Your Strata Property With Amanda Farmer

Megan Chatterton and Leanne Habib join me to reveal just how unprepared our buildings are for emergency events - even though such events are increasingly likely. Megan is asking owners to participate in research that will assist to arm buildings with vital resources they can rely on in emergencies, and Leanne calls for legislative reform.

This week, Reena Van Aalst and I cover:  - signing contracts for building work: what strata managers need to look out for  - the rush to access a share of the NSW government's $10m EV charging grant  - self-represented litigants in NCAT, and  - the "new" age of electronic record keeping.

Strata manager Tim Sara of Strata Choice joins me to explain the purpose and process of a "First AGM". Tim explains the role of the strata manager at this early stage of a strata plan's life - including their relationship to the developer, how owners can best get through a daunting meeting agenda, and his tips for making this "birthing" of a new strata plan as successful as possible.

When a landlord has to shell out thousands of dollars in compensation to a tenant because of a wet, mouldy apartment, what rights do they have to claim that loss from their owners corporation? I'm unpacking two instructive cases coming out of the NSW Tribunal's Residential Tenancy List last month.

I'm covering the biggest changes that I see for owners and managers coming out of the Strata Legislation Amendment Bill 2023 (NSW).

Reena and I discuss: - why a little perspective would go a long way in the face of rising strata levies - an owner's obligation to fix a fire door impacted by their new flooring - the timely recognition of a hard-working strata manager  - where to go if you want to share what you LOVE about living in strata

Having received such positive feedback after our episode two weeks ago in which I unpacked an important District Court decision, in this week's episode I'm highlighting further strata law cases of interest, PLUS giving the members of our online community access to a special research resource.

This week, I'm sharing a REPLAY of one of our top 5 most popular podcast episodes: Successful Strata Records Inspections. A source of frustration for many owners, records inspections is one of the subjects I am most frequently asked about. In this episode, I share my 4 steps to a successful strata records inspection, including what to do when particular records are withheld for ‘privacy’ or ‘legal’ reasons.

A NSW strata manager has been ordered to pay $35,000 in damages to a committee member defamed by three emails the strata manager sent ahead of an AGM. In this episode, I lead you through the key findings in the case, including why the form of an email might matter just as much as its content, and why ignoring the “troublesome” is always a risky move.

Wal Dobrow has worn many hats over his years spent serving our strata space. In this week's episode, he joins me to cover just one topic in particular: psychosocial hazards in the strata workplace. What are they and how are successful leaders managing them? Wal shares his "yellow and red card" system, explains why a strata manager's inbox should NOT be open to every owner, and introduces me to a new word and acronym I think you'll enjoy too.

David Glover has been at the helm of his self-managed strata building for many years. In this conversation, David shares how the decision to self-manage came about (the 'strata manager from hell' played a role) and how his community remunerates him for his services. He generously shares his top tips for those thinking of self-management, including the specific software his building uses, and so much more. This episode is a must-listen for any community thinking of moving away from the professional strata management model, AND any strata manager wanting to understand why some owners are voting with their feet.

Reena deals with an unhappy owner who feels unfairly accused. I question why agents are letting their agency agreements expire and explain the precarious legal position in which this places them. Together, Reena and I announce a very special in-person event happening in February 2024.

It's often the role of our strata managers to communicate complex information to the inexperienced. Strata owners can become frustrated by a lack of clear communication or explanation from their strata manager about an important issue. Cat Matson, the CEO of Impactful Presenters, joins me this week to explain where our managers might be going wrong, and how we ALL might communicate more effectively, especially in high-conflict situations.

Daniel Caruana of Danrae Group joins me to explain how the Design and Building Practitioners Act (NSW) is increasing costs and wait times for owners needing waterproofing work. We question whether legislation intended to apply to new buildings should be used to regulate remediation work in ageing buildings, and Daniel explains the role he believes owners can play in contributing to the proper maintenance of their waterproof membranes – with implications for their building insurance premiums.

Reena and I discuss: - the essential documents missing from OC books and records, - steps that can be taken to prevent catastrophic water damage, - a unique way to honour our dedicated committee members, and more.

Tom Buckley of Strata I.T. explains why strata managers would do well to have specialised IT support, including how to secure yourself against a hundred thousand dollar mistake.

By popular demand, I've brought last week's Friday LIVE chat with strata lawyer Michael Kleinschmidt to the podcast. This is an edited version of the longer video discussion (you can find that here). Michael busts some entrenched myths about strata insurance commissions and broker fees, and explains why the future of strata management as a "profession" depends on whether or not managers are prepared to dramatically change the way they charge for their services.

Phase 3 of John Trowbridge's review of strata insurance practices has been released. In this chat, he shares his findings and recommendations, including: - how strata owners can be empowered to discuss insurance on equal terms with their strata manager and broker, - why we find it so hard to break away from an insurance regime that seems to perpetuate conflicts of interest, - the role that owners have to play in ensuring the affordability and availability of strata insurance, and more.

Together, Reena Van Aalst and I cover: -hard flooring by-laws. How much detail is too much detail?  -a checklist process for approving remedial works quotes -the cash windfall hiding in a new client's accounts (found by Reena...again) -why real estate agents must stop seducing purchasers with promises of low strata levies

In this solo episode, I'm sharing all you need to know about proxies under our NSW law, including: - how to fill in the "approved form" correctly - whether the holder of a power of attorney needs to fill in a proxy form - the Tribunal and court cases where proxies have come out on top and more.