Broken System

 Hi All

 This is a grizzle, hope you all don’t mind.  I am in Sydney. I am two years into a long term dispute with my Committee. $30,000 down the drain and more expense to come. Probably looking at $60,000 by the time I get to the tribunal. Whether I am judged right or wrong by the tribunal  I truly believe this System is geared against the individual and leans far too heavily on relying on Committees and owners and Strata Managers doing the right thing when we all know from reading the forum they don’t. This dispute has taken a toll on my work my relationships my health and my happiness.

What is the point of having Strata Laws when the only way to enforce them is with the Tribunal. Please don’t even suggest going without a lawyer as you would be eaten alive. We lodged almost a year ago and it has dragged on and on. Going to the Tribunal without a lawyer is like having brain surgery without a Doctor.

If we break road rules we get pulled over by the police. If we break council rules the council inspector comes along and issues a warning. That can be followed through to a fine .

 When someone in Strata community particularly the Committee breaks a law,  they answer to no one, unless an owner takes them to the Tribunal. If you call Fair Trading their answer is go to the Tribunal. Where one member decides  who is right or wrong. Fair trading can investigate Strata managers but have no power to investigate Committees … That is ridiculous and the experienced Committee members know it!

I have even written to the State member who has now been replaced and he sent  me to guess where? Fair Trading who said go to the Tribunal.

So an  individual owner is up against Committees who have sometimes been in office for scores of years. Who have each others backs or in this case have ‘something’ on each committee member so they toe the line. Who have proxy farmed the investors who don’t give a hoot, have access to all of the owners phone numbers, emails and addresses and use them to manipulate votes and also slander you while they are at it so even if you try to speak to owners they look at you as if you murdered a kitten.  Who write  ‘Empire Strikes Back’ minutes like: ‘We must defend the owners corporation against this  individual owners application’ So not only do you have a major issue and conflict you also become alienated and isolated in your own home.

We had a general meeting to discuss and vote on the funds for the Tribunal and no owners showed up. When asked how could the owners have voted with a full understanding of the issues without hearing our side of it . I was told: The Committee had told them what was happening. Of course the committee are completely biased and also hiding what is really happening.  No one wanted to go to an EGM and they feed on that as well.

Solution:

 Wouldn’t it be easier if we could call a Fair Trading inspector, just like a Safe work inspector to come out to a building and investigate the dispute on site. Make a recommendation that goes to all of the owners. Give these inspectors the power to give fines or warnings. Settle it then and there. No lawyers. As an owner I feel totally unsupported by the system. If I lose at the tribunal I won’t even be able to sell, as all of the issues have been documented now and the issues run into hundreds of thousands of dollars. The Strata laws are pointless because they are not instantly and effectively enforced. 

So frustrated, it shouldn’t be this hard.  Rant over, Thanks for listening.