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23/09/2013 at 5:23 pm #9047
We’re buying a unit without a garage. Two thirds of the other units have garages on separate titles and we would like to buy or rent one. How do we find the contact details for the owners? Council were aghast that we would ask. Could we find out in a strata search or from the strata managers?
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23/09/2013 at 11:44 pm #19544
A simple option would be to put a note in each letter box asking if anyone would be interested to sell. Obviously that only gets to the resident owners but it is harmless and a start.
[BTW. I can understand the reluctance of the executive committee to hand over the strata roll with everybody’s contact details even though there is an argument that you are entitled to inspect it. We have had owners intent on mischief that I would not like to give the strata roll to. When they wanted to inform owners about the dastardly activities of the EC we said they could do so by providing their material to the managing agent to mail out.]
So, I suggest you provide a letter that you would like to have sent to all owners and offer to pay the costs of having the strata manager mail it out to all owners (or just the non-resident owners if you have done the letter box drop already). The strata manager and EC should be able to see your letter is innocent and innocuous. It would be much easier to request that once you are actually an owner, not just a prospective owner. IE a member of the club rather than someone from outside the club wanting to advertise.
Where I am it is not unusual for people to ask around to see who has a spare carport space that might be rented. Sale is not an option in our case because they are linked to the units’ title. I rented my neighbour’s second parking space for a year while I working to get one car drivable before then selling the other car.
24/09/2013 at 12:50 am #19546In NSW any owner is entitled to view the strata roll at the Strata Manager’s office, although there is a charge for doing so. First identify any spaces that are unused, then find out their lot numbers and then you will find the name and address of the owners on the strata roll.
However, bear in mind that while owners may not use their parking spaces themselves, they are aware of their value should they ever sell which tends to be more than the actual value of the car space.
And alternative may be to rent the space for an extended period.
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.
24/09/2013 at 7:45 am #19549I think I’ll try inspecting the strata roll for $33. I didn’t want to do a letter drop as I’m not sure who owns the garages. If I flag interest to owners without a garage it could pique interest and start a bidding war (rent or buy).
Can I take notes or photos of the owner roll? Is it up to the manager’s discretion or is there a law?
24/09/2013 at 8:03 am #19550Yet another option might be to get to know your neighbours. You might find after a while that one of your neighbours is happy to let you park in their unused space whenever you care to with or without accepting your offer of rent.
I assume you have have parking on site that is perhaps uncovered or not allocated to any particular unit. It might be possible to propose a scheme whereby those spaces are covered at the expense of unit owners who get to have that space allocated to their unit. This could be done well to everyone’s benefit or it could be done badly and backfire. If such a scheme seems feasible do it with legal advice.
24/09/2013 at 8:26 am #19551@dougdeap said:
Council were aghast that we would ask. Could we find out in a strata search or from the strata managers?When you say ‘council’ – did you mean your local council. Or are you in one of the states where the executive committee is called the strata council?
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.
24/09/2013 at 9:48 am #19553@dougdeap said:
Can I take notes or photos of the owner roll? Is it up to the manager’s discretion or is there a law?
The SM should give you a copy if you ask (it’s a legal requirement in NSW) but they might charge you. Our SM just emails me a copy when I ask at no charge.
26/09/2013 at 7:58 am #19588@JimmyT said:
@dougdeap said:
Council were aghast that we would ask. Could we find out in a strata search or from the strata managers?When you say ‘council’ – did you mean your local council. Or are you in one of the states where the executive committee is called the strata council?
Yes, I meant local council. Years ago you could get names of owners through the rates book at a local council but apparently the Privacy Act has ended that. Fair enough I s’pose.
Anyway, thanks for all the advice. I’ll wait till we settle and approach the strata manager then and let you know how I go.26/09/2013 at 9:18 am #19591We were in this situation when we bought. We had 2 cars and one space. What we did was to put up a sign on the strata noticeboard and also on the door to the garbage room asking if anyone wanted to lease us a space they were not using. We had replies and ended up leasing a space next to ours. This has worked out well as the owner is old, does not have a car and is happy to get some cash for it.
We are in NSW. Our solicitor told us that buying an extra space would be difficult as in our block they are all on the same title as the units and it would be very expensive and difficult to split up. He said it may affect the unit entitlements which work out levies etc which means all the owners would have to agree. In other words a big deal.
26/09/2013 at 10:16 am #19597The simplest solution is to put a notice (with permission) on the noticeboard.
The 2nd simplest solution is to inspect the Strata Roll at the SM’s premises.
All Lot Owners names and addresses should be there.
You are entitled to write down anything you like.
I too remember the days when local Councils kept a rates book.
Don’t know whether it’s just “progress” or the Privacy Act which means they no longer do or no longer allow ratepayers to look at it.
The 3rd solution is to get on to the LPI website. Pay for each search and you can find out a lot. Apparently money trumps privacy.
Although, in my opinion, a lot of people confuse “anonymity” with “privacy”.
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