[Flame Tree (Qld)]

I’ve been on the committee, yikes what a character building experience that was, so now I’m barracking from the sidelines and even that’s painful enough. We have a moderately big block and there’s something to be said for having a regular crew attend so as not to reinvent the wheel every time they need attend but they are getting away with things big time in some case as the committee tend to call them to act not to quote and hence the bill comes in the door at full rates without any need to compete, and generally without after inspection to ensure the work quoted was actually even done. So they pay through the nose and are not held to account. Silly as that all is I just divide the costs by the lots and roll with it, as I could no longer bother fighting the issues or, heaven forbid, rejoining the committee.

[Flame Tree (Qld)]

Thanks Penelope, I appreciate your response.

[Flame Tree (Qld)]

I’ve not heard that angle. Here we pay a mint to a services manager who never comes with the older guard liking to look active and do it all themselves, consequently poor value and timing is the way she blows. Hence my balanced interest in caring to a point regarding the wasted cash, and not caring at all for sanity sake.

[Flame Tree (Qld)]

You might be able to assure her you are interested but can only really test for ingress when/after an event happens. You can then arrange a thermo guy come and test on-site, but, this needs to be done within a day of so of the rain event or the ingressed moisture evaporates and it shows nothing. That way if she has genuine issue you have independent advice that one exists. It’s just a guy with a heat/moisture sensing camera who does a report with pics of what hes seen so not that dear. Alternately, maybe let her arrange for this or something that she will pay for if there is no issue, and you will reimburse if there is.

[Flame Tree (Qld)]

Thanks Stratabox, I’ll email you.

[Flame Tree (Qld)]

We recently had all our front doors assessed, one of the important fail points for many was screen doors that opened to suit the unit door but in fact pulled opened from the wrong way out, and made it dangerous for passing escaping pedestrians to find a blocked open door they couldn’t pass, or wear a door edge to the face should you fall into it, or not see it in a blackout. The ghastly thought of slicing open someones face should be enough to get decent folks to realise their folly. But when they attach a self closer ensure its gently closes otherwise the constant banging from all owners with these doors becomes it’s own problem.

[Flame Tree (Qld)]

Interesting question. Why don’t you call one of the services and ask direct. I’d be interested in their answer. Cheers, C.

[Flame Tree (Qld)]

You need to read your own states Act, and your own complex’s by-laws, and then quote your grievances and the exact Act breach in a letter to the Strata Manager – but do try a friendly phone call first, ideally suggesting a reasonable way forward, dictating terms, timing and outcomes so at least someone is in control of things. If your issue or time-frame requirement isn’t met, nor explained I’d be prepared to go hard with Dispute Resolution action which in itself might embarrass folks into action.  That can work where committee members forget or don’t realize they are there as servants not masters. The embarrassment of an outsider looking in can drive some action for owners. Make notes and writing dated emails/letters diarizes the whole thing so you, they and an independent voice can follow the whole saga.

[Flame Tree (Qld)]

The Queensland thinking I’m reliably told was folks were appreciating getting the maintenance out of amateur hands/decisions and handled by professionals for the merits that would bring. Like the paperwork managers do now on behalf of chair/sec/treasurer. Don’t shoot the messenger, unsure where the thinking is at, but it is legit.

[Flame Tree (Qld)]

Training for some or all owners’ representatives should be mandatory in some form. Otherwise you get folks without a clue affecting your enjoyment and asset.

Tally up the total value of apartments in your complex and consider if you want any old, untrained volunteer to make decisions on your collective behalf.

Or, they can make decisions and give approvals that is actually against the Act, and if so, it’s you as owners who pay for any rectifications.

Or, you get a few old dears at the helm who mix a bit of fact with some self serving fiction that hoodwinks or intimidates newbies.

Or, you get folks onboard without the time in their schedule to give the job the time and respect it deserves.

Or, you get folks who don’t know their legal or moral obligations to the job.

I’ve heard a whisper that Queensland might be falling towards having professional managers oversee all the committee decision making and job executions. I can certainly see the value in that for quality, and taking the stress out of being on a committee in the first place.

[Flame Tree (Qld)]

It’s a good question as aesthetics are vital to keep under control or it’s death by a thousand cuts, all the while unnoticed by those who don’t see or care about such things and drives crazy those who do. Most folks think they can make the call on these things but as they don’t have a trained eye don’t realize the importance to ensure it all stays looking in such a way that it doesn’t annoy tenants or turn off renters or buyers who are seeing these things for the first time.

[Flame Tree (Qld)]

Yes, the agm motion submission close off date is end of this week. 

[Flame Tree (Qld)]

Oh dear, these’s next to no chance I’d rejoin the committee with the same folks still on board. Let’s just call it a character building exercise shall we! And I think I’m actually more value not being on it thus I can focus on what I see from afar that the active committee members can’t. Communicating that is proving to be the fun bit.

[Flame Tree (Qld)]

Agree, yes our AGM is upcoming so was going to Motion for a review of cost/benefit for all contractors. But with all the other things I feel needing redress unsure how to go about it without overwhelming folk or looking bad myself. Thinking I’ll shoot Motions for a few things I just can’t stand and seek to address the others that may just first require reasonable if robust negotiation. Certainly a learning experience but the pain of not acting is now more than the pain of acting to get things addressed. Of course failed to pass Motions also then would become problematic if they are genuine in nature. Hmm.

[Flame Tree (Qld)]

Hi Penelope, thank you. My issue here is regarding our contracted Building Maintainence Manager (Not the secretarial based Body Corp Manager) appointed to keep the place in good nick as it was considered too laborious for a volunteer to do it. Why bark if you’ve got a dog sorta thing. Seems the Chair prefers to pay the dog with our money, and still wants to bark. But she’s not the dog, and I can spot the imitator despite the best efforts!

[Author]

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