Your Strata Property With Amanda Farmer

Reena and I cover: - whether an owner making a 'qualified request' for a general meeting can dictate the date and method of the meeting - how unequal unit entitlements can lead to dysfunctional communities - the joys of strata management (yes, really) - why I'm thanking listeners this week

Trevor Rawnsley of ARAMA explains how the "management rights" model works and responds to its critics. We discuss what makes a good on-site residential manager, why communities often misunderstand the role, and what to do when things go wrong.

I recently appeared on "A Current Affair", speaking in support of the installation of equipment that will ensure that a wheelchair-bound 92-year-old man has safe access to his apartment. Having watched, with interest, the discussion sparked by that story, this week I'm covering discrimination law and strata: does it apply in our residential buildings? If so, how? And perhaps more importantly: should it?

Reena and I cover: - what happens when a committee member does not disclose their financial interest in a works contract that's up for approval - why EV charging and other "sustainability infrastructure" can be approved even if no one votes in favour of it - the compulsory management appointment that took Reena by surprise - a lot owner's by-law success before the Tribunal

Zinc Apartments in Sydney's Alexandria recently installed electric vehicle charging infrastructure, making it available to all residents with a parking space. Strata committee member Nathan Hage shares why his community prioritised this issue and steps us through the process.

30 June is looming and this means...new strata law! Mandatory annual reporting for NSW owners corporations is due to take effect soon. Here's your recap on precisely what this means for owners, committee members and strata managers.

In a first for the show, this week I have THREE guests: Peter Johnsson, Grahame Vile and Caroline McConnachie - each an expert in strata remedial works. We discuss: -why remedial works are so painful for apartment owners -the different fee structures used by contractors and consultants  -how to keep costs under control -how strata managers can best serve their clients during a remedial works project, and more.  PLUS keep an eye out for my invitation to Friday LIVE tomorrow, where I'll be chatting further with Caroline McConnachie about this important (and too often, very aggravating) aspect of apartment living. Send through your questions and Caroline and I will be ready to answer them.

I’m bringing you part of last week’s Friday LIVE chat, which has sparked a vital conversation about the impossible pressure being placed on some strata managers at the expense of their mental health and wellbeing. Owners are noticing, and not only are they unhappy with poor service standards, they’re worried about the future of this industry, which has only just started to call itself a "profession". It’s time for a serious talk about workloads, hours, fee structures and simple kindness.

My third and final guest in the “Strata Powerhouse” interview series is John Coleman. John grew Express Glass into the strata sector in the 1990s, helping it become Australia’s largest glazing business today. John describes the “unfettered access” suppliers had to strata managers back then, why he chose to write a book about the history of strata title in NSW and his hopes for a future female president of SCA.

The second in my series of three "Strata Powerhouse" interviews, today's guest is Olivera Ferguson. Co-owner of the Strata Plus Group, in this chat Olivera revisits her first impressions of strata management 20 years ago when she left the corporate world. We discuss how today's "right to an opinion" society is putting pressure on strata managers, why winning back trust is essential and her hopes for the future of our strata sector.

Over the next three weeks, I'm interviewing three "powerhouses" of the strata sector. First up this week: Bill Coles. He shares: - what the strata cleaning business looked like 30+ years ago - the many ways in which strata living has changed for the better (and the few ways it hasn't) - how he overcame the business challenges of the last 2 years - why his family name changed when his parents immigrated to Australia, and much more.

Warren Livesey of Buy Airspace explains the emerging opportunities for buildings to sell or develop the airspace above their common property rooftops, creating income to fund capital works and improvement projects in aging buildings.  

I'm sharing an edited down version of last week's Friday LIVE chat, where I took viewers through the new NSW government online information resource for strata owners, managers, tenants and purchasers. I also share some more background to the "bankrupt committee member" scenario, discussed last week.

This week: Reena asks whether strata management contracts can roll over, year to year, I query whether there should be a “fit and proper person” test for committee members, we celebrate the effectiveness of the democratic process and, I invite you to join my free webinar next Thursday, 7 April.

Louisa Herbert is the managing director of MBCM Strata Specialists in Box Hill and Hawthorn Victoria. We discuss the skills she developed as a parole officer and how well they translate to strata management, what it is that still surprises her about our sector and the efficient way that she's training her new staff.

Having recently helped a client avoid penalty proceedings in the Tribunal, this week I’m sharing some common mistakes I see managers and committees making when issuing a notice to comply with a by-law. I’m also giving our members the opportunity to access my next exclusive Pro Member Webinar where we’ll go deep on this important topic (heads up: it’s TOMORROW!)

Reena asks whether a lot owner has any say in the method by which an owners corporation chooses to repair its common property. We also discuss lot owner DAs for change of use and the importance of understanding the mandatory legal requirements for the issue of a Notice to Comply.

Amanda Bombaci of the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils explains the unique difficulties apartment residents experience when dealing with rubbish and waste removal, including the importance of tackling the problem at the 'move in' stage. Listen carefully for the details of our free WEBINAR on precisely this topic, coming to you next week.

Stephen Brell, managing director of Netstrata and newly appointed president of SCA (NSW), shares his insights on the evolving strata management profession, including: his creative solution to the recruitment problem how to turn a crisis into an opportunity the urge for business owners to upskill why owner education is on SCA’s agenda in 2022, and more.

Today, I publish the 300th episode of the podcast. In celebration, I’ve invited long-time listeners and members of our online community to share their favourite episodes and key learnings from the giant knowledge library that is this podcast, built up over the past 6 years. On this special occasion, I’d like to thank YOU, my listeners, for tuning in, week after week. Your commitment to improving your experience of strata living is my constant motivation and your success stories born of the podcast, my inspiration. Keep 'em coming.