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  • #9273
    Frans
    Flatchatter

      Hello,

      HELP please:

      Newish Strata Townhouses x 4:

      3 owner occupied; 1 owner investor-tenanted 

      Seems simple enough? Not on your life.

      This is our second year in this Strata.  Last year the (newly elected company SM), forgot to pay Buildg. Insurance by due date & when asked why, if and when, and actual date of payment we were told lies. (However, have proof from Insurance Co).  As well, when AGM Minutes 2012 was received it contained bold untruths.  SM was asked about the unwarranted lies and we were told that we could “take it up at next AGM if there was time”

      No prize for guessing what has happened this year.  Ditto. 

      We are the only owners who know anything about Strata etc.  The others do NOT want to know anything, could not care a hoot and refuse to discuss anything to do with Strata whatsoever.  We have spoken to others in a similar situation and read about it but could not believe it until it happened to us.

      The elected SM, takes her annual fee, & receives a 15% commission from two (2) Insurance Companies, yet, refuses to comply with Rules & Regulations.  The SM, Secretary, + 2 owners seem to be engaged in cronyism.  

      We wrote to the local branch Fair Trading outlining these and other misdemeanours.  Initial contact was some 6 months ago and nothing further has been heard from them regarding these matters.

      We don’t believe that we are vexatious or paranoid. Confused

      We simply wish in peace but expect the SM and the Secretary to carry out their obligations properly.

      Frans

       

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    • #20481
      Cosmo
      Flatchatter

        Frans,

         

        regarding the late payment of the insurance. The late payment issue has happened to our strata a couple of times.  When I questioned our Insurance broker about this I was told that as we paid through an insurance broker our strata was covered for up to 3 months after our premiums became due.  

         

        So it might be worthwhile to check if this is the case.  

        #20519
        Frans
        Flatchatter
        Chat-starter

          @Cosmo said:
          Frans,

           

          regarding the late payment of the insurance. The late payment issue has happened to our strata a couple of times.  When I questioned our Insurance broker about this I was told that as we paid through an insurance broker our strata was covered for up to 3 months after our premiums became due.  

           

          So it might be worthwhile to check if this is the case.  

          Cosmo, thanks…it is so…however, the problem of a an SM + OC minus us = disaster

          #20522
          Cosmo
          Flatchatter

            Hi Frans, in your original post you said there were 4 units in the strata and “We are the only owners who know anything about Strata etc.  The others do NOT want to know anything, could not care a hoot and refuse to discuss anything to do with Strata whatsoever.”  

            And then in your most recent post “SM + OC minus us = disaster”. 

            Both of your comments appear to be a common occurrence in strata.  Are you on the executive? Does your OC have an executive? Getting on the executive shouldn’t be that difficult if the other owners are disinterested.

            My only other comment would be with only 4 units and the others not wanting to know, what are the chances of you persuading a couple of the other owners on the issues before meetings/votes etc.  You need to pick issues where you can explain the benefits to the others disinterested owners of the benefits of what you propose.  

            Good Luck

            #20531
            Frans
            Flatchatter
            Chat-starter

              @Cosmo said:
              Hi Frans, in your original post you said there were 4 units in the strata and “We are the only owners who know anything about Strata etc.  The others do NOT want to know anything, could not care a hoot and refuse to discuss anything to do with Strata whatsoever.”  

              And then in your most recent post “SM + OC minus us = disaster”. 

              Both of your comments appear to be a common occurrence in strata.  Are you on the executive? Does your OC have an executive? Getting on the executive shouldn’t be that difficult if the other owners are disinterested.

              My only other comment would be with only 4 units and the others not wanting to know, what are the chances of you persuading a couple of the other owners on the issues before meetings/votes etc.  You need to pick issues where you can explain the benefits to the others disinterested owners of the benefits of what you propose.  

              Good Luck

              Hi Cosmo,

              Hi Cosmo,

              Thank you for your suggestion.  This advice would appear to be simple task in a Strata where the members are responsive. Not-one is willing to speak about Strata matters and that’s that!  In fact, one owner-occupier told us that she didn’t want to pay any levies, didn’t know what a levy was, what a levy was for and she couldn’t see any reason to pay anyone anything as she minded her own business.  This lack of (?) ‘interest’ despite being given all information available.

              We wrote to the local Office Fair Trading.  Initially the person who was looking after our problem was sympathetic towards our concerns, however when told the SM’s name & Company the attitude changed and we’ve heard nil since; that’s some 6 months ago.  (Small community where everyone ‘knows’ everyone). As we see it, the only option now is to write to NSW Govt. Representative of the Office Fair Trading. 

              We cannot afford to move…..

              ps. I believe that the SM is being very deliberate in her actions.  She is aware that the others here either don’t know or care.  She receives 15% commission from two insurance companies; we had to ask her for a disclaimer regarding these commissions when we moved in here 2 years ago.  SM provided only us with that information.  We informed the other owners there was no response whatsoever. SM does collect 15% commission x 2; collects our annual fee for her (?) services, collects 4 levies & pays Bldg. Ins. when she remembers.

              We see no end to this situation.  Voting does not happen….a person is chosen by SM to be Secretary to liaise with the other 3….too old now to go any further.This Strata future looks bleak!

              #20534
              cate
              Flatchatter

                frans ,when i moved into a strata complex of 17 units ,13 years ago ,i made an effort to get the complex run properly, a proper strata manager was appointed, which was the first big disappointment , because he will not enforce the simply bylaws which is where most of the problems stem from.this is a $5,000,000 complex which is now run by four brain dead owners who have never owned property before and a sm who  could not care less. i can assure you it is not worth the hassle to be involved in running a strata complex . just do as we do now shut the door and have a good laugh as it self destructs . a divorce is a breeze compared to strata good luck

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