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Topic
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Hi
I’m looking for a good strata lawyer for advice on a water damage issue that is being repeatedly ignored; and left out of minutes in my self-managed Owners Corp. I first informed all the other owners Jan 2019. I’m in the east in Sydney.
I’m an owner/occupier in a 6-lot building. There has been growing water damage (2+years) to my ceiling – paint peeling, bubbling, crumbling, and spreading. first appears late 2018.
We have a very ‘casual’ owners corp – one owner is a property manager by profession, has lived here all her life and ‘looks after’ the strata. She collects fees, pays the guy who puts out the bins etc etc. There is very little paperwork, no annual meetings, have never seen a financial report – just that we have about $xxk in the bank.
She also property managed the unit the water damage is coming from. I have contacted all the owners re the growing damage – images, videos updates etc etc. All ignored. I called an EGM in 2019 about this issue. Was told it the ceiling would be painted over and not to worry there was no problem. The unit with faulty waterproofing was sold, I informed the real estate agent of the ongoing water damage before sale, the new owner was never informed.
The minutes from these EGM/AGM were written to LEAVE OUT mention of the water damage!
I have called another EGM for a week or so’s time – as the damage is worsening and spreading faster.
I would like to know my rights in regards to having this damage assessed and repaired by the strata, as the damage is to the cement slab between units – IE common property. But so far – two plus years – ignored.
I read a post in 2011 also asking for a lawyer, but wanted to check if the lawyers recommended were still practising?(Colin from Grace lawyers and someone called Alex who wrote the strata bible)
thank you all!
KC
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Replies
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For lawyers, I wouldn’t go past our sponsor David Sachs of Sachs Gerace Lawyers (see ad). David is both reasonable and sensible (i.e. he won’t lead you into unwinnable fights).
I know Colin Grace well and I know of Alex – both good operators – but give David a call and tell him who sent you.
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Did you ever get a lawyer? You can take the scheme to NCAT and force them to fix the problem. And your neighbours could probably charge the property manager over her negligence too.
Time you got this house in order, with proper meetings, minutes, accounts and elections, methinks.
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