Strata management



	Strata management

	Sinking fund plans (Journal May 2007)
	All strata schemes will soon have to develop 10-year sinking fund plans, with new legislation coming into effect in stages over the next three years.

	Strata funding (Journal May 2007)
	While it’s a good idea to set a budget by formulating a sinking fund plan for future capital works, scrimping and saving are not the only options for paying for maintenance and capital works.

	Recovering expenses (Journal May 2007)
	Two recent NSW Supreme Court cases have expressed opposing views on the way owners corporations recover unpaid levies from owners. Bruce Bentley, a partner in the law firm J. S. Mueller & Co, explains.

	Strata Benchmarking Report (Journal May 2007)
	A shortage of trained, qualified staff is looming as the biggest challenge to face the strata industry, according to a new Macquarie Bank report.

	Fixing it before it breaks (Journal May 2007)
	A recent court decision has highlighted the importance for owners corporations to carry out regular maintenance on common property. Adrian Mueller, a solicitor from J.S. Mueller & Co, explains.

	Safety review (Journal May 2007)
	A professional safety review of a strata building can help to reduce the risks of accidents occurring. Peter McGee from RiskTech explains.

	Strata insurance (Journal May 2007)
	Finding the right insurance for strata buildings and owners corporations can be confusing. Kevin Morman, the National Manager of Aon’s real estate division, provides some tips on what to look for.

	Reading strata plans (Journal May 2007)
	It’s easy to get confused when trying to read a strata plan – but mistakes can be costly. Darren Peters from the NSW Department of Lands provides some background on what information is included in a strata plan.

	Termites - a threat to sinking funds (Journal May 2007)
	If termites travel through a common area to get to a unit, the owners corporation could be responsible. Termite expert and entomologist Ion Staunton explains some methods to help prevent attacks.

	Common claims (Journal November 2006)
	Expert real estate lawyer Torquil Murray explains the emerging claims trends and offers some tips on how to avoid mistakes.

	Pesticide use - new laws (REINSW Practice Notes, October 2006)
	REINSW Practice Notes on the new laws affecting pesticide use introduced for 1 February 2007.

	Strata Software Survey
	Survey specific to strata management software.

	Receipts (Journal June 2006)
	The question of whether agents have to print out original trust receipts has now been clarified. Agents no longer have to keep hard copies of original trust receipts, as long as you can reprint the receipt from an electronic copy. Tim McKibbin, REINSW Legal Counsel, explains.

	Land tax in Australia (Journal June 2006)
	Anyone who has ever struggled to understand their land tax bill knows just how complicated the land valuation system can be.

	Panel forum: property management (Journal June 2006)
	Panel member, Miles Felstead, discusses the potential for landlords to claim rent from a tenant after a lease has been terminated.

	Avoid a cat fight - know the strata rules on pets (Journal May 2006)
	Being aware of the by-laws governing pets in a strata scheme could stop the fur from flying in disputes between purchasers, vendors, tenants, landords, agents and owners' corporations, say Torquil Murray and Melissa Younan of TressCox Lawyers.

	Smoke Alarms - (Journal April 2006)
	REINSW Legal Counsel, Tim McKibbin, makes some sense of the new smoke alarm regime that is making agents hot under the collar.

	Avoiding personal injury claims (Journal April 2006)
	In mounting a successful defence to a personal injury claim, the importance of good record keeping, a reliable insurer and adequate coverage cannot be overstated.

	Building Legislation Amendment (Smoke Alarms) Act 2005 (Journal March 2006)
	Tim McKibbin, REINSW Legal Counsel, and Adam Murphy, REINSW Research Officer, provide an explanation of the new State Government legislation on smoke alarms.

	Who can sue over common property defects? (Journal June 2005)
	A recent case brought before the NSW Court of Appeal confirms that an owners corporation has the right to commence proceedings against another party in negligence concerns.

	Managing agents need to review service contracts (Journal April 2005)
	The following case illustrates the need for real estate agents to maintain adequate service and repair contracts with qualified third party repairers, as Torquil Murray explains.

	Changes to strata laws (Journal April 2005)
	A number of important changes to the Strata Schemes Management Act 1996 and Strata Schemes Management Regulation 1997 and related laws came into effect on 7 February 2005.

	Important changes to strata scheme management laws (Journal September 2004)
	Important changes to the Strata Schemes Management Act 1996 have recently been passed by the New South Wales Parliament. Joanne Moore takes a look at some of the more significant changes.

	Strata developments: Who has the final say? (Journal July 2004)
	Strata managers need to be familiar with the practical implications of the decision in the recent ‘Cameron’ case for those interested in developing land within a strata scheme, write Daniel Freiman and Rob Riddell.

	Strata Units, Owners Corporations and Builder’s Warranty Insurance: Act Before Your Rights Expire (Journal May 2003)
	Builder’s warranty insurance is designed to protect homeowners against incomplete or defective building work and insolvent builders, writes Robert Riddell.

	Strata Schemes Management Act and Regulations: the role and duties of caretakers (Journal March 2003)
	Recent changes to the Strata Schemes Management Act (the Act) and Regulations, which took effect on 10 February 2003, created a new category of property management – the caretaker. Kay Blance, REINSW Legal Counsel, investigates.

	How Much is that Doggie in the Window? (Journal June 2001)
	Maybe the question Patti Page should have asked was “Can I Keep that Doggie in my Strata Title Property?” Bob Ward opens a can of worms in investigating this often perplexing issue.