Forum Replies Created
-
Replies
-
Unsure for NSW but in Qld if you can get 15% of owners to agree the Secretary (who volunteered to work for owners not dictate to them) must comply with a request for a EGM, if they first dont arrange a casual meeting which you can do yourself.
It’s all part of the city life cycle: a regular area eventually gets run down as life and times moves on, it becomes less attractive so less number of folks live there, so less businesses survive there, so there’s less tax collected to fund local services, so the place looks dodgy, so the rents go down, so the area attracts less desirable types. After a period it’s the alternative/creative types that get established there, they rebuild the place with cool bars and coffee shops and art galleries, more folks want to live there, more tax gets collected, rents and realty go up, the cool kids move out, a regular area is reestablished. Rinse repeat. It’s been interesting to watch this happen around New York districts multiple times over the years and I see it in Brisbane’s West End and New Farm/Newstead area also.
She’s likely to use it to her favor and in many cases won’t likely cause harm. The Committee alone will make it’s decisions with or without her obtaining quotes but if the projects are required by you then it might actually save you some time. Or waste her’s when you reject them outright. If it’s getting to you, you could easily respond to whoever sent you the quotes advising them she is not authorized or been asked to seek quotes and these approaches are best first checked with another/nominated person to save you all the time when there is little chance any work will be approved or forthcoming
Often owner’s committee’s are not away that by law they are required to ensure the property is kept in good condition and structurally sound. That’s regardless of funds you have, workload if other stuff is underway, time available is short, how much effort they do or dont put in, individual taste, whatever: if it needs to be done, it needs to be done, and ideally done before then.
If it’s not done it harms resale values and amenity and if it causes an accident you may actually void your insurance because the place wasn’t maintained as your insurance requires. Find it written in your State’s Act and show them that so it isn’t you but the State saying as much. And if it gets the go ahead be sure that the people who thought it was all fine are not the ones to reorder the carpet as you can bet it will be a horrible price or colour or both, and you’ll likely be then stuck with it.
JC, no offence and I make no judgement but if you have made 3 dud choices in 4 years the issue is your committees prior assessment of candidates. We need to work out what we need and who best can supply it before just sacking one and going with any another. I always like the engagement questions to help in the process of 1. can you do the job, 2. can you do this job, 3 will you fit in with the rest of us? All the best with it. Cheers, C.
Care, but not that much. If for whatever reason your guy isn’t working out it might be nice to first let them know how you feel and ask is there anything up that you should know about, and that you don’t think it’s working out, and what do they propose to fix it, if that doesn’t shake things back into shape I’d start to dictate what your require. Probably best to get your committee to send the feedback or as a minimum have your email approved/added to by other owners so you are at least sharing the load on this issue.
You may not get away with installing a camera, or hard fixing any other item outside your front door as this is common property, not yours. So you may be required to remove it if you do. Firstly you should get advice and then formerly apply to your committee for this. Good luck with your crazy ex neighbor though as it doesn’t sound pleasant at all.
I’ve noticed a connection that as the few units around me have recently renovated their bathrooms and kitchens that water hammer has definitely started to be noticeable.
I’m sure old pipes touched by new plumbers and new fittings throws things out of sync to how ever they were before. Consequently when someone advises they are about to start their renos it is worth mentioning it to the committee and the owners and the tradies how things are before, and what you will expect them to do should things change thereafter they do their handiwork.
It can be an expensive correction if they need go back and remove tiling to access the pipework so remind them of that before they get busy.
There are plenty of times where putting your name on a general notice is not appropriate nor mentioning private matters to others you hardly know. That’s why if the reason for concern is valid and the committee interested as appropriate it should be open to sending the occasional note/newsletter to all units (or in the zone affected). That way no one feels singled out and allows all/others to discuss it. These can actually help build community over starting a war among individuals.
If the tenants are renters you might be able to inform the owner on the chance they are unaware what is going on, (and even just letting them know that their name is being mentioned as much). Unsure there, but as I understand it, in Qld if drugs or anything illegal is/are busted by police on the property the owner also gets pinged. I advised an agent of that (right or wrong? – dont care) and the problem tenant was gone that afternoon.
In Qld, as I understand it, you can only sue the Secretary, and that is for defamation if they make some grand yet damaging incorrect public or written statement about someone affected. The rest, as generally being well-intentioned amateurs, can’t be. Though their actions can be over-turned by another vote by the committee or your states commissioner or through a EGM if you have enough owners (25%?) who call it to overturn it.
I’d also add, that if you do your own audit of things that you’d like done you will soon realise what’s involved to make the problem go away, many things are once off jobs that dont necessarily cost much and then not an issue for years thereafter. And print out and read your State’s Act so you have the law on your side and can use that point to encourage change not based on differing levels of whats clean enough or in good enough repair but what is law. Then write up your list and give concise reasons what is amiss and add pics which really help get your point across. If you will be involved it will help sell it. Then put these up as a motion for a regular meeting and it becomes just a quick vote, or for an AGM which will then get actioned. If things still don’t get addressed you are half way there for the paper trail showing you have tried should you then commence enforcement action or whatnot.
It’s an interesting one, I’ve found that among the owners there will be others who have the experience and the interest if they are personally invited, and they think it’s (or some individuals are) not a basket case. If it’s the later you need to consider a plan of attack you can sell to the others to help right the ship. Be prepared to play the numbers game if that’s what it takes.
In Qld, current executive (chair, treas, sec) committee members can go around again just by not resigning so if you have trouble with any or all you need to put up someone for that position and the owners will vote between both candidates. If incumbents have been there for more than a few years and not doing stuff I think other owners will be open to give someone else a shot. Then that prior person is out of the gig, unless you don’t yet have a full dance card and they offer to join as a regular committee member from the floor of the AGM.
But be careful what you wish for as getting new folks can be a bit of a frying pan into the fire experience so pre-screen all candidates before you invite them for having the Skills required, Timely intent to get on with stuff, self Application to do the job they are volunteering for, and knowing Value. Avoid old folks who have poor eyesight and mobility and that buck change, and upper level professionals who think they can manage hands-off and just delegate the work away with a tick and a flick. Investors can sometimes be better than owners because their motivations are likely different.
I’m with the OP on this one. I don’t want the distraction and I don’t want to be accused of looking at something I’ve no intention of. It’s more precarious at night if tenants have the lights on and they are preoccupied with whatever they are doing without realizing others can see in. If the Committee won’t drop a casual note to owners reminding of the 2 way viewing it might be something you can do yourself via a (anonymous?) general letter to a few or all mail boxes stating as much.