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Thanks guys. This forum helps to feel not so alone and check in if I’m on the right track, or just a lunatic (or both lol).

@86 well it turned out we actually paid for a cleaner, the tenants removed some of their junk, so partial success. I’ve installed a camera now, not my preference but I need facts for future occurrences.

@david, yes, well I’m still not sure who they are but I think there’s a grapevine here and hopefully that will work. In future I’d like to start a little newsletter, and a communal vegie garden, but I need to sort the current schmozzle first. And o I’d love to work beside a person like that too! It was very tempting to do as my committee member asked me to – “stop! Go to work, come home, go to sleep. Don’t worry about all this!” And yes I assume they’ve been running the ship a long while and would welcome some help. My other committee member told me he has cancer, and that’s why he doesn’t want stress, but also maybe it would help him to know he can pass things on to someone conscientious.

@flametree I think the painting front of building would be a good one for the AGM as it’s probably got at least another 6 months before the wood supporting massive windows starts rotting. I need to research how you put up a motion. Not many owners attend meetings and if committee doesn’t vote for it then it provides a picture to the court if that becomes necessary, can issue an order to perform their function.

And yes, I’m hoping my nudges are giving people time to quietly fix things without having to go nuclear. They only have one formal meeting a year at the AGM.

And that’s a good point, I can always raise it again if it doesn’t get through the first time.

Here’s the thing. I moved in about 18 months ago. Before I bought I paid for a professional strata records search and a building report. The building looked well maintained for a 60 yo building. There was a works plan and healthy fund balance, but only 3 years of records, since newest strata manager. (I don’t think any capital works have been undertaken since new strata manager). I joined the committee after my first blissfully ignorant 12 months in my new place. Our contract says all duties are delegated to strata manager and it was voted at AGM that there are no restricted matters. Within that initial 12 months, our entire capital works fund was quietly (ie I received no notification) transferred by our strata manager to our admin fund. CW fund currently has $2000 in it. Prior to my first AGM I noticed this, and some large expenses. I asked for receipts and was provided some, but a large portion of “plumbing” was still unaccounted for. All costs are listed under admin. Nothing is listed as a capital works expense. Also there are expenses for lot property (relatively minor issue I can resolve going forward). At the AGM they told me it was an accounting mistake during transfer over to their new system, and that they’d correct it and resupply a corrected annual financial statement. This never eventuated. After 5 months I got mixed explanations, and finally some receipts, all for just under $500, all for bathroom leak investigations saying numerous bathrooms need fixing and in at least one case have damaged another units ceiling, and most as yet unremedied. When I asked why did it take so long to provide the receipts and why wasn’t the bathrooms issues mentioned to the committee, not even at AGM, I was sent the first financial report, saying it was the correct one, and got no further explanation. They also sent a pdf of contract for 3 years at higher cost with my signature on it. I said I’ve never seen this before and didn’t sign it. Then I found the original 12 month contract voted on at AGM, in my files and emailed it to my committee. I rang fair trading, who were useless, then began my research. I had 2 owners (one on committee) who seemed interested in self managing. They’ve both backed out. I had the one committee member who told me to shut up and go away. There’s 3 on committee including me. Most owners don’t live here and I don’t know who they are. The few owners that live here barely speak English and I can only speak English. Apparently they don’t want to change strata manager. They are all from the same country and religion and go to the same place of worship as our strata manager. They are a close community. In a good way. The person who told me to stop is a different ethnicity and not part of their community in that way.

Both the other committee members have lived here about 20 years.

Yesterday I spoke to the owner committee member frustrated with the rubbish. He told me yes you’re on the committee/ treasurer, go ahead, contact strata manager, get things done. I think he meant it sincerely.

I don’t know if the leaks are genuine, or whether forged receipts or a shonky deal with plumber.

I just sent a friendly email to my committee requesting an informal meeting to discuss strata law changes, strata hub, and what to do about leaks.

I’m checking up what the Act says about works fund transfers and if I can, will email SM and request that funds be transferred back. I will also request that no further money be spent on lot property.

I will also request a records inspection and see if I can establish owners contacts, and what leaks have been fixed or need fixing. Gathering more facts for sensible actions.

Yes, plugging away 🙂

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