Flat Chat Strata Forum Common Property Current Page

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  • #8725

    There’s a prestigious harbour-side block of 15 apartments I know of the north-side. It’s one of those white Mirvac blocks and has been well-managed and maintained for its entire life. Love the look or hate it, it’s ‘of the period’ and as real estate agents have said, the apartments have always been ‘tightly held’ and change hands for premium prices. It has always had a unique feel about it.

    Until now.

    Some geniuses, and I use the term ironically, recently seized control of the Executive Committee and brow-beat interested owners at the Annual General Meeting into painting it what some call ‘apartment beige’ which is that grey, salmon, beige you see around. Very common. Really nondescript. On the journey, the ‘geniuses’ really made life hell for the sensible ones who didn’t think painting and this colour scheme in particular should occur. There was a lot of nastiness.

    Get this! They had a ‘colourist’ advise them and it cost them a fortune for her advice. The paint job cost them more than $50,000 and they have sentenced their own Owners Corporation to spend this amount or more every five years of so from now on on, keeping up the paint job.

    From virtually no maintenance, to fifty grand every five years or so! And the place looks ordinary. Well done, Executive Committee!

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  • #17981
    DaveB
    Flatchatter

      Without going into the merits or otherwise of painting the building, and its colour, it would be interesting to know what percentage of owners attended the AGM, and were you there to contribute your views at the time?   Unfortunately with my experience in Strata matters it is often apathy amongst owners which allows decisions to be made which are later regretted.  Given that it is a harbourside block there may have been a good reason to paint the block to improve its resistance to water penetration, I used to own a unit near the harbour of white brick which looked great when new, but allowed water to penetrate and grew horrible green stains which disfigured the place badly. 

      DaveB

      #17982
      Jimmy-T
      Keymaster

        In September this year, we will be asked to choose our government.  Roughly half of the people of the country (give or take 5 percent) will be mostly or very happy with the outcome.  The other half (give or take 5 percent) will be mostly or very unhappy with the outcome.

        This is democracy, which Winston Churchill once described as the worst system of government in the world … apart from all the others.

        Unless you have noted something illegal in this decision making process, you might just have to suck it up. If the owners can’t be bothered to make an informed decision on matters that are going to cost them money, there’s not a lot you can do.

        However, I wonder if your local council has a policy on the colours of buildings?

        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.
        #17987

        First poster here. I don’t live there just know the building well. Of the 15 apartments only about half ever turn up to AGMs and as I said it has been very well run for years. So no drama, ever. Four clever people were a constant.

        While I did say harbour-side, it is actually 150m or so from the water, across a park and a road. It did have some very minor spots of dark mould which were gotten rid of periodically for no great cost.

        To be blunt, what happened was three rather pretentious, downsizing empty-nesters got them selves on to the Executive Committee and made life hell for he other, long-standing members and beat them into submission. As I said, it got nasty.

        Nothing illegal and no council rules to speak of played a part. The place simply should not have been painted.

        #18003

        Hello wingattack.

        As Jimmy said, the process will almost always have its share of attractors and detractors in equal measure.

        I’ll add that the OC (of which the EC is the representative) has an absolute duty to maintain common property. Painting (or repainting) a harborside block that is subject the issues of salt water and the elements actually seems perfectly reasonable and will ensure that the block in question maintains its prestige.

        The colour is actually a moot point in this process as the OC may have been required to repaint the building to protect the concrete/brickwork/woodwork etc. Even if the building had previously been unpainted, in order to protect it from the elements, a paint job is sometimes the cheapest and most effective way to prolong the lifespan of certain materials.
        To your point about the EC simply add a motion at next years AGM to increase the numbers on the EC. 7 people on the EC sounds like a good number. If, the owners are as engaged in the process as you say, then you’ll have no issue in getting other owners to volunteer, and the additional 4 people on the EC will avoid theses sorts of ‘white-washes’ from occurring again.

        But ultimately a tin of salmon coloured paint costs the same as white: so, if the owners really object to the colour then they can add a motion to the AGM in 5 years’ time to paint it white….

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