Strata Manager Cautions Owners About Complex Arrangements 1/01/2005 Strata title apartment living has become increasingly complex as owners’ seek to comply with the rules and regulations that affect how people live.
A mistake or an oversight in complying with regulatory matters can be costly for those who live under strata title rules as administered by their owners’ corporation.
Mr Richard Tooker, director of one of the states’ larger management groups, New South Wales Strata Management, says medium-density living often takes maximum attention from astute management.
He cites how an apparent failure to attend to detail recently saw a residential complex, said to be Sydney’s largest, vacated by fire department authorities and police due to a disputed 15a Annual Fire Safety Statement. Over 2,000 residents were affected.
While the dispute is complex the tenants found themselves in a simple bind. They were asked to leave the building. As they stood outside looking up at the block where they normally resided, an uproar began which was loud, long and lingering. It concerned the Sydney’s’ biggest apartment complex, which the council said had failed to meet fire certification requirements.
The dispute continues to echo amongst strata title residents and management alike to this day and Mr Tooker said the case is useful in pointing out the need for proper oversight of how things are done.
Essential to this incident, which saw the tenants regain entry to their building but eventually resulted in the 653 owners going to the Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal to have their owners’ corporation executive committee and their strata title manager removed, is the complexity of the job at hand.
Mr Tooker notes that fire safety measures can differ from one council to another, that heavy fines can apply for a failure to comply, and, in some instances buildings closed until regulations are met.
Fire regulations he said are but one of many statutory matters that can fall under the responsibility of what was previously known as the body corporate but is now called the owner’s corporation.
“A form 15A Fire Safety Certificate sets out essential fire safety measures that are applicable and are one of the things that New South Wales Strata Management reviews as standard practice. We perform this as an oversight role as part of our service to the owners’ corporation.”
He said many strata managers do not provide this service as standard, but his company routinely examines such matters as part of their role, which is to serve by providing efficient and economic management of strata plans.
“Our professional support provides much needed assistance in helping an owners’ corporation meet the requirements of the Strata Schemes Management Act. Experience and training specific to this field can be essential as there are times when the corporation must make decisions that affect everybody connected with the building.”
He said that it can be important to find out how improved service can help protect the important assets of the owners and said that inquiries were welcome from members of owners’ corporations concerned about how they were currently meeting their obligations.
Mr Tooker said that New South Wales Strata Management, with its headquarters based at Parramatta, currently has hundreds of buildings located across the greater Sydney region under contract.
Obligation free consultations can be had by contacting NSW Strata Management on direct 02 9890 1841.
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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