- This topic has 5 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 5 years ago by .
-
Topic
-
Last week we published this article about how strata committees naming, blaming and shaming residents with whom they disagree can lead to a whole raft of other problems.
These range from deterring owners from participating (hurrah! say the strata control freaks) to legal suits for defamation (“what do you mean we’re not insured for that?!?”)
But one Flatchatter – the …Carping and complaining – the other side of naming and shaming
The opinions offered in these Forum posts and replies are not intended to be taken as legal advice. Readers with serious issues should consult experienced strata lawyers.
-
Replies
-
There is an exercise often given to new law students where the lecturer gives the class a few facts and asks the students for their opinion. Then a few more facts are revealed and the class is asked again and so the exercise goes on in this fashion until all the facts are revealed. The students have the experience of gaining a deeper understanding of the entire situation and shifting their perspective. This doesn’t mean that they ‘swopped sides’ it means that instead of rushing to judgment they learn to investigate all the facts and consider those facts in the context of the law and policy.
The guard against poor quality decision making is committees that are open and transparent and understand their role is to discharge their duties in the interests of the owners corporation as a whole. But it is not just committees that benefit from information, education and training. Sadly, some personalities are unable to accept when they are wrong or that their claim is ill conceived. It is far too easy to then throw around language of being ‘bullied’ because we are personally hurt, embarrassed or frustrated of not getting our own way. Not all claims are meritorious.
Definition of a KTM (“known trouble-maker”)?
Wanting to know progress of works in the building ? Requesting information from Strata Agent ? Minutes that note works to commence and then nothing happens? Again, want to know how works are progressing? Being named in minutes and SC requesting legal advice after accusation from an SC member but not having outcome recorded in subsequent minutes – only a verbal advice from Strata Agent after numerous requests. Building Manager actually advising workmen that “that is a trouble maker” referring to me.
Perhaps the frustration when there is no transparency of what is happening in the building that is my home and which I pay large levies for.
While I am sure there are committees that fail to keep residents and owners informed there are also instances of individual owners who seem perversely determined to misinterpret the clearest communications, get the ‘wrong end of the stick’ and then get ‘on their high horse’ about it rather than politely seeking further explanation.
Transparency and keeping everyone informed, as alluded to by Sir Humphrey, is important. I am not sure if this is exactly on topic but my experience is that a lot of disputes stem from the two differences between two types of owners.
Group 1: Most owners serve on committees on a voluntary non paid basis. Sure you get the odd control freak who serves out of self importance but most take on a job no one else will do.
Group 2: Most owners are pretty reasonable and co-operative but some won’t do a thing whether that be serve on a committee or the occasional task.
Often Group 1 can come to feel that as they do all the work it is their right to make sure things are done as they believe they should be done. Sometimes this view extends to Group 1 advantaging themselves. This angers Group 2.
Often Group 2 members won’t do a thing until it is something affecting them and then they want it done immediately and jump up and down about it. I have seen cases where such owners have demanded repairs affecting their unit but won’t do anything to facilitate them being done as that is “the committee’s job” This angers Group 1.
Anger ends up in name calling and each group attempting to embarrass the other!
Expanding on Cosmo’s post…
Group 1a: Committee members who won’t do a thing until it is something affecting them and then they want it done immediately and jump up and down about it. I have seen cases where such owners have demanded repairs affecting their unit but won’t do anything to facilitate them being done as that is “the committee’s job” This angers Group 1.
The behaviour of this sub group of people is worst of all in my opinion.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.