Delays to building repairs following April ‘superstorms’

Hi guys,

Apologies if this has already been discussed (I couldn’t find anything but I am a Luddite…!).

My block was one of the MANY impacted by the huge storms that hit Sydney in April. Five months down the track and we are here: a letter has gone out from strata asking for an EGM for late October, with an engineer’s report on the building defects (so not covered by building insurance), building quotes and recommending a five-digit special levy. We received this 4 days ago.

This letter was the first to be received from strata on the issue. There has been no other communication sent from strata/EC. 

Like many others, I had significant flood damage from the storm, which is covered by my contents insurance. My insurer is pressuring me to take a cash payment now or to repair the damage inside my flat asap (noting that it is caused by a building defect so I won’t be able to claim if another storm hits).

I have tried contacting EC members whose response is defensive/emotional (they don’t want to spend money on repairs – it’s not a wonderful place to be, I get it) and I have tried contacting the strata manager, who accuses anyone who asks her anything of stopping her from doing her ‘real’ job (?!) and who then reminds me that EC members are volunteers who are ‘doing their best’ so I am not to contact them.

What I want to know is – how can I get this process moving? Six months to appoint a builder is a long time (and that assumes the owners agree to appoint someone – I think people will be outraged that it took five months for strata to let them know there was an issue in the first place and I’m not sure the meeting will end well) and I am worried that the next steps will take another six months – or longer – leaving me stuck in a flat with rotting floors and damp walls/rotting architraves for over a year (assuming my insurer cannot force me to settle my claim before the building defects are fixed).

Thanks!