SM paid out funds, not responding to committee

Hi,

I’ve been a forum reader for many years and most existing discussions have helped me over the years, but now I am need of help.

Our money is gone and our SM is not responding.

NSW

We are a small townhouse complex of 5.

Another owner and myself took roles on the committee to ensure the Owners Corp was run effectively and efficiently after years of self interest or no interest by previous committees/owners  There was a 3rd on the committee until recently, but they are non financial so is left to the two of us.

The past 5yrs we have set good budgets, and managed to have a reasonable capital works funds accumulate for planned or future requirements.

We also raised Special levies to fund the painting of the complex, replace front doors and any remediation work we planned to commence in Spring this year. Or so we thought.

The problem is we are facing challenges with the SM responding to us for actions they have or have not done:

1. Funds of almost $40k transferred to a trades person. Work not done nor was there any notification of the payment or error in payment or return of funds (this was picked up on the Monthly Cash Management account by me last week. The funds were remit early in the month).

2. An owner is in arrears by 2years (including the Special levy) and no payment plan, or debt recovery process commenced. This despite my follow-up and it being an existing Motion for the SM to commence steps.(the Treasurer was getting the Cash Management account, not myself. I was unaware of the arrears until Aug last year when it was 12mths I have been following up the SM since)

3. AGM has been cancelled at least 3 times by the SM for various reasons, but only when I’ve called to remind them they have agenda items missing or incomplete (Illness, not avail)

4. Request for quotes for trades people not done (we are also preparing for Roof Reseal which we wanted provided in the budget or noted when in the generalbusiness minutes the intent to commence etc)

The Treasurer and my self have made calls, put our “please explain & please get out money back” in writing, with a time frame to respond and have been ignored.

Other than harassing them, is there somewhere we can go to help us get our money back and how we can find another Strata Manager while this is such a mess.

The Treasurer and myself have experience in our own professions that moved money of this amount, without explanation or evidence of trying to rectify and not responding to calls/emails is alarming.

(We are in no way making an accusation of an individual or company but we do question how the controls did not pick this up or the recipient did not arrange the return of said monies)

Any help is greatly appreciated.