Even a billionaire with a penthouse can’t fully avoid tangles with his management council, which is also known as the Management Corporation Strata Title (MCST). Read the entire article……………………………….
Australia: Nothing was done for months. Now this family is stuck in a damp, mouldy flat
Unexplained delays by the NSW government’s property tribunal have forced a mother, her five-year-old daughter and her elderly parents to move back into their damp, mouldy apartment. Read the entire article……………………………….
Australia: Deal With Strata Properties? Learn More About the Expiring Speculation and Vacancy Tax Exemption for Strata Owners
If you’re a REALTOR® who has clients involved in strata property transactions, you may get asked questions about owners renting out their units and the implications on the Speculation and Vacancy Tax (SVT). Until now, strata owners who were not permitted to rent out units may have qualified for an SVT exemption. That changes in […]
Australia: They bought a puppy for their son in lockdown. Strata did something ‘absurd’ (NSW)
When health worker Georgia Dawson applied for permission to keep her dog in her apartment, she was stunned to be told her building was considering imposing a bond on all pet owners of $2000. Read the entire article……………………………….
Philippines: HLURB, not RTC, has jurisdiction over homeowners’ disputes – Supreme Court
The Supreme Court (SC) has stressed that disputes between and among members of homeowners’ associations in villages are within the jurisdiction of the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB) and not the regional trial court (RTC). Read the entire article……………………………….
Philippines: PLDT-Smart laud House nod on bill mandating allocation for cell sites in subdivisions
The House of Representatives, on Wednesday, approved on third and final reading the House Bill No. 10388 or “An Act Mandating the Allocation of an Area for Information and Communication Technology Infrastructure and Facilities in Subdivisions and Housing Development Projects.” Read the entire article……………………………….
Australia: This Sydney strata nightmare started as a power struggle — then the police were called
It’s the stuff of Sydney strata nightmares: a cracking building, an expensive repair bill and an owners’ meeting that got so heated the police turned up. The drama started in the basement of the Vicinity apartment towers in Canterbury earlier this month, when owners couldn’t agree over who should be put in charge of managing […]
Singapore: Are neighbourhood condos affected when an integrated-MRT condo comes to town?
A few months ago, we covered whether it is worth paying a premium for integrated or mixed-use condos, such as The Centris, North Park Residences and The Woodleigh Residences. These are 99-year leasehold condos, built above amenities like a shopping mall, MRT stations and bus interchanges and retail outlets (sometimes including a cinema). Read the […]
Australia: Strata and community schemes wake to a new era of short-term letting (NSW)
After nearly 20 months of closed international and state borders, it is understandable that the tourism industry is eagerly awaiting the return of the “tourist”, whether that be international travellers, domestic travellers or weary Sydneysiders looking to escape to rural NSW. Read the entire article……………………………….
Australia: Wye River locals question Great Ocean Road governance as $150k ramp washed away by erosion
Following a severe storm in January, the river changed direction, sending water gushing along the beach towards the club and rapidly eroding the coastline where the building is perched. Mr McIntosh said he raised concerns with authorities in February, but for months, the only thing that was done was shuffling sand around the beach in […]
Australia: NSW government proposes new annual reporting for strata schemes
The NSW Government is considering introducing a requirement for owners corporations to report and verify information each year on the NSW Government’s Strata Hub. Strata managing agents, lot owners, residents and members of the public will then be able to go to the Hub to access the information. Read the entire article……………………………….
Australia: Managing Poor Behaviour – Sometime’s It’s Not (Just) a Strata Issue…
I received an interesting query this week, and it is not the first time that I have been asked a similar question. The question was how does the Owners Corporation stop a person selling drugs out of a lot? Variations on this question which I have received over the years are: how do I stop […]
Malaysia: Simplified system for better strata management
THE launch of the Selangor Intelligent Strata Property System (SISP) will see the use of an eCOB (Commissioner of Buildings) system by all 12 local councils in Selangor for better strata management and processes. “eCOB is a system designed for the COB of local councils to assist stakeholders such as joint management body (JMB) and […]
India: In Sector 66 condo, sewage water gives rise to dengue fears
Gurgaon: As the number of dengue cases are on the rise in the residents of Palm Drive, an upscale condominium located in Sector 66, are worried about an outbreak of the vector-borne disease with the continuous open dumping of sewage waste in the area. Read the entire article……………………………….
Australia: Strata Gavel: The Trentelman Case Appeal (NSW)
The NSW Court of Appeal decides Trentelmans Case by holding the hotel/motel operator to promises made at a strata meeting and giving the strata owners and corporation permanent rights to the pool despite them voting to give them away as part of a redevelopment proposal. Seems a fair enough decision, but there are also a […]
Australia: Another Sydney Strata Structural Failure
For more than 25 years I’ve pursued strata developers and builders over strata building defects, but whilst they affected building compliance and strata owners’ and residents’ amenity, they could still live in their apartments. That seems to have changed and I wonder what’s going on … Read the entire article……………………………….
Australia: By-law compliance in strata management
A breach of by-laws notice may be issued by the Council of the Strata Company to an owner. This is typically sent by the strata management company when an owner, occupier or visitor is engaging in behavior that contravenes the registered by-laws of the complex. Read the entire article……………………………….
Australia: Petty Squabbles in Strata Buildings
Do strata committees and strata owners squabble instead of dealing with important issues or is that just an easy trope? Let’s consider a recent US story arising after the Surfside Condo collapse and why it might be true there, here, and elsewhere. Read the entire article……………………………….
Singapore: Building manager of posh Scotts Road condo used access card to steal $100k in cash and items from residents
Using an access card he created for units at the Scotts Square condominium, a building manager entered residents’ homes and stole $28,000 in cash and three Hermes handbags worth nearly $86,000 in total. Read the entire article……………………………….
Australia: Who Owns the Embedded Network Infrastructure when it is Attached to the Common Property?
A “fixture” refers to objects that are attached to the land in such a manner that they become part of the land. Once an object becomes a part of the property, it belongs to the property owner. But how does the concept of fixture and ownership play out in context of strata scheme buildings? As […]
Philippines: Condo dwellers no longer qualified for power subsidies
Filipinos living in condominiums and subdivisions will no longer qualify to avail of the ‘lifeline subsidy’ or electricity rate discounts extended to financially challenged power consumers. Read the entire article……………………………….
Buying a condo in Thailand: 4 things to know
As condos are increasingly becoming buyers’ favourite investments, their potential to yield a profit can be potentially quite high. From low maintenance costs to the ability to use the property for residential or investment purposes, condos can offer great value and accessibility. Here, we have 4 things that potential buyers should know before investing in […]
Australia: Over a third of new strata buildings require serious repairs (NSW)
Of the strata buildings recently constructed across NSW, 39 per cent have serious defects, according to a new report, and the issues are taking an increasingly long time to be repaired. Research conducted by the Strata Community Association NSW (SCA NSW) has totalled the cost of these building defects, finding that the average price for […]
Jamaica: Legislation to Be Drafted to Govern Communities With Shared Facilities
Legislation is to be developed to govern the operations of communities with shared facilities and expenses which are not governed by the Registration (Strata Titles) Act. Read the entire article……………………………….
Australia: Strata Management Companies and 10-Year Maintenance Plans
The 10-Year Maintenance Plan assists the Council of the strata company in planning for future maintenance expenses across a diverse group of strata management companies so that large, unexpected special levies may not have to be raised in the future. The report itself has to cover almost everything that most strata management companies will require […]
Australia: Changing Strata Entitlements or Liabilities in VIC
It’s very common for some strata owners to believe their lot entitlements or liabilities are incorrect and want them changed. But, the processes are complex, lengthy, expensive and legally intricate as this overview of the VIC rules and cases demonstrate. Read the entire article……………………………….
Singapore: Condominium unit buyers, agents get jail for backdating Option to Purchase to evade higher stamp duties
A couple and two property agents were sentenced to jail on Friday (Sep 24) for backdating an Option to Purchase on a condominium unit in order to evade newly raised stamp duties. Read the entire article……………………………….
South Africa: Lagoons and lawyers: Pretoria ‘beach’ residents unhappy with changes
There is trouble brewing in paradise, as homeowners living at Pretoria’s “beach” are clashing with the property developers over new regulations within The Blyde Riverwalk Estate. Read the entire article……………………………….
Philippines: Magallanes Village vs ‘unauthorized’ Chinese tenants
Not long after the Ayala Alabang Village Association cracked down on abusive tenants from mainland China—many said to be using their rented homes for illegal online gaming activities or as staffhouses—another upscale exclusive residential community has found itself in a similar predicament. Read the entire article……………………………….
Thailand – Condominium Disputes: Rights And Responsibilities Of Joint Owners
“Condominium” combines the Latin roots com (“together”) and dominium (“right of ownership or property”) into a word that literally means “shared property.” This shared ownership of property—which in the condominium’s case has come to mean a large building of residential units—has been enormously popular in Bangkok and other Thai cities, Read the entire article……………………………….
Australia: Oops, I Did it Again!
It looks like this time, I’m the one that did it again ….In my article ‘The [Not So] Social Strata Website’ I made a rookie mistake and forgot my own exhortations that decisions in lower Courts are notoriously unreliable by quoting the NSW District Court decision in Raynor v Murray [2019] NSWDC 189 as good […]
Australia: NSW strata: Tribunal considers the validity of pet by-law conditions
Section 137B of the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 commenced on 24 August 2021 and provides that a by-law cannot unreasonably prohibit the keeping of an animal on a lot. The following Tribunal decision illustrates that a scheme can still place certain conditions on the keeping of pets. Read the entire article……………………………….
Australia: NSW: New Strata Laws Regarding Pets: The Trap For Young Players
This article is about the pitfalls of the new strata laws dealing with pets in NSW strata buildings. On 25 August 2021, new strata laws commenced which changed the rules regarding pet ownership in strata buildings. Those rules mark a shift in the NSW Government’s policy concerning pets in strata buildings and encourage pets in […]
Australia: New report reveals skyrocketing cost of strata insurance
Strata insurance costs have been heading skyward for at least the last four years, according to a new report issued by the Strata Community Association (SCA) conducted by Deakin University. Read the entire article……………………………….
Buying a Condo in Dubai: The Ultimate Guide
Those who are looking to live or invest in a vibrant area with low taxes should consider buying a condo in Dubai. Home to people from different countries and cultures all around the world, Dubai is among the world’s most exciting cities. Read the entire article……………………………….
Singapore: Security association slams tender by Hillview Heights condo managing agent over ‘race and age discrimination
A tender for security services at a Bukit Batok condominium, which asked for guards who speak Mandarin and are below the age of 60, was called out by the Security Association Singapore on Monday (Sept 6) for what it said was discrimination against non-Mandarin speakers and older workers. Read the entire article……………………………….
Australia: Owners of Bayview Apartments in Ryde fix defects after developer goes into liquidation (NSW)
A group of apartment owners in Sydney’s north has had to find millions of dollars to rectify defects in their complex which emerged since it was completed 10 years ago. The developer behind the project — 82-84 Belmore Street Pty Ltd — was liquidated two years after the apartments were built. Read the entire article……………………………….
Australia: Airbnb – Residential Use Defined (QLD)
A number of body corporate lawyers have recently published articles claiming that bodies corporate could use by-laws to ban holiday lettings, despite the Body Corporate and Community Management Act (BCCMA) prohibiting such by-laws. The basis for the claim was a recent District Court decision which concerned a complex governed by the Building Units and Group […]
Australia: Combustible Cladding Fires Italian Style
Sadly, after a relatively quiet period and apparent calm over combustible cladding we’ve seen another major apartment building facade fire in Milan, Italy. Luckily there were no fatalities, but there’s plenty of building damage and new uncertainty over materials and fire safety management techniques for affected high-rise buildings. Read the entire article……………………………….
Australia: It’s a Dog Owner’s Strata Life (NSW)
The laws and other controls on pets in strata buildings are getting a lot of attention lately. But, in reality, it’s the pet owners and animal basics that matter more. So, let’s focus on more fundamental issues from their perspective based on expert advice … Read the entire article……………………………….
Philippines: Condo denies hand in Cebu lawyer’s slaying
The management of a condominium in this city has denied involvement in the death of a lawyer, who had staged a hunger strike, to protest the imposition of dues, before he was shot last week. In a statement, the Bamboo Bay Condominium Corp. (BBCC) said it was “shocked” upon learning of the killing of human […]
South Africa: Five reasons new directors, trustees should be inducted
When agreeing to serve as a director or trustee of a homeowners association or body corporate, your appointment is legally the same as if you were serving on any board of any business entity. Here we look at five reasons to be properly inducted into your new role.vvvRead the entire article……………………………….
Australia: 10 Years and Terminated: Court Upholds Cap to Pre-2003 Building Management Agreement (NSW)
There has been a widespread practice of extending caretaking or building management agreements to get around the 10 year cap in the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 (SSMA 2015). In the recent appeal decision of Australia City Properties Management Pty Ltd v The Owners – Strata Plan No 65111 [2021] NSWCA162, Chief Justice Bathurst affirmed […]
Australia: End to blanket bans on pets in strata (NSW)
During the current lockdown pets are more important than ever, and from 25 August the NSW Government’s new laws will to put an end to blanket bans on animals in strata. The changes follow a detailed review of the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 (the Act) and extensive public consultation, focusing on the keeping of […]
Philippines: Bamboo Bay cuts off water supply of 20 condo units
THE Bamboo Bay Condominium Corp. (BBCC) said it has disconnected the water supply of 20 condo units, including lawyer Rex Fernandez’s unit, after non-payment of condo corporation dues. On Friday, Aug. 13, 2021, Fernandez, a human rights lawyer who lives in a unit at Bamboo Bay located in Brgy. Subangdaku, Mandaue City, initiated a hunger […]
Australia: How Pet Loving are Victorian Strata Buildings? (VIC)
Things have been looking pretty good for pets in strata and other buildings in Victoria. But, the laws and court decisions are not completely comforting, the fights are not over yet, and, the future for strata pets will likely depend on their [and their pet owner’s] behaviours Read the entire article……………………………….
Singapore: Sherwood Condominium property officer, security firm director fined for bribery
A property officer and a director of a security firm have been fined in a bribery case involving the award of security service contracts at Sherwood Condominium. Read the entire article……………………………….
Australia: ‘Nightmare’: Changed orders keep buyers locked into defective Parramatta towers (NSW)
Buyers of apartments in two 22-storey Parramatta towers with serious defects fear changes to orders imposed on a developer by the NSW building watchdog will strip away their right to rescind contracts and get their deposits back. Read the entire article……………………………….
Australia: Electronic strata meetings and voting permitted (NSW)
In response to the current COVID-19 lockdown restrictions in NSW, temporary amendments have been made to the Strata Schemes Management Regulation 2016 (NSW). As of 21 July 2021, strata committees and owners corporations are permitted to meet and vote electronically (for example, email, teleconference or video conferences). Read the entire article……………………………….