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There are a number of very different questions here – do give the Office of Fair Trading help line a call. The questions you are asking are valid, and you are right to be concerned. It is useful strategy to ask ‘dumb questions’ of both your strata manager and EC once you know got the correct response from the OFT. You can then gauge from the response how to move.
Good luck
Alley cat
Please let us know how this is resolved.
Thank you
Alley cat
This is something that I have given some thought to. I have visited schools in various parts of the world that are housed in high rise, however I have not seen a mixed use building such as that being proposed at Ultimo. I don’t have a problem with a school in a ‘high rise’ as this is relatively normal in many places, even here in Australia there are a number of multi-storey schools.
From a strata point of view I have a number of critical success factors that I think would need to be addressed.
1. the mix of government / private / commercial use of the same complex would be a legislative / administrative nightmare – worse than a BMC. Particularly the governments track record of maintenance of public schools.
This then relates the the ‘enclosed land act’ issues for access to schools, add to that the issue of community use of school facilities out of school hours and the impact on others could be very significant.
2. Noise – even a small group of kids creates a great deal of noise.
3. Child protection issues – separate and discrete areas would be needed.
4. Rubbish storage and removal from the school premises – again the density of students to size of property creates a significant amount of rubbish.
5. Direct access to public transport – a bus bay is common.
I am sure that I will think of more
regards
Alley cat
Couldn’t agree more.
We are happy with the new strata manager that we appointed after years of incompetence. It has made a huge difference. But we are still trying to get the building manager / caretaker situation sorted out. I agree that the basis is that there is no legal checks and balances in place. One of the best decisions we made was to not allow the building manager to write work orders. This means that all work orders go through to the strata manager. Seems to be working so far. As a result regular service of equipment is now costing $100’s instead of $1000’s, we have a regular maintenance schedule, and less distractions from residents wanting maintenance done that is actually their own responsibility (lost keys, dripping taps, blown lights…..)
Alley cat
Our EC meetings are routinely held on neutral territory – not in someone’s apartment. I know we are lucky that we have a place where we can do this, even if we all do bring a chair. Meeting in a neutral common area ensures that everyone is equal, and not worried about saying something difficult in someone’s home and we often have owners turn up if there is something on the agenda that they wish to contribute to. The comment has been made that they would not feel comfortable just turning up if the meeting was in someone’s apartment.
Alley cat
It is now required that ‘conflict of interest’ are disclosed on all decisions. I would consider that the treasurer paying himself for work based on decisions made by the OC falls into the conflict of interest in the decision making process. I get a feeling that the treasurer is proposing decisions where he can carry out works is common.
Pretty much I see possession as 9/10 of the law. You may wish to consider removing the offending bike rack (exclusive use of common property??) and return the area to original. I would consider doing this at own expense for the enhancement value to own property.
Alley cat
Our OC put these by-laws in place at an AGM nearly as soon as we could. Realistically the agenda for an AGM / EGM is still sent out by mail. The advantage of the electronic process has made the biggest difference to our EC meetings. Agenda’s are still posted in our notice boards, but are also distributed via email to owners who have provided an email contact.
It also means that we don’t have to have face to face only EC meetings, we have on a couple of occassions had to pass a motion without a face to face meeting, still with an agenda / minutes. We also have an EC member who is overseas and joins us via Skype, this is something that would not be possible if this by-law was not in place.
The use of technology allows greater inclusion of all owners, as it means that all owners are able to contribute and it is not just left to those who are owner occupiers, this is the reason we were so keen to put these by-laws in place.
Alley cat
Thank you Jimmy
Less strongly worded notes have been left – with more than one resident abusing the building manager as a result.
I have checked their by-laws and there is nothing that can be used.
I guess it might be a name and shame situation.
Don’t know that I want to have our OC pay to tow the Porsch, Audis and Mercedes that we are dealing with here.
Alley cat
We actually had a tenant who was on the EC for a time (with proxy from owner). We refer to everyone who lives here as resident (not identified as owner / tenant unless absolutely necessary), that we live in apartments and not flats or units. This consistency contributes to everyone being part of the community and that rules are applied to all residents fairly. Some may disagree, but we take the view that when you decided to live here you where provided with a contract that included registered by-laws and in agreeing to the contract you also accept these rules regardless of whether you are a tenant or owner.
Cheers
Hi
I think something is missing here – if grandson is ‘visiting’ grandma, then why doesn’t he simply use her car park?? If the SP has visitor parks then it will also have individual parks too.