Strata Republic

The Strata Republic team recently had the pleasure of attending the SCA (NSW) CHU Strata Community Awards for Excellence, an event that marks a significant milestone in the Strata industry calendar. This annual gathering serves as a platform to recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements within the NSW strata industry.

While we did not receive any awards this year, our team had an exceptional evening filled with joy and camaraderie. It was an opportunity for us to come together with industry experts and esteemed professionals to acknowledge and applaud the accomplishments of our peers.

We take great pride in being a part of this thriving community and remain committed to upholding the highest standards within the NSW strata industry. Events like these inspires us to continue pushing the boundaries and striving for excellence in everything we do.

As interest rates and the cost of living increase, more people are failing to pay their strata levies. However, collecting these payments is important for building maintenance and administration. If levies are not paid, it can disrupt cash flow and lead to unresolved building issues. Recovering strata levies in these situations is a complex legal process that requires knowledge of NSW strata laws and several steps must be taken before legal action can be taken.

As the world becomes more technologically advanced, it is becoming increasingly important to ensure the safety and security of everyone in public spaces. This is particularly true when it comes to pedestrian entrance control, which is vital for maintaining order and preventing unauthorized access to commercial property and other high-traffic pedestrian areas.

These systems must be both secure and user-friendly, allowing for easy access to authorized individuals while keeping out anyone who poses a security risk.

From turnstiles and revolving doors to access gates and biometric systems, there are a wide range of technologies available to suit every application. With the right pedestrian entrance control system in place, you can enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing your facility is fully protected.

The use of substandard glass and careless installation in building construction can pose a serious threat to life. In particular, the manufacturing of balcony balustrades with nickel sulphide has been linked to the failure of building glass when exposed to extreme temperature changes, such as heat, wind, and other stresses.

To ensure the safety of individuals living and working in residential and commercial buildings, it is essential that glaziers and building glass suppliers follow best practices and adhere to Australian Standards for building glass.

By using an AGWA regisgered business to procure and install your buildings glazing, you can rest assured that they hold certification from a qualified certifying authority and the products are from a reputable supplier.

Owners in strata schemes often spend a significant amount of money on lift and escalator refurbishments and upgrades. However, these works are not covered under the Home Building Act (NSW) 1989 consumer protection provisions. Therefore, strata managers and executive committees must take extra precautions to safeguard the owners' interests while entering into lift and escalator contracts. These works can be pricey, which may lead to the temptation of falling for false 'upfront' savings, potentially resulting in more severe expenses later on.

Good renovation by-laws provide protection for all parties involved in the renovation process. The by-laws aim to ensure that any renovations made to a lot are safe for the building and do not cause any detrimental effects to the owners corporation or any future owners. These by-laws are also responsible for outlining various criteria that must be met in order for a renovation to take place.

One significant aspect of a good renovation by-law is its ability to clearly state all the authorised work that can take place. The by-law should also specify the time frame for completing the work and outline any specific conditions that must be met. This means that all contractors involved in the renovation project will need to provide details of their insurance, developmental consent and ensure that the work complies with relevant standards and legislation such as the Building Code of Australia and the Design & Building Practitioners Act 2020.

To read more on renovation by-laws, visit: https://bit.ly/3WQ3xmq

The Strata Republic team was thrilled to be blessed with beautiful blue skies for the annual Strata Community Association NSW's Golf Day recently. Some members braved the early start to get the full 18 holes in, whilst others happily participated in the more relaxed "Champagne on the Green" putting tournament. A great day was had by all, and we look forward to the next one!

We are proud to have added the architecturally impressive Seymours Residences to our growing portfolio. Located in Roseville on Sydney’s leafy lower north shore and only 11km to the CBD, Seymours offers residents onsite Building Management, secure building & parking facilities, solar panels and lush green communal spaces and vegetable gardens for ultimate liveability and sustainability.

Total number of lots: 117
Environmental setting: Suburban
Structure: 3 lot BMC with 2 strata schemes and a heritage stratum lot

With demand for electric vehicles (EVs) in Australia growing rapidly, it's predicted EVs will represent an estimated 49% of total vehicle sales by 2030, and 100% of total vehicle sales by 2040(a).

SCA (NSW) has published an article relating to the challenges strata communities are likely to face with EVs.

To read or download the article below to find out more: https://bit.ly/3MNJhxb

(a) Source: Australian EV Market Study Report, ARENA

Strata Republic had the privilege of hosting Landlay, a Strata Remedial Consultancy firm, in our office recently for an information session to keep abreast of relevant industry Design and Building Practitioners Act information.

Landlay have developed a solid reputation as a respected strata remedial consultancy in Sydney. Their pro-active and results driven team are experienced across all sectors of the building diagnostic and remedial engineering industry.

We’re grateful to John Vikiarellis and Nick Corak for sharing their knowledge and spending time with the Strata Republic team. Ongoing education enables us to provide precise and pertinent guidance to our clients amid the ever-evolving legislative environment.

We are excited to introduce the Strata Republic Power Nap pod, exclusively manufactured and installed by smartbunks.com.au.

Did you know that power napping can work wonders for your overall well-being? It can help you feel more relaxed, refreshed, and alert, while reducing fatigue. Additionally, it can improve your mood, reaction time, and memory function.

Furthermore, power napping can also boost your immune system and reduce stress. A recent study discovered that short, 30-minute naps have stress-relieving and immune-boosting benefits. Another study found that power naps may contribute to a healthy heart, with participants who took power naps once or twice a week having a lower risk of cardiovascular events.

So taking a midday break to power nap in our Strata Republic Power Nap pod not only benefits the health of our team, but also our productivity. 
 
 
 

 
 
 

Like any other garden, vertical gardening systems need consistent and ongoing upkeep in order to thrive. Whether it's a green wall, green facade, or freestanding trellis, routine tasks such as pruning, weeding, and monitoring plant health are essential. Neglecting maintenance can result in the system's failure or even pose a safety risk to occupants. To prevent this, it is important to factor a maintenance plan into your Administration fund, and to hire professional contractors for the job.

Bill Moisidis from BellMont Façade Engineering provided a training session for the Strata Republic team recently.

Various aspects of building construction were discussed, including windows, cavity flashing, and waterproofing membranes of varying types.

Bill also covered important information, such as the specifications of works required by the BCA, and the influence of the new Design and Building Practitioners Act legislation.

With more than two decades of experience as a structural engineer, Bill is an expert in Building Diagnostics, Project Management, Waterproofing, Remedial Works Specification, Concrete Repair, and Protection. We’re most grateful to Bill for taking time out of his schedule to share his knowledge and expertise with our team.

BellMont Facade Engineering

Regular maintenance is essential for all services in your building, including plumbing, painting, and security systems. Neglecting maintenance will only worsen problems when they arise and increase costs when they are eventually serviced.

Proactive maintenance involves creating a schedule and regularly inspecting and servicing critical components to extend the lifespan of services and reduce the chances of breakdowns. Although it won't guarantee no system failure, proactive maintenance significantly reduces the likelihood of it happening.

It's wise to establish an early warning system for potential issues as building access is crucial for occupants.

When it comes to shared parking spaces and dealing with parking on common property, owners corporations and strata managers have often struggled. While most property owners and residents abide by the by-laws or building rules, others may be oblivious if they are new to the building or if they are guests.

Owners and residents are only allowed to park in the spaces allocated to them. They cannot use parking for visitors or emergency vehicles. They should check that their lot entitlement includes a car space. If there is no space, they can apply for a common property rights by-law which will allow them to park on common property.

Strata fees can be seen as a means of maintaining and improving your asset to continue generating an income. So typically, if you are a property investor, your strata levies are tax-deductible.

You should keep records of all of the incurred expenses to determine what can be claimed. It is a good idea to consult a tax professional to be sure that this claim is acceptable. If the strata fee falls into the special fund or capital expenditure a deduction most likely won’t be claimed. However, if it is from the administrative or capital works fund, which most are, then usually it can be claimed.

What happens if you don’t pay your strata fees?
As these fees need to be quarterly, there are long periods in between where you can sort out your financial situation and budget well in order to make these payments on time. However, like most legal matters, failure to comply will mean penalties apply as this places financial and emotional stress on the owners’ corporation and strata managers who have to make up for the shortfall. A lot of owners who fail to pay their fees are labelled as “unfinancial” and lose some important rights, like the ability to vote at meetings

An unfinancial owner’s debt will acquire interest on the overdue amount at a traditional rate of 10% per annum. If it is unpaid for long enough a debt collector or solicitor may be called to recover the debt, but if it remains unpaid then the owners’ corporation may commence legal action.

Whether you can cook with a gas barbeque on your balcony will depend on your local by-laws and the strata regulations in your particular complex. If restrictions on gas barbecues on balconies does apply, you may be able to ask the body corporate if they can provide alternative barbeque area on the common property.

Strata fees are an essential part of successful strata management.
Maintenance and repairs are generally the biggest expenses and take up the largest portion of strata fees within a residential, community, commercial or industrial scheme. Investment in remedial maintenance such as plumbing, electrical, painting, external repairs, cleaning and gardening is an ongoing expense and a quality scheme needs to budget for more significant repairs such as roofing, replacing lifts and gates, and security upgrades where required.

Strata Republic ensures your strata scheme runs as smoothly as possible. Whether you are thinking of buying into a strata scheme or are looking to engage a professional and qualified team, contact Strata Republic to experience the difference a successful strata management company can make.

We're so grateful to receive feedback as generous and thoughtful as this from our clients, it certainly does not go unnoticed. Feedback and reviews offer valuable insight into the service that we provide at Strata Republic, and provides opportunity for continuous improvement.

We are pleased to welcome The Point Apartments to the Strata Republic portfolio.

Designed by Candalepas Architects, who were shortlisted in 1999 for AIA NSW Architecture Award and winner of the National Design Competition for Housing at Pyrmont in 1995 for The Point Apartments, the entry of the building was awarded its prize for its ability to consolidate complex issues of Environmentally Sustainable Design with a sophisticated urban response.

Construction Date: 1998
Number of Lots: 78 primary lots
Environmental setting: Urban
Structure: Strata Plan (Residential)

Strata Republic deliver quality strata management services without the bureaucracy that often comes in dealing with larger firms. With a focus on great communication, technology-enabled solutions and fast, responsive service we’ve built a reputation for delivering strata management at its best.

Strata Republic had the pleasure of attending the opening of the new office last Friday. Thanks for having us along to celebrate with you and congratulations on the new space.

The ability for smokers to have a cigarette in the comfort of their own home could be at risk after a significant decision in a NSW court. And it could become even more extreme with cooking smells and use of barbecues on balconies also facing bans. This comes a warning in the wake of a recent hearing which could set a precedent for future cases.

For more information contact Strata Republic, or read the full article here: https://bit.ly/3JqYLpk

Under new proposed pet laws renters may soon be allowed to own pets without needing approval from landlords. These potential changes will bring NSW laws in line with other laws across Australia and provide potential tenants with pets a greater choice, restricting landlords to deny pet owners. With these impending changes it is important to ensure your pets by-laws are up to date and take into account the recent changes to both strata and residential tenancy laws regarding pets.

For more information please contact Strata Republic or read the full article here: https://bit.ly/3Tkn0u4

Prior to buying a property in a residential strata scheme, we highly recommend that you obtain a strata report. Knowing if the intended scheme is properly managed, financially secure, suitably maintained and well-planned is worth knowing.

A strata report details the building’s history. This includes pending building works that you should be aware of, previously completed building works, any additional levies and a financial record of the past two years. The strata report should include a capital works plan, by-laws and unresolved disputes.

Before buying into a residential strata scheme, contact Strata Republic to request a strata report.

Amelia Causer is one of Strata Republic's very talented strata managers, and has been with Strata Republic for over 12 years. Amelia's empathy and care for her clients, combined with her extensive knowledge, makes her a true asset to the company and those she works with.

Expenditure for planned repairs or maintenance for certain items at your strata property is generally approved at each AGM. The work can be organised by the strata committee, strata manager or building manager. You may need a strata committee meeting to arrange the work (for example, to approve which contractor will perform the maintenance or repairs). Some owners’ corporations set out spending limits for repairs at the AGM. Check your minutes to see if this is the case in your scheme, and what your spending limit is.

Common area maintenance charges included in strata levies should cover any services required to keep common property looking good and functioning well – these services might include gardeners, cleaners and other contractors. Common area maintenance expenses should be discussed at your Annual General Meetings, and a proactive strata manager will regularly check that these services are delivering value for your strata scheme. As a general rule, well-balanced maintenance management means that costs can be kept to a minimum and that any important issues will be attended to responsively.

Most property needs maintenance as time goes on, whether we’re talking about foyers, hallways, staircases, elevators, roofs or swimming pools. Within a strata property, maintenance for common areas is covered by the owners corporation and paid for through strata levies. Good maintenance makes a strata property a far nicer place to live, and it also helps to protect the value of your investment.