Good Strata Manager makes all the Difference 6/07/2007 Living peacefully within a strata titled property can take a little doing. The benefits – the cost sharing and access to often numerous amenities – can blind the eye to the fact that strata titled living does mean that there are common areas that neighbours will need to share.
With most strata schemes however, there is someone standing in the middle between the various owners. This can provide a balance in the event that one owner might dispute exactly where lines in the sand should be drawn. Who owns what can become an issue. Who pays too becomes important. And it is during such times that intervention by a good strata manager becomes most welcome and at times vital.
Mr Richard Tooker, the director of New South Wales Strata Management says that one of the important survival tips for owners of strata titled units, townhouses and villas is to make sure that the buildings owners’ corporation has a well trained strata manager. Such a manager can virtually save the day by assisting the executive committee to keep the programme on the straight and narrow.
“Many people may not know that understanding the Strata Title Act and a buildings applicable by-laws can take a bit of heavy reading. So having someone available who makes it their business to understand the intricacies of The Act can be a blessing,” says Mr Tooker.
“Since professional strata managers do nothing else, they not only know the ropes that can bind but also how to prevent terrible knots occurring if an inner-building fracas is on the horizon.”
Mr Tooker says that because they operate at arms length from any given situation, the strata manager provides the objective level of appraisal that can aid understanding. This can assist the various parties in keeping the peace.
He says owners’ corporations sometimes have difficulty due to a lack of experience or familiarity with the tasks at hand. What professional managers bring to the table is experience linked to an ability to analyse each buildings by-laws, which can vary greatly from case to case.
“Whilst state legislation spells out the standard by-laws, each strata scheme can be different from the next. An owners’ corporation may have amended and added to the standard rules, and this means that the by-laws can be quite different. It can differ from building to building”.
Because by-laws have such importance, Mr Tooker strongly advises any person thinking of purchasing a strata titled property to read the by-laws with care. They will set out such commonly disputed points as parking, noise, the keeping of pets, and specify any extraordinary regulations.
Another area to watch for, he noted, was the amount of funding set aside to cover upcoming expenses.
“In NSW, new laws require owners’ corporations to establish a 10-year budget. This applies to all new strata schemes now, and is being brought into play progressively for all schemes over time.
“This allows prospective buyers to see the level of planning already being funded. It’s an important area that adds a high level of transparency to budgets and it can dramatically reduce the introduction of financial surprises.
“By planning ahead, monies can be set aside. This can significantly reduce the need for special levies to be raised.”
Any owners’ corporation that finds that it is dissatisfied with the performance of their property’s manager can take action by undertaking a review. New South Wales Strata Management will provide such an obligation free consultation and assessment, and can be reached on 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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