Who Invented Strata System??

Taro Milk Tea on 06/01/2021 - 15:30

Seriously, who invented Strata? It's useless, never be able to help with any VALID complaint, slow to response and the worst thing is, WE PAY THEM.

We had a commercial van who has been parking for a month in the visitor car space, I emailed strata to report about this, they replied back to ask if I know who the owner of the van - because they can't do anything if I don't have the detail of the owner of the van. What the heck?! That van has been parking illegally in the visitor space for a month and yet they can't do anything? At least give them a warning notice to move the van ASAP? It's clearly violating the by-laws and it's illegal!!

I was confused with that response, so what's the point of having by-laws if anyone can violate it easily?

Other case was I reported that there were leaks in the roof of the underground parking - and it was not water, it was some chemical liquid that drop from it. The leak was not located on top of my parking space, but it was close to where my car park.
I reported this to strata so that they can organise to fix it - they did not respond for 2 weeks and the leak was getting worse that the splash from the drop got into my car.

When I chased them up again, they said to me that they will look into it and can't guarantee when it will be fixed - what the bloody hell?

Seriously, this strata system DOES NOT work! We need to have better system to manage this. I have almost never hear anyone have a good experience with their strata agent, utterly useless!

Home & Garden Strata

Comments

  • Meho2026 on 06/01/2021 - 15:42
    +20

    All strata managers are useless. You have to get on the executive committee to get anything done, strata managers will not do anything unless the exec committee directs them to.
    You can nominate yourself to be a committee member at the next AGM.
    In the meantime, find out who is currently on the committee and approach them directly

    • Taro Milk Tea on 06/01/2021 - 15:50
      -2

      You have to get on the executive committee to get anything done

      Technically, this should not be the way to get things done. If you own a unit, you can direct your strata - you are their employer.
      But i understand what you mean, for some reason, they get things bit faster if the committees are involved.

      • GG57 on 06/01/2021 - 16:07
        +8

        As a unit holder, you have a say in how the strata is managed, but in a larger development (which yours sounds to be) it would be absolute chaos if every single unit holder directed the strata management to do something.
        The committee is in place to assess priorities and escalate. If need be, the committee can appoint an alternate strata management company.

        Are you involved in the the committee?

        • Taro Milk Tea on 06/01/2021 - 16:11

          Are you involved in the the committee?

          I am not, but i always attend the AGM.

          it would be absolute chaos if every single unit holder directed the strata management to do something.

          True, but the issue here is more of their poor response to the issues i reported.

          • htc on 08/01/2021 - 08:49

            @Taro Milk Tea: Being on the exe committee will help. Although you may contact the executive committee about the issue. He or she may be able to raise the issue with the manager. Also depend on the company. I think some is better than others. Do you have a lot of unit in your complex?

            • Taro Milk Tea on 08/01/2021 - 12:34

              @htc:

              Being on the exe committee will help.

              Is it though? I have heard many cases where executive committee is just another political party inside the building. I have been avoiding joining one beacuse I don't need that political aspect.

              I'm aware that some people do have great and cooperative committees, which is great. However, it's a rare thing these days and people usually don't give a crap about one another unless it affects them too.

        • Blue Cat on 06/01/2021 - 17:31

          it would be absolute chaos if every single unit holder directed the strata management to do something.

          But every single unit holder is expected to pay strata fees, right?

          Doesn't make sense - everyone has to pay, but only a minority can complain.

          Doesn't make sense.

          • Extreme on 07/01/2021 - 10:34
            +2

            @Blue Cat: Any owner can complain.

            Any owner can submit a works request. But it’s then up to the owners corporation to make the ultimate decision about that works request.

            The owners corporation has a legal requirement to maintain common property.

            The strata manager represents the owners corporation. If they won’t listen or act on issues, then the exec committee would be the next point of call.

            If the owners corporation fail to maintain common property, then an individual lot owner can take the owners Corp to xCAT.

          • Zephyrus on 08/01/2021 - 10:58

            @Blue Cat: It's a representative system normally. As a member of a strata, you have voting rights and you can set the system up however you want, if you can get the votes.

            Much like the government, the correct response would be to move to change management at the next meeting.

      • macrocephalic on 06/01/2021 - 16:16

        Just like as a citizen you can ask the government to do something, but they won't do it unless they want to/it fits into their plan.

      • Meho2026 on 06/01/2021 - 18:07

        You can argue that point, you are an owner therefore part of the owners corporation that engages the strata manager. However it doesnt work like that when the owners corporation has elected a committee to represent them. The executive committee can sort this out for you. I dont understand why you are so reluctant to engage with the executive committee that were elected to represent you at an AGM you attended.
        You clearly want to take matters into your own hands so just keep deflating a tyre on the van until they get the message.

        • Taro Milk Tea on 06/01/2021 - 18:17
          -3

          However it doesnt work like that when the owners corporation has elected a committee to represent them

          No no, doesn't work this way. Everyone pay their contribution. Committee should not represent the owners to raise issues. All owners have the same access especially if it's by law violation

          • Meho2026 on 06/01/2021 - 21:16
            +4

            @Taro Milk Tea: I just told you that you can argue that point but it’s a useless argument. The strata manager won’t pay any attention to you. They will take instruction from the committee.
            Take that approach. Stamping your feet and throwing a tanty because the strata manager should listen to you but won’t isn’t going to get results

      • twadds on 06/01/2021 - 20:17
        +2

        The car park roof will be common property owned by the owners corporation, owning a unit does not give you the authority to instruct the strata manager to organise a repair, only the elected committee or the owners corporation voting at a general meeting has this authority.

        When you talk to the strata manager they will likely forward these to the committee for instructions, a strata manager is essentially an administrator, they don't decide what to act on.

        Owning a unit does not give you the authority to direct your strata, you are not their employer, the owners corporation is.

        • Taro Milk Tea on 06/01/2021 - 20:28
          -2

          Owning a unit does not give you the authority to direct your strata, you are not their employer, the owners corporation is.

          You need to get your understanding corrected. Owner corporation does not own the other owners (or in your case they are the employers of the strata). Those who pay the levies are the owners.

          Strata committee is just the chosen spokesperson. You can choose to go through them or you can just directly contact strata. I don't pay the levies for the committee, I pay for the strata.

          The car park roof will be common property owned by the owners corporation, owning a unit does not give you the authority to instruct the strata manager to organise a repair

          Again, not makin any sense. You implying that I don't have the right to report this issue to strata and get it fixed. Because it is in common property, they have to organise the fix. Doesn't need committee approval for it

          • leiiv on 07/01/2021 - 02:20
            +5

            @Taro Milk Tea:

            Doesn't need committee approval for it

            Yes it does. Everything that involves money need committee approval. Otherwise, the strata manager can just spend all the sinking fund as he/she likes.

            • Taro Milk Tea on 07/01/2021 - 09:10
              -3

              @leiiv:

              Yes it does. Everything that involves money need committee approval. Otherwise, the strata manager can just spend all the sinking fund as he/she likes.

              err.. Of course I know about that, what I mean was, I don't need approval to go straight to strata to report something.

              • gyrex on 07/01/2021 - 12:50
                +6

                @Taro Milk Tea: Sorry, but based on your post and subsequent replies, it's abundantly clear you have no idea how an executive committee acting on behalf of an owners corporation functions and what their responsibilities are.

                • Taro Milk Tea on 07/01/2021 - 12:53
                  -5

                  @gyrex:

                  Sorry

                  it's ok, i forgive you :)

                  • pndl on 07/01/2021 - 22:37

                    @Taro Milk Tea: The owner corporation hires the strata manager. As a owner you are allowed to talk to the strata manager. But the strata manager only listens to the owner corporation. How does the owners corporation make decisions? Through the strata committee, at an AGM or EGM {any owner can put forward a motion) or by court order. So strata committee is obviously the easiest option, but like you said you don't have to go through them, you can put it to vote at an AGM.

                    • Taro Milk Tea on 08/01/2021 - 09:36

                      @pndl:

                      But the strata manager only listens to the owner corporation

                      this is the part i don't agree. My issue in here is my strata manager doesn't response properly to the issues that I raised to them. I never ask them to act on my behalf, i do understand that strata committees need to be involved in their decision making - I definitely know this.

                      But a good strata will always, at least, respond to your email/phone call in reasonable time and appropriate response or if they have to discuss with committee first.

                      But my strata doesn't do that

                      • pndl on 08/01/2021 - 11:38

                        @Taro Milk Tea: You have to figure out whether your problem is with the Strata Manager or Owners Corporation (for most intents controlled by the strata committee)
                        The strata manager is just an admin assistant or conduit for the Owners Corporation.
                        They just act upon the Owners Corporations instructions / guidance.

                        Perhaps it is the Owners Corporation intention to deal issues in this way (for example, the contract your Owners Corporation has with the Strata Manager is a limited service rather than a full service one)?

                        Or whether the Owners Corporation has requested the Strata Manager to be proactive with your issue and in which case they should fire this one and hire a new one?

                        Which is the outcome you want?

        • htc on 08/01/2021 - 08:54

          Agree, if you contact the strata, if it is something more expensive, more than a set amount agreed by the committee, it would requires approval from the executive committee.

      • Vote for Pedro on 08/01/2021 - 09:01

        No. That’s not right. I own shares which means i am an owner of the company but I can’t direct the board or employees to do anything. I can ask but they can ignore. If I don’t like the direction i can vote at the next AGM to change leadership. Same same. Get on the committee and then change strata company if you don’t like them

    • ihbh on 06/01/2021 - 16:12

      All strata managers are useless

      Sounds like a business opportunity!

    • FreeUyghur on 07/01/2021 - 12:10

      %100 agree it

  • DarthAntz on 06/01/2021 - 15:44
    +21

    I invented it. What do you want done about it.

    • Donaldhump on 06/01/2021 - 15:46
      +3

      I invented inventing

    • Taro Milk Tea on 06/01/2021 - 15:51
      +4

      What do you want done about it.

      Fix the leak!

      • DarthAntz on 06/01/2021 - 15:54
        +16

        Can't. For obvious reasons. Have you tried other options?

  • YadaYadaYada on 06/01/2021 - 15:47
    +5

    You can also as a group fire the strata company and get another one if they are that bad.

    • Taro Milk Tea on 06/01/2021 - 15:51
      +5

      and replace them with another useless strata company…it's going to be the same thing over and over again.

      • orangetrain on 06/01/2021 - 21:30
        +3

        Has your strata changed since apartment got built? Maybe its still the first strata, probably still giving a cut of the fees to the original developers while doing minimal work.

        Find a better strata and propose it. Or live with it.

  • garetz on 06/01/2021 - 15:48
    +3

    The strata system is only good as the manager of your building and the owners who are supposed to direct them.

    There is a big difference between strata by-laws and actual government laws.

    • Taro Milk Tea on 06/01/2021 - 15:52
      -1

      The strata system is only good as the manager of your building and the owners who are supposed to direct them.

      And that's not happening in reality.
      This system is corrupted and useless.

      • garetz on 06/01/2021 - 15:53
        +10

        Its not the system at fault, its the owners of your building who do nothing.

        • htc on 08/01/2021 - 08:57
          +1

          Yes, as the building is owned by unit owners, everyone or many needs to raise the issue.

        • Taro Milk Tea on 08/01/2021 - 09:49
          -3

          of course its easy to suggest the ideal way to solve this - owners have to work together etc…but cmon, in reality, who give a crap of other's people problem if it doesn't also affect them?

          Like my issue with the leak, the leak only affected my car not everyone else. Nobody will give a crap to report to strat about the leak, because it's not their problem..unfortunately, this is the reality.

  • GG57 on 06/01/2021 - 15:53
    +6

    We have a good and responsive strata management body.
    Only 6 units, all owner-occupied, all actively involved in committee decisions. We employ a good manager, but they are probably good because the owners' committee is united and engaged.

  • Mikinoz on 06/01/2021 - 15:57
    +1

    Strata can be good if they are proactive, if it's made up of owners who actually care about their investment.

    You sound quite ranty, perhaps it's coming across in your request to the strata.

    • Taro Milk Tea on 06/01/2021 - 16:00

      You sound quite ranty, perhaps it's coming across in your request to the strata.

      Only because I received shitty responses like above from the strata.

      • Mikinoz on 06/01/2021 - 16:06
        +2

        Are you an owner? If yes go to strata meeting. If no contact the owner ask them to resolve.

        The strata is not at your beck and call, they may have other more serious issues to deal with which take priority. They don't have an sla with you

        • Taro Milk Tea on 06/01/2021 - 16:10
          +1

          The strata is not at your beck and call, they may have other more serious issues to deal with which take priority. They don't have an sla with you

          I never demanded them to respond within minutes, and so far I only reported things above that were valid to be reported.

          The leak was obviously a serious issue as it could affect the whole building (it was not water leak) and yet they replied back only after 2 weeks with useless response

  • Davo1111 on 06/01/2021 - 16:02
    +3

    pointless post. get rid of them, self host your own strata.

    • avoidfullprice on 06/01/2021 - 16:45
      +4

      You can. Financial compliance is a lot of work, and not everyone will put in their fair share of effort… Group uni assignment is a good indication.

  • mbck on 06/01/2021 - 16:03
    +1

    Get rid of major startas. Go with boutique small firms. Those gives two rats asses compared to the bigger ones.

    • Taro Milk Tea on 06/01/2021 - 16:06

      Go with boutique small firms

      any suggestions which ones?

      • mbck on 06/01/2021 - 16:18

        I'm in Melbourne, so probably won't work with you.
        But it is a pain in the but to even change. I think you need to gather people first and foremost. Let them know the issues of this current group.

        Then if people are in agreement, you need to find a number of managers and ask them to come up with a proposal so you can compare. Once you've settled with one, during the strata meeting you need to bring this issue up and vote for it, get the number of votes required.

        Sign contract and they should be able to guide you further.

  • tsunamisurfer on 06/01/2021 - 16:52
    +2

    I had the exact same thing with my strata.

    Someone parked and old bomb in the visitor's bay for about 3 months.

    The longer it sat the more gutted it got and the wheels it lost.

    The strata IS powerless in this case.

    When it had 4 wheels their advice was to tow it to the road and report it dumped.

    • Blue Cat on 06/01/2021 - 17:35
      +2

      My "friend" told me a solution to the car parking problem - find a way (legal or illegal, up to you) to move the car from the parking space into a car road inside your property. This can even be pushing the car 4-5 meters backwards away from the parking space.

      Once the car is in the road and blocking everyone, watch strata get rid of the car in less than 24 business hours.

      To increase effectiveness, park your friend's or your car into that visitor parking space so lazy strata can't just push the car back into the visitor space and call it a day.

  • brendanm on 06/01/2021 - 17:19
    +3

    Sell apartment. Buy house. Strata problems fixed.

    • kaleidoscope on 08/01/2021 - 14:12

      no that’s escaping

      • brendanm on 08/01/2021 - 14:15

        Yes, escaping the tyranny of having everything you do, in a place you own, scrutinised, and being squashed into high density living.

  • User102430 on 06/01/2021 - 17:57
    +7

    In Polish, strata means "loss"

    Whoever invented it, couldn't have chosen a better name for it, it 100% describes what it is, regular payments in exchange for nothing.

  • shaybisc on 06/01/2021 - 18:00
    +1

    Disobeying rules and lax enforcement of rules is not a by-product of strata title. Same thing can happen in any other system you devise.

    As to who invented strata title: it is a NSW Australia innovation. Read the whole thrilling story in chapter 13 here.

    https://www.ebay.com.au/i/254387535242?chn=ps&norover=1&mkev…

    • Ghost47 on 06/01/2021 - 19:59

      Haha I googled it and wow it does seem to be another great innovative Aussie invention. Thanks a lot NSW.

  • TheBird on 06/01/2021 - 18:25
    +11

    I'm currently in a 24 lot complex. I've been involved in a 12, this 24 and (I think it was a) 108 lot complexes.

    I've been on the committee about half the time we've been here.

    It all comes down to the committee, the strata management company, the owners and the tenents. It takes a good combination of all of it to work great for everyone involved. Our strata management company is amazing.

    Where we are, it sometimes falls down when the owners put in multiple requests and leave the work for everyone else. If no one else is willing to put in the work and the owners (most are investors and don't want to spend anything if it's not necessary) aren't willing to pay someone to do the work, it stays there undone.

    There's often a lot of disagreements on who is responsible for paying what. Take for instance, there's a duplex in the complex. The TV reception wasn't working. Who pays for the fault? turns out it depends on where the fault lies. If it's inside the duplex, all the way to a particular point in the roof, it's the responsibility of the owner, after that point, it's the responsibility of the body corporate. So who is responsible to organise the work where you don't know where the fault lies?

    As for towing parking violators, it's been explained to me as being a liability issue. I understand police have come up with a system where you can have it done, but I haven't made the time to look into it. How I've been explained what generally happens is the property manager of the driver of the vehicle is receives a complaint from the body corporate and they're responsible for issueing a breach notice hence why you need to know who's vehicle owns it. If the property manager doesn't breach, then the body corporate can issue a breach notice themselves. Tenants have a lot of protection and privacy rights right makes it difficult.

    Seriously, who invented Strata? It's useless, never be able to help with any VALID complaint, slow to response and the worst thing is, WE PAY THEM.

    As for your issue. You pay them to manage your Strata. There's a few ways to run these. There's a full service, no service (basically advice only and the owners are responsible for everything themselves). Most are in the middle, where they handle the administration/finances and you pay for everything else. The one we have is slightly more towards the full service, but we pay every time we want them to do work not included in their contract.

    There are good and bad strata managers, but you really get what you pay for.

    When you make a complaint, they're usually passed on to the committee (representatives of the owners) to decide to how to respond. The issue sometimes comes as there is often no context and often prone to exaggeration. "A van has been parked in the visitor bay for 3 months" can mean it's been there continuously for three months, all the way down to it's parked there a few times over the three months. Even if it has been there continuously for three months, where do you issue the breach notice?

    Another point, committee usually have up to 3 weeks (I think) to respond to a motion, so it can take a long time if you have a committee member that doesn't respond to motions (this has happened to us for the last two years), so if the complaint comes through, the committee may wait for a consensus on what to do. It may be, "What are your suggestions on how to proceed"… 3 weeks later, so the suggestions come through… and then 3 weeks later an answer comes… That's also assume you get a reasonable response. Committee's are prone to make bad decisions if they're not led properly.

    Your leak can cost a lot of money depending on the cause. A committee is only allowed to spend up to a certain amount before there needs to be a (I think it's called) a general vote… which is a vote by all the owners. These are often left for annual meetings/votes and I've seen many issues take years to get resolved. Right or wrong. Just because you think it's an issue doesn't mean everyone agrees.

    If you want to become part of the solution, get on your committee, or even better, volunteer to become the chairperson. You may find yourself in a better position to get stuff done right.

    • leiiv on 07/01/2021 - 02:27

      That is a lot of details, but you left out the solution for the illegal parking problem. So what can an ordinary owner do?

      You may find yourself in a better position to get stuff done right.

      Or you may find yourself incompetent and have no time to do stuff.

      • TheBird on 07/01/2021 - 10:41
        +2

        That is a lot of details, but you left out the solution for the illegal parking problem. So what can an ordinary owner do?

        If no one is doing anything you don't have a lot of options.

        1). Make a motion that the committee have to vote upon. With most body corporates, this will cost you money if you're not willing to wait for the next annual meeting. Is likely to get voted down or ignored.

        The rest of the options aren't for the faint of heart:

        2). Make a stink on ozbargain.
        3). Nerd rage.
        4). Karen to the police and have them laugh at you.
        5). Complain on deaf ears.
        6). Suck it up princess.

        There's not a lot you can do.

  • djones145 on 06/01/2021 - 19:15
    -1

    i read it as straya… lol

  • bdl on 06/01/2021 - 20:41

    Mr Strata

  • brad1-8tsi on 07/01/2021 - 08:19
    +2

    Before Strata was the company structure. It was worse

  • crashloaded on 07/01/2021 - 08:37

    Is there a building manager that is paid by strata fees? If so, harass them.

    • Taro Milk Tea on 07/01/2021 - 09:11

      no building manager unfortunately

  • OzHunterNSW on 07/01/2021 - 09:53

    It is parked on private land… you need to discuss the issue with police - could be a potential bomb threat! Express concerns. Then look at a tow truck to tow it away.

    • Taro Milk Tea on 07/01/2021 - 10:01

      you need to discuss the issue with police

      Strata needs to do this on the building's behalf, not me.

  • AS2035 on 07/01/2021 - 16:41

    It's been around for a long time

    On 1 July 1961 the first strata title legislation was introduced into NSW.

    They had other systems in place prior and now few other countries have adopted it.

    It depends who is on the committee, the one in my building is beyond useless.

    They hired tradies, I was robbed. I didn't have a security camera in the storage area and thousands of dollars worth of belongings were stolen,.

    They told me to claim it on insurance.

    I pointed out that when a person does that, the premiums go up.

    They told me that they don't give a shiiite

    • Taro Milk Tea on 08/01/2021 - 09:38

      It depends who is on the committee, the one in my building is beyond useless.They hired tradies, I was robbed. I didn't have a security camera in the storage area and thousands of dollars worth of belongings were stolen,.

      This is why system needs to be modified at least, so that committee doesn't handle everything or be the only one that strata listens to (which technically not what it supposed to be).

  • MrBear on 08/01/2021 - 09:37
    +1

    You (or strata company) can just request the information from your State's vehicle department (eg NSW=RMS) to get owner details (note: your information about the request is provided to the owner as well).

    • Taro Milk Tea on 08/01/2021 - 09:42

      You (or strata company) can just request the information from your State's vehicle department (eg NSW=RMS)

      Is this true? Because my strata told me that they can't request that information and I have to find out who the owner is then they might do something about it.
      They also ask me whether I will be prepared to provide them with the record of the illegal parking of that van if they proceed with the action - what kind of question is this?? seems like im the victim here not the van..I already sent them the record but seems that they just give me useless responses.

      • TheBird on 08/01/2021 - 13:31

        It's to cover their ass in case you're making false claims. It can also mean that you'll bear at least some (if not all) of the liability if the owner of the vehicle decides to sue.

        • Taro Milk Tea on 08/01/2021 - 13:40

          makes sense, just confirming more that they are useless

          • TheBird on 08/01/2021 - 13:45

            @Taro Milk Tea: That can be your opinion. Informed or not.

            One suggestion for you. The committee are usually insured by the body corporate, so their legal fees are paid by insurance if they're sued for issues like this.

            Are you?

            The body corporate may be protecting you from trying to circumvent how it's actually supposed to work.

            • Taro Milk Tea on 08/01/2021 - 13:50

              @TheBird: need to check on that, but I doubt it. Thanks though

              • TheBird on 08/01/2021 - 14:13

                @Taro Milk Tea: On the committee, about half the inquiries I make to the strata management is legally orientated questions.

                So much is set up to protect the owners from being sued into the stone age. It's to the point of being stupid.

                We wanted to set up cameras to help deal with an issue of parking (like yours) and littering. From what was explained to me, privacy laws prevented body corporates from using the footage to lay fault… where the footage would only be able to be used in conjunction with criminal matters. I don't know if it's correct or not, but… the world has gone mad.

                The other side of it is when the strata company is too trigger happy to spend your money. We had one where special levies in the multiple thousands were levied each quarter due to incorrect spending to fix problems, leading to more spending and more spending to fix the same issue. Each owner ended up having to pay about $8 on top of having the entire sinking fund wiped out to attempt to fix a problem that was never solved.

  • newbee13 on 08/01/2021 - 10:50
    +2

    You can download formal complaint form from consumer affairs website, the leaking of roof can be related to OH&S issue, mention that it can cause slip hazard and injury, they have to respond to the request in 14 days max, if they don't do not hesitate to reach to VCAT.
    Nothing can be done for van parking in visitor parking, unless its also related to OH&S like its leaking oil, can cause fire hazard etc.

    • Taro Milk Tea on 08/01/2021 - 12:27

      thanks appreciate the suggestion, will look into that

  • morse on 08/01/2021 - 11:10
    +2

    Yep, I’ve avoided buying a unit for this reason, I’ve heard the same story from so many people. I’ve even had friends who’ve had to spend tens of thousands on top of their normal fees on cosmetic upgrades to the building that they didn’t want.

    Generally I’m not an advocate for taking matters like this into your own hands, and it’s likely to really annoy at least one person but a wheel lock could fix your van problem. Leave a phone number they can call (maybe the strata manager’s) to have their car released - just make sure that the van is actually illegally parking and isn’t the strata manager’s 😬

    We had a similar issue with lime leaking out of the concrete ceiling in the complex car park when renting. They had no interest in fixing it and it would have potentially ruined the paint on our car - we ended up lining the roof and walls of our space in plastic to capture the scale and run off, it may have looked like a scene out of Dexter but it did the trick.

  • drfuzzy on 08/01/2021 - 11:59
    -1

    It is easier to moan and complain here than to contribute to the solution by joining the strata committee and volunteering your time.
    The strata committee are largely volunteers.
    Everyone wants someone else to do the work and nobody wants to contribute to the cost.
    Judging from the comments section here and the OPs rant - few are appreciative.

    • Taro Milk Tea on 08/01/2021 - 13:15

      Everyone wants someone else to do the work and nobody wants to contribute to the cost.

      again, not making any sense. If you really read my post, I actually did contribute to the cost. I am not even the committee, but I am trying to help maintaining the apartment.

      So before you cast your judgement, think first.

  • Hangryuman on 08/01/2021 - 12:17

    'Seriously, who invented Strata? It's useless'

    ah - another quality rant about a vague generalisation

    yes - the problem is 'other people'

    once you can solve that, you'll be fine …

    or fined - depending on the situation …

    I've been on a strata executive committee for maybe 20 years - as an unpaid volunteer donating typically hundreds of hours of my time every year - for no payment - each year to help maintain our pleasant quiet residential community - e.g. many times going out in my pyjamas after midnight to ring doorbells to ask partygoers to keep the noise down so people in dozens of nearby units might sleep.

    An observation - the rage exhibited by complainants tends to be inversely proportional to the frequency of contact

    so - people I see almost every day - a problem - a quick word - 'you know that [situation] … waddya reckon … yeah, I agree … no worries'

    people I've never seen before - come out ranting 'I'm NOT HAPPY ! [about this problem that's just occurred, and has not yet been notified to the committee] - and I'm gonna SUE YOU !!!'

    ah right - to those folks I tend to be 'sorry I have to be [over there] now' - and keep walking …

    you want me to donate my free time to go out of my way to help you ?

    if you start by insulting me, guess what your chances are … ?

    • Taro Milk Tea on 08/01/2021 - 12:30

      ah - another quality rant about a vague generalisation

      never mentioned generalisation about anything

      seems like you're the one having issues being committee, if that stress you that much, just quit.

      My issue here is with my strata, who has been doing their job poorly. So, I don't know what causes you to rage on about my post lol..anyway, hope you're ok.

    • TheBird on 08/01/2021 - 14:02

      people I've never seen before - come out ranting 'I'm NOT HAPPY ! [about this problem that's just occurred, and has not yet been notified to the committee] - and I'm gonna SUE YOU !!!'

      This never made sense to me. You're essentially sueing yourself.

      you want me to donate my free time to go out of my way to help you ?
      if you start by insulting me, guess what your chances are … ?

      It's the unfortunate reality of serving on the committee.

      Those who aren't on the committee don't know what they need to do to get things done and/or aren't willing to do the leg work to get what they want done, completed.

      Don't quote me, but from what I understand, the committee only has the responsibility to vote upon motions. An owner comes up to you with a complaint, you have no obligation to do anything with it. They need to propose a motion for it to be handled by the committee. If a committee member decides to take it upon themselves to write up complaints into motions, they have that option.

      Once people get agro, the way I tend to handle agro people (and those who make stupid complaints that have nothing to do with the body corporate) is tell them, write up the motion and the committee will vote upon it and I'll let them know how I see the commiittee would lean in the vote. I'm not always right and I don't always have all the information on hand. With our Strata agreement, the issuer or the motion needs to pay a $80+ free if it's an urgent motion that won't wait until the annual meeting, so it stops most stupid motions.

      That being said, we usually have a very reasonable committee. I know all the owners who live in the complex and talk with active owners who rent their place out. I try to run with the feel of how the owners want the place run.

      We had a motion where we need some maintenance done. The vote got defeated. Some of the owners are just cheap. Others realised that there was no point in spending a lot of money where the maintenance schedule would have required it to be spent again in a few years.

      A lot of people just see what's in front of them and not the big picture. I find it takes too much work to educate the ignorant.

  • Al09 on 08/01/2021 - 13:20

    I also had similar issues with living in a townhouse. With paying fees but no service and management property.

    We changed the strata company. Got a different one until now. Better but still hopeless overall.

  • kaleidoscope on 08/01/2021 - 14:14

    doesnt the strata fees cater for other amenities as well like apartment gym/ bbq pits/ pool, etc…

  • lonewolf on 08/01/2021 - 15:44

    I have heard pretty much nothing but horror stories about Strata and mainly that they are a bunch of crooks who either run away with a lot of money or just dont do much work for the money provided.. I go out of my way to never be in a situation where i have to deal with strata or have strata.

  • Stevecro on 08/01/2021 - 16:16
    +1

    The biggest problem with the strata system is the owners themselves. People spend 500k + for a strata property and make zero effort to familiarise themselves with the law, their obligations and what the owners corporation is responsible for. Most people spend more time reading a user manual for a playstation or their mobile phone which costs a miniscule amount compared with their property. Most strata owners are completely apethetic, they only kick up a stink when levies increase or a special levy is passed, they dont attend meetings or bother getting on the committee to participate in the management of their scheme.

    Yes there are bad strata managers out there, just like there are bad mechanics, nurses, doctors, childcare workers, hospitality staff etc. There is bad in every industry involving humans. Strata managers are their to primarily take instructions from the owners corporation which arise from properly covened committee and general meetings. They aren't employed to take instructions from every owner in a strata plan, even though that's what most owners assume.

    Living in a strata scheme involves living with the general public e.g. owners who may have low levels of intelligence, dictator type personalities, those who have self interests, those who couldn't care less, overly cheap owners who dont want to spend a cent on anything and many other personalities.

    The single biggest issue with strata is as I stated above, owners who have no idea what they are buying into and don't have any interest in or make any effort whatsoever in researching what strata living involves. The percentage of owners who are actually familiar with strata laws (familiar with how strata schemes work, their obligations vs owners corporations obligations, proper way to resolve issues/disputes) is extremely small, probably less than 5%.

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