Quality Strata Management Helps Dwellers Stay On Track 5/12/2005 Owners of strata titled properties have much to gain from the use of a top quality strata management company. Such management organisations can do much more than maintain equilibrium between the Executive Committee of the Owners Corporation and the law. They can also smooth the path that sees conflicts resolved before they start.
Many modern apartment blocks involve a strata scheme. This means the building has both individually owned portions and common areas where every owner shares responsibility. People who own property in such buildings enjoy pooled cost sharing but can do so at some risk if their Executive Committee either acts outside the best interest of all owners or simply fails to act at all.
Mr Richard Tooker, director of one of the States largest strata title management companies, New South Wales Strata Management, says good communication can make an all-important difference.
“It is an unfortunate fact of life that some owners fail to take sufficient interest in how their building is being run and their money spent. In some instances absentee investors can be a problem and the same goes for overly zealous members of Executive Committees who are more concerned with power than the collective needs of the owners corporation.
Much of the problem stems from unit-dwellers themselves who may be uninterested in the unglamorous technicalities that come with property management. Unpaid and unsung, Executive Committee members of an Owners Corporation under the Strata Schemes Management Act, carry the management load, making decisions and planning the future of the building and all the owners .This is a very responsible task and should not be taken lightly
“This is where the involvement of a professional strata management organisation can be particularly beneficial. Operating in an oversight role the strata Management Company can assist with impartial advice and guidance.
“When an Owners Corporation selects to use the services of a strata managing agent a number of functions are delegated to the Agent. This allows the Agent to have some professional imput into matters that need experienced hands to guide the owners corporation on the right path and offcourse in the best interest of the owners corporation not just a select group.
Mr Tooker says that amongst those functions are the preparation of administrative and sinking fund estimates, the levying of contributions, maintaining records, insurance, conducting meetings and handling correspondence, and entering into common property maintenance and service contracts.
“Having such matters handled by an independent party gives transparency to proceedings and provides considerable security of administration to the owners.”
Such professional help, he says, can be welcomed by Executive Committee members, operating as volunteers, often with few skills, often harbouring only a small amount of experience and severely pressed by time.
Members or other interested persons wanting help can contact New South Wales Strata Management direct on 9890 1841 to have their programme reviewed.
New South Wales Strata Management (formerly Gilmour Strata Management) commenced business in early 1991, as a member of the highly respected J A Gilmour & Sons group of companies. Licensed solely and specialising only in strata management services, the company has steadily grown to become one of the largest such organisations in New South Wales.
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