Tag: our body corp

Body Corporate Maintenance

Body Corporate Maintenance: Who is Responsible for What?

Posted on Our Body CorpLeave a commentPosted in News

For those who own a property lot within a Strata Body Corporate in Melbourne, you will inevitably face situations where maintenance and repairs are required. Oftentimes, property repairs can be pricey, and it is worthwhile knowing whether the body corporate should pay or if you would need to cover the costs. Given the variability in size, age, facilities, layout, and condition of a building, maintenance and repair work will differ in complexity, with some maintenance problems turning into major work, especially when multiple lots are affected by one problem. The main purpose of body corporate management is to look after […]Read More

strata management nsw

Vegetal Facades without a vegetable in sight

Posted on Strata Online ExpertLeave a commentPosted in Design Tips for Strata, News

Why are vertical gardens (or vegetal facades) so appealing? Well, let’s get the name right first – vegetal facades. Creating a wall of forest is both beautiful and awe inspiring in an urban environment. Beautiful – well, of course. Awe inspiring – how do you look after all those pots plants?  These heavenly vegetal facades give insight into the evolution of man.  From the forest to the forest. Lots of inspiration for strata properties, crikey, did I just frighten you? Check out this amazing building in Madrid Madrid Vertical Garden by Patrick Blanc, but don’t check out his website because […]Read More

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1 in 10 Australians live in strata units but know little about what it means

Posted on Strata Online Expert1 CommentPosted in Hints for Strata Living, News, Strata Compliance

Great article from UNSW TV on living in strata units and what it means: One in 10 Australians live in strata titled homes such as apartments or townhouses; in Sydney it’s closer to one in four. A UNSW study has found there are major problems with strata living, including ongoing building defects and management issues. One in ten Australians live in strata titled homes such as apartments or townhouses; in Sydney it’s closer to one in four. But how much do we know about strata title living and what it involves? The University of New South Wales has completed a […]Read More

strata management nsw

Foreign Investment in Australia’s Property Market

Posted on Strata Online Expert1 CommentPosted in News, Urban communities

I was aware that the rules changed in 2010 for foreigners buying into the Australian property market but wasn’t quite sure how it all worked. This is the low-down direct from the Foreign Investment Review Board. “Temporary residents may acquire one established dwelling only and it must be used as their residence in Australia.  These applications are normally approved subject to the condition that: the property is vacant at settlement; the property is used as your principal place of residence; no part of the property is rented; and you sell the property when it ceases to be your principal place […]Read More

strata management services

Unit Owners – don’t miss out on the NBN

Posted on Strata Online Expert3 CommentsPosted in Hints for Strata Living, News, Strata Compliance

Every Australian home, apartment and business will be connected to the NBN by 2021, either by Fibre Optic Cable, fixed-wireless or satellite. More then one in five of the buildings expected to be connected are multi-unit strata dwellings. The challenge is that there isn’t any central register of office bearers or Strata Manager to know who’s managing each building and where they can be contacted in order to arrange connection of the cable to the property. For self-managed strata schemes (an area of particular interest for me with my company OurBodyCorp) it’s important not to be forgotten when the cables […]Read More

strata management services

Why are Australian tenants downsizing?

Posted on Strata Online ExpertLeave a commentPosted in Hints for Strata Living, News, Urban communities

The Age reports that “The number of downsizers looking for apartments is predicted to take off this year with the improvement in the property market. Australian Property Monitors data shows the Sydney median house price rose 3.4 per cent last year. Canterbury Bankstown had the most growth at 11.5 per cent, but the northern beaches and upper north shore grew more than 7 per cent. Even the east grew 3 per cent, though the lower north shore fell 0.4 per cent.Read More

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What’s the difference between strata and community title?

Posted on Strata Online Expert16 CommentsPosted in News, Strata Compliance

Peter Asimakoloulos of Harcourts Mawson Lakes answers the question, what’s the difference between strata and community title (SA). “Strata Title: Town houses, units and some types of commercial property generally fall under these categories. Each unit and common property comes from one large parcel incorporating property and land. Each unit or allotment is given its own title as well as the common property (shared between all members of the group). The difference is in the way in which the land boundaries are defined. A Strata Title unit’s boundaries are defined by reference to parts of the building, not by the […]Read More

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Why you need to maintain your strata property

Posted on Strata Online Expert1 CommentPosted in Hints for Strata Living, News, Strata Compliance

Interesting blog post from Michael Teys, well-respected strata lawyer, on the need to maintain your property.  Perhaps a New Year’s Resolution to all us strata property owners… Ironically for an area where health and safety laws are observed more in the breach than otherwise, the laws for owners corporations to repair and maintain common property are very strict. The owners corporation must repair and maintain common property are the simple words used to impose this liability. The courts have consistently interpreted these words to mean what they say – just do it – not when you get around to it […]Read More