#29298
Jimmy-T
Keymaster


    @Keifer
    said:
    How does a committee deal with one owner buying 4 out of 9 units? Essentially, legally, the one owner can now direct owners corporation future decisions…

    Unless the existing owner is buying four additional properties, four out of nine is not a majority. In any case, major decisions that require a 75 percent vote in Victoria can be overturned if more than 25 percent of owners disagree, even after an interim decision has been made.

    You only need two other owners to support you to block any major changes and laws exist to force the majority owners to, for instance, maintain and repair the building.

    Victorian strata law is very different from anywhere else in many regards.  You need to acquaint yourself with it rather than making assumptions based on other states’ laws.  I suggest you start HERE and then move on to THIS FACTSHEET on voting.

    By the way, there is a principle in law called something like Fraud on the Minority, where a majority of (in your case) owners make decisions that seem to be legitimate but are actually materially detrimental to the minority and advantageous to the majority. 

    This principle has been employed many times in strata disputes to protect the minority from a majority owner seeking to force  through decisions to their sole advantage.

    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.