[7s29]

Hi guys,

I have helping a friend with their strata fees, she lives in a building where there are 6 units but, there is another building (Same Scheme) where there are 32 units.  Her block is well kept, and the people that live there never ask for anything, the other unit block seems to be using all the money in their sinking fund, I’ve heard stories of people renovating their internal unit space with that money.

Anyway, she has a very good job and has saved enough to buy a house.  I have advised her that is her best option, the only fees she’ll pay in a torrens title home are, rates, and that’s it.  As for the usual bills, electricity, water, gas, she pays that now on top of her quarterly levy. 

Units are nice but, are an absolute nightmare when it comes to levies and Dodgy Strata Managers.

Another friend purchased a unit a year ago, before he moved in, the owners corp decided to apply a special levy of $25k, my friend was beside himself upon moving in.  And the sad part, it was all legal, not a thing he could do about it, even though he request a 109 cert, this EGM took place after he received his cert.

So in short, if you can afford to sell your unit and buy a home, do it.  I would rather have a home that is far away, then to have a unit that is close to everything, and not being able to pay my fees when I’m an old pensioner.

I’ve heard numerous stories of people being dragged to court over their levies, and in some sad cases, end up selling their unit to pay for said levies.  Unfortunately, nobody is told any of this when purchasing in a Strata Scheme, everything is all rosey until you have some rusty nail in your complex making it hell for you, and those dredded levies keep going up and up.

My 2c

[Author]

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