Nothing doing

Posted on behalf of ‘Fender’

I’m writing on behalf of my 88 year old mother. She lives independently in a villa complex comprising three residences. Two are occupied by owners, whilst the third is tenanted. Earlier this year I noticed that her home needed painting.

In February, I spoke to the principal of the Strata Management Company responsible for the maintenance of the complex and requested that she arrange to provide the owners with quotations for the necessary work. I was informed that a special levy would need to be struck and that the issue would be raised at the next owner’s meeting.

I should point out that I’m totally unfamiliar with dealings of this nature, so several months went by before I thought it prudent to enquire what was happening. During the course of June, I phoned and left messages for the Company’s principal to contact me. The messages were ignored.

Early this month I phoned again and finally got to speak with her. I pointed out that several months has passed and that the owners were still waiting to learn when she planned to convene a meeting.

Further, I asked her if she could provide my mother with a copy of the 2011 annual report and the 2012 annual report. To date, no proposed meeting date has been forthcoming and no annual reports have been received. If it were my property this Company were managing, I’d be dispensing with their services as soon as possible.

Which leads me to the reason I’m writing to you. Could you please appraise me of the formal process involved in dispensing with the services of the incumbent strata manager. As well, how do the owners reclaim the levies that have accumulated and how do you select a professional and responsive strata manager?

My mother lives in the Hurstville Shire, so if you know of any reputable managers thereabouts worth talking to, I’d be very grateful for the lead(s).