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Topic
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I have been on the EC for the last 3 years and we have a new owner who is complaining about the strata fees. He has bailed me up twice in the last few days complaining and saying that he is going to find another strata manager and that he is organising a meeting that I have to attend. He came half way through the AGM and everyone present voted to increase the fees but he has waited until the fees notice came out to start complaining. No-one wants to pay excessive fees (me included) but we reasonably have to put money aside for future work and the building does not run itself.
My question is, as a member of the EC do I have to attend a meeting that an owner has arranged to look at other managing agents? I’ve had my issues with our current manager as well but I am struggling with being railroaded and I’m feeling like this owner is complaining about all the hard work that the EC do and expecting that everything can be done for virtually no cost.
Why do people who do none of the work and only complain, think that they shouldn’t have to pay reasonable levies?
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You don't have to attend anything (including EC meetings, believe it or not). This idiot can call all the meetings with whomever he wants but he is subject to the same rules as everyone else. The Owners Corporation in General Meeting is the ultimate arbiter of what happens in your strata plan. Even the EC can be overruled by the owners at a general meeting. eOne disgruntled owner has no power to order anyone to do anything. He has the opportunity to convince other owners he is right either at a general meeting or by campaigning the rest of the time. If he is unhappy he can raise the issues at Fair Trading where they will holf a mediation (and you don't need to attend that either).
Tell him to grow up, leave you alone, and go and read the Fair Trading booklet Strata Living (HERE) and the Strata Act (HERE) then he should highlight the part that says he can force you to attend a meeting organised by him or anyone else. Then tell him to look at the budget and identify areas where you can make savings without reducing services. If he can come up with anything, all well and good – but expect a long period of silence.
As to why people complain but do nothing, it's because some people are givers and others are takers and that's just the way the world is.
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