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[Wendy]

My husband and I purchased our very first property last year – a 3br apartment in a newly built apartment building with total 48 units. 

In the first general meeting, 5 owners volunteered to be on the Committee. About 15 owners attended the meeting and many of them were foreigners or first home buyers. Most of us ( including my husband and I ) did not understand the role of the committee and we simply approved.

5 committee members, building manager, strata manager, and 4 owners attended the first general meeting (including my husband and I). I learned that other than the chairman (own a 2br) and the rest of the comittee members are studio or 1br owners. In regards to some issues, they kept saying owners with 3 br should pay more on this or that matter. Isn’t the levy we paid in related to the size of our apartment? We are paying more. 

And in the meeting, I learnt that the room they held the general meeting cost 500 dollars to book. It was a private room in an expensive restaurant next to our building. And the committee members ordered at least 4 bottles of wine and food. They said for sharing but I noticed none of the other owners attending the meeting drank or ate any. After the meeting, an owner said to me that she felt like taking advantage of others if she drank or ate. 

This meeting cost nearly 800 dollars  and it was paid by strata money. Basically all generally meetings are held in this room, and most of time no more than 5 owners attend these meetings. Is it reasonable that they drink and eat at all the owners’ expenses and most of the owners have no idea about it? 

And I can’t help thinking what it’s like when they have commitee meeting. Are they spending our levys on food and drinks in expensive restaurant? 

As a first home owner, I’m so confused about all these strata and commitee thingy. Is it perfectly normal that general meeting being held in an expensive restaurant plus food and drinks are consumed at all owners’ expenses? Where is general meeting usually held in your building? 

Any answer to my questions is appreciated. 

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