wrong and what to fix! Without anyone telling them! Why should we have to go to the trouble of notifying anyone, we're not on the EC. And don't dare put those levies up!
When you buy an insurance policy they say you have to read the product disclosure statement and when you travel by air you have a condition of carriage that you are supposed to read. So you hand over your hand earned cash, but you have to abide by their rules, regulations and conditions. So why not in Strata? When you buy into it, you should have to read/sign a “statement of strata living” with all the information in it. And at the bottom have “I John Smith have read the terms and conditions of strata living and agree to abide by them”. Will they really read it? Probably not. But at least there is something to wave in front on their faces when they complain about the problem that only they can see from their kitchen window, and that the EC hasn't fixed yet.