Some 60% of strata schemes in NSW are managed by a licensed strata managing agent. This means strata professionals will play a key role in supporting the majority of strata schemes with the new laws.
Strata professionals can win the confidence of their strata schemes in these ways.
1. Information
Help owners and tenants in strata become informed about the changes that are directly relevant to them by visiting stratalaws.nsw.gov.au
For industry-relevant details about the laws, strata professionals should explore the industry section of the website.
Other sources of information include:
2. Reviewing the by-laws
Make sure that owners know about the model by-laws to help them review their by-laws by 30 November 2017. Owners may consider amending their by-laws to take advantage of:
- the renovations process
- new ways to deal with problem parking.
We explore the benefits of these reforms below.
Read more about by-laws here.
3. Renovations
Ensure that owners are aware of new options to streamline approvals for renovations.
The new process for renovations clarifies that:
- cosmetic changes to the common property in a lot do not need approval
- minor renovations require owners’ support through a majority vote
- major or structural changes need a special resolution vote (75% of the owners agreeing at a meeting) to go ahead.
To speed up approvals, owners may now delegate approval for minor renovations to the strata committee, and specify specific renovations as being cosmetic or minor ones.
Read more about approvals for renovations.
4. Managing problem parking
A strata scheme may approach their local council to patrol unauthorised parking on their property, if the council agrees.
There are further measures for strata schemes to deal with unauthorised parking and abandoned vehicles too.
Read our information about parking management options.
5. Technology enablers
Help your strata scheme to consider their options for electronic communication and administration, and adopt the ones that work best for them. The owners corporation can pass a general resolution to take up their preferred options.
Find out more about adopting technology enablers in a strata scheme.
6. Collective sale and renewal
Strata schemes should be aware of the steps and requirements involved in a collective sale process.
Understand the collective sale process in more detail.
7. Tenants
Where at least half of the lots in a strata scheme are tenanted, strata schemes can now have a tenant representative elected to sit on the strata committee.
Owners corporations need to be aware of this development. They should also recognise the benefits of tenants having clearer avenues to raise concerns. This includes tenants being able to help identify maintenance or security issues that could, left unattended, lead to problems or unnecessary expense for the owners.
To attend meetings, tenants must be on the strata roll.
You can read more about tenant participation here.
8. Internal dispute resolution
The laws recognise that strata schemes may have their own dispute resolution process to proactively manage disagreements. People who are involved in a dispute do not have to take part in an internal dispute resolution process if they do not want to.
Fair Trading now provides mediation for free, which may be required before a matter can go before the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Read more about the process for resolving disputes.