Your Strata Property With Amanda Farmer

NSW (finally) has a set of public health orders specific to apartment buildings.    But…they’re not quite what we were asking for.   I outline the new and rather onerous obligations on strata managers and others ‘managing’ residential buildings that are forced into hard lockdown.   I’m also giving you access to my new resource, helping you […]

  Reena and I discuss:   intentionally creating a vacancy on the committee at the AGM. Is this legal? when minor work becomes a major issue the creative resolution of Tribunal proceedings for a dysfunctional owners corporation,   and more.   Links mentioned: Get the transcript here! Regulation 9 – Election of strata committee – […]

  When it comes to waterproofing, Ross Taylor is a man who can “see leaks on the drawings”. He’s working closely with the NSW government to ensure our future apartment buildings are a little more watertight than they have been so far. But in today’s conversation, we tackle a different issue: why are our older, […]

  On Wednesday this week, it became much easier for residents in NSW strata buildings to keep pets in their homes. In this episode, I unpack the new legislation, including its impact on existing by-laws that restrict the keeping of animals. Links mentioned: Get the transcript here! Read the Cooper Decision here Section 139 – […]

  Reena and I cover: how to complete a ballot paper “in writing” during an electronic meeting  the surprising item missing from our strata legislation  the insurer who capitulated second time around a creative solution to a long-standing noise dispute Links mentioned: Get the transcript here! Regulation 10: Ballot for strata committee – Strata Schemes […]

  This week, Shawn Brown of Strata Staff joins me to explain the benefits of offshoring, particularly for strata managers. We discuss how to avoid a “train wreck” experience and what it takes to build a team that adds significant value for owners.  Links mentioned: Get the transcript here! Shawn’s email address: shawn@stratastaff.com.au  Strata Staff […]

  I’m bringing you an edited version of last Friday’s LIVE chat with Chris Duggan.    We cover the new Professional Standards Scheme for NSW strata managers and their staff, plus the need-to-know on the latest (and no less confusing) iteration of our Public Health Orders.  Links mentioned: Get the transcript here! Your Strata Property […]

Reena and I cover: the indecisive voter: what happens when an owner votes one way via pre-meeting voting, then changes their mind and wants to vote the other way at the meeting? lessons from Miami and a warning to communities ignoring their repair and maintenance obligations the deep clean that went just right and the […]

A short, but important message from me this week: make sure you understand the effect of the amended NSW Public Health Order, mandating masks on indoor common property in Greater Sydney. It may not mean what you think it does.  Let's get this right.  Links mentioned: Get the transcript here! Public health orders relating to

This week, Reena and I cover: access to CCTV footage: often controversial in our strata schemes, but what about when the footage belongs to a BMC?a refresher on the quorum rule, including when a chair must proceed in the absence of a quorum and more. And if you haven’t already, access your NSW Health poster for

I'm bringing you an edited version of my Facebook LIVE event of Tuesday evening: your need-to-know for NSW strata in lockdown, including: what the current public health order means for residents and managershow to conduct safe and legal meetings during this timewhether committees can demand disclosure of positive test results or self-isolatorswhat to do about

Tom Bacon is my guest this week, sharing his expertise as a practising strata lawyer in Victoria. He shares: why we shouldn’t expect the Southbank townhouse transmission event to be the last we see in our strata communitieshow the VIC government’s response to combustible cladding is letting many buildings downthe good, the bad and the

Reena discovers an experienced strata management company relying on an out-of-date template agency agreement and I remind committees that co-owner 'tag teams' are not on.  Links mentioned: Get the transcript here!  Section 34 - Acting members of strata committee - Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 (NSW) Section 31 - Subsection 4 - Persons who are

Reena discovers an experienced strata management company relying on an out-of-date template agency agreement and I remind committees that co-owner 'tag teams' are not on.  Links mentioned: Get the transcript here!  Section 34 - Acting members of strata committee - Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 (NSW) Section 31 - Subsection 4 - Persons who are

Mediation is something most owners, committee members and managers are likely to experience at some point in their strata journey. In this episode, I share my tips for a successful mediation, including:   how to find out if you need to mediate at allwhy I don’t file supporting documents with a mediation applicationwho should attend

In answer to a listener question, Reena shares her best practice tips for owners corporations engaging strata lawyers, including how to ensure expectations are set and met and owners are not overcharged. Plus I share a recent client win in a 'pets case', one which should have arrived much earlier than it did. Links mentioned:

When delivering education sessions face-to-face, "question time" is always my favourite part of the evening. This week, I’m bringing you the recording of the QandA session held at the end of my July 2019 presentation for City of Sydney Council.  I give my answers to audience questions such as: are we responsible for relocating residents...

QLD strata lawyer Andrew Suttie and I are pondering precisely what it is that makes a strata lawyer join their own strata committee. And what could possibly go wrong when they do... Links mentioned: Get the transcript here!  Prior to venturing into the law, Andrew completed a Science Degree and an honours thesis in Marine...

Reena’s attempts to put together a complete file for her new client are frustrated when she receives only hard copy records from the former managing agent. We discuss the legal requirements for the handover of strata books and records. I issue a warning to committee members sending emails from a work email address and we...

Matthew Waugh of Conexie joins me to explain the software that's allowing strata occupants to monitor their energy usage in real-time, while their owners corporation puts money in the bank (for the not-so-sunny days).  Listen out for your chance to join my free webinar on Thursday 29 April, where I'll cover the legal steps to be taken...