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[jd88]

I purchased a unit with my husband in 2020. It is in a block of 6 units with one being a commercial shop on street front –  built in 2003.   A maintenance survey in 2020 identified corroded awning brackets.  The strata managers engaged an engineer. The advice from the engineer was to apply for a CDC to repair the awning. The council reviewed the awning and ordered its demolition. We were told the studs and materials from the old awning could be recycled into the new one.

2023 – a levy of $50,000 was raised to cover the $43,000 cost of the demolition. Without consultation the demolishers disposed of all the materials from the old awning.
2024 – the Engineer advised that the studs had deteriorated and could not bear the weight of a new awning of the same size.
2025 – a DA application was made to council for a half-sized awning.

Timeline – Levy payments

November 2020 – $50,000
February 2021 – $100,000
July 2023 – $80,000
July 2025 – $70,000

To date:
Five years on …
•       $300,000 has been raised in special levies. I have paid out $81,000.
•       Only $149,000 remains of the $300,000.  This doesn’t cover the cost of the new awning and so another special levy will have to be raised.
•       The Owners’ Committee has signed 2 contracts which have been rescinded.
•       The money spent so far has paid for the demolition of the original awning.  Architects Fees, Engineering consultation fees, Council consultancy Fees.
•       A work order has been sent to a new builder.
•       The Owners’ Committee is still waiting for the engineer to prepare a contract so work can proceed.
•       No time frame or price guarantee for the work has been provided.
•       I can see no results for the money spent so far and have grave concerns about when the project will be completed and at what cost.  I feel at the mercy of the Strata Management group and the Engineer and don’t know what we can do… if anything.

All advice gratefully received.

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[Jimmy-T]

I have to admit this is a new one on me – and that’s surprisinng when there are so many old apartment blocks with awnings underneath.  Would it be easier just to forget the permanet awning and replace it with electrically operated canvas shades that roll up automatically when the wind gets up?  Or has that already been considered and dismissed.

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.

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