The VIC Strata Magazine | August 2021

The VIC Strata Magazine

Tips When Choosing a New Owners Corporation Manager Page 24-25 | The Knight

INSURANCE OFFER INSIDE

SAVE UP TO $500 Page 8-9 | Strata Insurance Solutions

Our Committee Employs People to ‘Catch Out’ Breachers Page 16-17 | Bugden Allen Graham Lawyers

August 2021 // ISSUE 6 1

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Shutting Facilities to Reduce Costs

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In order to reduce costs, can the committee decide to shut our heated pool over winter even though it might be against the wishes of a small number of lot owners?

We are an estate of 900 lots. The only common property is the Club House which includes an open outdoor swimming pool that is heated in winter.

Can the committee legally shut the pool over winter even though it might be against the wishes of a small number of lot owners. The reason for wanting to shut the pool in the winter is to reduce exorbitant heating costs.

Alex Smale | The Knight ella@theknight.com.au

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There is nothing in the Model Rules or the Owners Corporation Act that would prevent the committee from shutting the pool in the winter.

There is nothing in the Model Rules or the Owners Corporation Act that would prevent the committee from shutting the pool in the winter.

However, you should also review your Owners Corporation’s special rules to ensure you are able to close it. Many properties with shared facilities will have specific rules for these areas, and these cannot be changed without a special resolution being obtained.

You should also be aware that committee members must exercise due care and diligence. If the committee is concerned other owners may object to closing the pool, it may be worthwhile doing a survey of owners to determine how the majority feel.

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PETS, POOLS, PARKING, PARTIES… AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING YOUR RULES RIGHT

Some key facts about rules* By-laws (or “rules” as they are referred to in Victoria), help govern the operation of your strata community. They also help to define the expected behaviours of owners, residents and sometimes visitors. They are an essential mechanism that set the standards by which everyone can live in peace and harmony.

Rules cover important issues such as the keeping of pets, how smoking is regulated, the operation of short-term rental accommodation, use of common property facilities, parking, and noise levels.

Every strata community is different. You may have two strata communities that share the same physical attributes, but their location, facilities and age, and the demographics and lifestyle aspirations of the owners and residents will invariably be different.

Your rules should reflect this. You should review and update your rules regularly using an experienced strata lawyer. You may need to do this as new legislation is passed (such as the recent regulations around short-term letting) or due to recent case law (such as the recent change in NSW about keeping pets). Or you may just want to modernise your rules and make them more relevant to the lifestyle the current owners and residents are looking to create.

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• You need a special resolution to pass a new rule or change your rules • Rules are generally not enforceable until they are registered on title • A scheme should regularly review and update their rules • Rules need to be legally enforceable, so drafting by an experienced lawyer is important • Owners and tenants need to be sent a copy of the rules

Launch of By-Law Builder There is now a smarter way to create, view and share by-laws for strata communities in Australia.

Bugden Allen Graham Lawyers are excited to announce the launch of a digital platform called “By-Law Builder”.

Watch the video below to hear more about this product:

PREPARE YOUR BY-LAWS Prepare your own by-laws in minutes or select from our extensive templates prepared by our expert legal team. This includes individual by-laws or a complete set of by-laws for new buildings

CONSOLIDATE YOUR BY-LAWS Our legal team use the platform to consolidate new and existing by-laws for registration. Once your by-laws are consolidated once, you will never have to do it again.

REGISTER YOUR BY-LAWS Once your by-laws are prepared and consolidated, we can register them for you. In some jurisdictions like NSW, we do this electronically via PEXA and Land Registry Services NSW. GET US TO REVIEW YOUR BY-LAWS Get one of our expert strata lawyers to review your existing by-laws and make some recommendations on how they can be improved.

EMAIL OR QR SCAN YOUR BY-LAWS Set up your existing by-laws for no cost. Once you do, they are digital, which means you can easily update them, email them and even scan them on your phone using a QR code.

All the by-laws on By-Law Builder have been drafted by leading strata title lawyers to ensure they are legally compliant and suitable for your community. Our team includes Dr Gary Bugden OAM, Professor of Strata and Community Titles at Bond University and plain English drafting expert, Emeritus Professor Peter Butt of Sydney University.

The first version of By-Law Builder is available for NSW strata schemes. More jurisdictions will follow soon. To read more or to express your interest, please visit www.bylawbuilder.com.au or email us at support@bylawbuilder.com.au.

--*These key facts apply to Victoria. This is not legal advice. You should seek legal advice particular to your situation.

Tim Graham joins the team, becoming a named partner The leading strata legal team in Victoria, led by ex-HWL Ebsworth partner Tim Graham, recently announced its move to Bugden Allen Lawyers.

Tim Graham has joined as Partner in their new Melbourne office and will be spearheading the firm’s expansion into the Victorian strata and property market. As part of this move, Mr. Graham’s name has been added to the brand, now known as Bugden Allen Graham Lawyers.

Bugden Allen Graham Lawyers is a specialist strata and property development law firm with offices in Sydney, Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast and now Melbourne. The firm recently won PEXA’s PropertyX Innovate Awards for their off-the-plan contract exchange platform OPEX. They also recently launched an electronic by-law drafting and registration platform called “By-Law Builder”.

p: 03 8582 8100 e: info@bagl.com.au w: www.bagl.com.au

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Is a Water Leak Covered by the OC’s Insurance?

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Q

If the apartment above me, or to the side of me, has a water eak which affects my property, does the Owners Corporation’s insurance cover my damage?

A

If the leak has caused damage to the permanent fixtures in the building then the strata policy is designed to respond to this damage subject to the policy terms, conditions and exclusions.

Strata Insurance is designed to cover damage to buildings insured by the policy. So if the leak has caused damage to the permanent fixtures in the building then the strata policy is designed to respond to this damage subject to the policy terms, conditions and exclusions.

If there is damage to contents such as carpets, curtains & blinds or appliances that are not permanently attached to the building we recommend referring the claim to your contents insurer.

READ MORE ON THIS TOPIC HERE

Tyrone Shandiman | Strata Insurance Solutions tshandiman@iaa.net.au

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Installing Double Glazed Windows Is a Special Resolution Required?

Q

A

A lot owner has requested to install double glazed windows, and replace the wooden frames with new material. Is a Special Resolution required? There is much debate in the block on the right to do this.

Altering of window frames would be deemed to be a significant alteration as it would have an impact on the overall visual appearance of the property.

The Owners Corporation Act in Section 52 states the following

52 Significant alteration to common property requires special resolution An owners corporation must not make a significant alteration to the use or appearance of the common property unless— a. t he alteration is— S. 52(a)(i) amended by No. 2/2008 s. 12(2). i. first approved by a special resolution of the owners corporation; or ii. permitted by the maintenance plan; or iii. agreed to under section 53; or b. there are reasonable grounds to believe that an immediate alteration is necessary to ensure safety or to prevent significant loss or damage.

Rob Harris | WestVic Strata robharris@westvicstrata.com.au

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In my opinion the altering of window frames would be deemed to be a significant alteration as it would have an impact on the overall visual appearance of the property, no different to painting the unit a different colour.

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Seeking Permission to Brighten Up the Hall All lot owners on my floor wish to brighten up the hallway. How do we obtain permission?

All of the owners on my floor in our apartment complex want to brighten up the corridor.

We would like to put up some photos of Melbourne in the hall.

We all agree we are happy to take responsibility for the photos, ensuring that if the walls are damaged we agree to repair.

How do we get this approved from the committee?

Rochelle Castro | RC & Co Lawyers law@rccolawyers.com

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The residents need to obtain a licence for the unexclusive use of the common property hall.

Hanging photos on the common property hall with the residents being responsible for the photos and rectification of any damage to the walls, require that the residents obtain a licence for the unexclusive use of the common property hall.

The Owners Corporation could only grant a special resolution by either holding a general meeting or issuing a ballot to all owners that must achieve at least 75% favourable votes from the owners to approve the licence, pursuant to section 96 of the Owners Corporations Act 2006.

Alternatively, the residents could donate or lend the photos to the Owners Corporation.

In that circumstance, the committee could decide, at their discretion, whether or not to hang the photos on the common property hall. In this regard, a special resolution is not required, but the residents would not be given an opportunity to make any determination on whether the photos will be hung on the common property hall.

Photography: Shayan-Hefzi and Aleksandra-Sapozhnikova on Unsplash

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Removing the Chair Before the AGM Are you able to remove our current chairperson and appoint a new chair before the next AGM? What is the process?

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Our Owners Corporation Manager made the decision to re-appoint our chairman for the next three years. The minutes were recorded as – Mr ‘So & So’ was appointed Chairperson of the Committee.

Two meetings later, committee members are seeking to revoke the chair and vote a new person into the position.

What is the process to revoke the Chairperson of the Owners Corporation Committee and implement this change?

If the committee is wanting to remove the chairperson before the next AGM, a meeting of the committee should be arranged.

Voting can be via a ballot or a show of hands at the meeting. If the resolution to remove the current chairperson is put forward and the majority vote to remove him/her, then a new chairperson can be elected. The intention to elect a new chairperson should also be stated as an agenda item.

The chairperson can be removed by a majority vote of the committee.

Usually a committee member or the chairperson of the committee is voted in or out at an AGM.

Minutes of the committee meeting must be kept on file for possible future reference.

If the committee is wanting to remove the chairperson before the next AGM, a meeting of the committee should be arranged.

In line with the OC Act 2006, the relevant notice of meeting including meeting agenda must be issued to all committee members by the committee secretary at least 3 days before the meeting. A quorum (50% or more) must attend the meeting for any resolution to be a final resolution of the committee. (A committee member is considered present if attending via teleconference/Zoom).

A chairperson can also be removed via a postal or email ballot of the committee members.

Please see section 111 of the OC Act 2006 for the correct process as arranging a postal ballot differs from a physical committee meeting.

The results of the ballot (votes) must be kept on file for possible future reference.

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Don't fall behind!

Guy Garreffa | StrataPoint guy@stratapoint.com.au

Laws effecting

Owners Corporations will be changing from 1st Dec 2021 Let us help you get up to speed in a single session with our small group, or one-on-one OCAA intensive online training

Simply follow the QR code or go to www.smti.com.au/ocaa-certification

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Our Committee Employs People to ‘Catch Out’ Breaches Q

Is the Owners Corporation Committee legally required to employ staff to inspect properties for breaches of guidelines?

The OC Committee employed two staff members (at a total of 25 work hours per week) whose salaries are being paid for by the Lot Owners through their annual levy. Their responsibilities are to drive around the estate taking pictures of gardens, letterboxes, bins etc; then issue breach notices and follow up to resolution. This results in a hike in the annual levy which is incurring the wrath of lot owners.

The Lot owners are calling for these staff positions to be abolished in order to reduce levies. Are Lot owners within their rights?

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A

It is prudent and proper that the OC gathers evidence of the alleged breach.

Section 9 of the Owners Corporations Act 2006 (OCA) empowers an Owners Corporation (OC) to appoint or employ persons to assist the owners corporation in carrying out its functions.

It is a function of the OC to enforce its rules.

Where a formal written complaint is made, or it otherwise comes to the attention of the OC that a lot owner or an occupier of a lot may have breached the OCA, Owners Corporations Regulations 2018 or the rules the OC must decide— a. t o take action in respect of the alleged breach by issuing Notice of Breach; or b. to apply to VCAT for an order requiring the person to rectify the breach; or c. t o take no action in respect of the alleged breach.

OCs must be very cautious when deciding to take no action, as it may render them negligent or in breach of the statutory duty of due care & diligence.

The OC must not issue Notice of Breach or apply to VCAT for an order in respect of an alleged breach unless it believes on reasonable grounds that the person has committed the alleged breach.

For those reasons, it is prudent and proper that the OC gathers evidence of the alleged breach.

The OC must also tread warily when considering whether to terminate any contract.

If the staff members are employees of the OC they will benefit from the protections conferred in employment law. If the staff members are contractors the OC may fundamentally breach the contract by terminating the staff members, leaving it exposed to claims for damages for breach of contract.

Tim Graham | Bugden Allen Graham Lawyers tim@bagl.com.au

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Handling Bills

During the 28 Day Change Over

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Q

When changing Owners Corporation Managers, who pays bills during the 28 days changeover window?

Once an Owners Corporation Management Company has been given notice of termination, I understand they have 28 days to hand over paperwork to the new manager and that they are unable to act for the Owners Corporation, paying bills etc.

Is it possible for the old manager to transfer Owners Corporation funds to the new manager before the 28 days is up, in order to pay bills? If not, is it possible for the old manager to re-direct bills to one of the owners, so they can be paid?

Rochelle Castro | RC & Co Lawyers law@rccolawyers.com

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A

The Act is silent on who is authorised to pay the bills during the 28-day period of the handover.

Section 127 of the Owners Corporations Act 2006 (Act) provides that a terminated manager, has 28 days within the termination date to return to the secretary of the owners corporation (OC), all their records and funds held or controlled by the terminated manager.

The Act is silent on who is authorised to pay the bills during the 28-day period of the handover.

It should be noted that during the 28-day period, the terminated manager still has control of the funds and records and is only obliged to handover any funds and records after the 28day period.

In that regard, it is in the best interest of the OC to request (but the OC cannot compel) the terminated manager to redirect the bills to the OC or their new manager, or instruct the terminated manager to pay the bills during the 28-day period. Such method would not leave the OC open to falling behind in bills’ payment.

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Vibrant and Connected Com Can I do a private letterbox drop in our tower building? I’m trying to get a Facebook Group going to create Community.

Are there are rules about doing a private letterbox drop in my building? In our highdensity tower block, I dropped off flyers to start a Facebook group as I wanted to create some community. The Building Manager said I can’t do this. Is this correct?

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The Building Manager, and indeed the management company, should be offering support, not be a hindrance.

Vibrant and connected communities – a priority above all else! What a wonderful thought, and what great lengths you’re going to for your community!

Any initial steps a volunteer owner can take to activate the community and strive to connect residents, in particular in these times of high incidents of loneliness & lockdowns, should be welcomed and supported with open arms.

mmunities The Building Manager, and indeed the management company, should be offering support, not be a hindrance. Our team has had wonderful success at joining, supporting, actively participating and engaging with owners on our clients’ private community Facebook groups.

Post away I say, and well done for taking the initiative to empower your community to stay connected with each other.

Michael Darby Quantum United Management Pty Ltd michael@quantumunited.com.au

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Is Your Common Property Free From Hazards?

Q

Is the committee legally required – or expected – to undertake an Occupational Health and Safety report on the property?

I am on an owners corporation committee for a strata development in Melbourne. Is the committee legally required – or expected – to undertake an Occupational Health and Safety report on the property? While we are extremely diligent in making our development as ‘safe’ as we possibly can, should we (or is it deemed necessary) engage the services of consultancy to undertake a formal Building Safety Assessment (including OH&S Management/Essential Safety Measures)? If so, if there are identified high-level safety concerns, is the committee then responsible for taking action to mitigate those issues?

A

Now more than ever is the time to ensure your common property has been assessed and made free from hazards.

Since the pandemic arrived on our shores, more and more workers have been forced to conduct business from their home as directed by the federal government to help us slow the spread of COVID-19. In light of this increased presence in residential and mixed-use strata schemes, the likelihood of an injury occurring in these spaces has also increased dramatically.

Now more than ever is the time to ensure your common property has been assessed and made free from hazards. There are compelling risks driving the building’s need for safety obligations.

They are the duty of care and the applicable compliance codes, legislation and Australian Standards that apply to buildings.

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While compliance means you are taking steps to ensure your property is safe and protecting yourself from the liability of accidents and injury

occurring, the reality is that your biggest risk is not a compliance risk- it is trumped by your duty of care risk.

Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 an Owners Corporation or an owner, must consider their duties under the law, especially regarding the health and safety of any person entering and egressing the common property.

Section 20 (1) outlines the duty to ensure health and safety, requiring the Owners Corporation to eliminate or minimise risks so far as is reasonably practicable.

Section 20(2) Reasonably practicable is outlined as regard must be had to the following matters: - Likelihood - Degree of harm - What is known about the hazard/risk and ways of eliminating or minimising it - Availability and suitability of ways to eliminate or minimise the risk - The cost of eliminating the hazard or risk Put simply, Owners Corporations have a nondelegable duty to do all that is ‘reasonably practicable’ to ensure the health and safety of all occupants of their properties. This is a common law duty of care that is reinforced and echoed by multiple pieces of legislation.

Meeting these requirements warrants an active stance by an Owners Corporation to be engaging and monitoring safety issues on the property. Engaging a professional company such as Solutions IE to take an active part in this process is a significant step towards mitigating the Owners Corporations liability and prevent injury.

I am the Chairperson at my scheme. Over the last 6 years I have worked with my fellow committee members to be pro-active and to look at everything we do from the above perspective. With my experience and relevant skill set, I do not do any reports nor allow any owner/resident to undertake any compliance matters into their own hands. This is because it opens the committee and the resident up to litigation.

We motion and vote up getting a Safety Report completed every 12 months (not SIE in our case, as I think that would be a conflict of interest). The committee then agrees for the rectifications to be done and our Owners Corporation Manager then enlists the trade services required. After the Safety Report to-do-list has been completed then I believe if an accident were to occur on the common property, we could show a court of law that we have done as far as is reasonably practical to minimise risk.

Accidents will happen, if we all do our best to minimise the risk of harm, this will also assist the OC in getting insured for a reasonable amount. The same goes for poorly maintained properties. Well maintained building will have a positive impact on your premium. Insurers are now pricing strata to reflect the risk of the area.

Maintain the building, proactive maintenance helps prevent claims.

In summary, there is no piece of legislation that I can point to that states an OC must do this or else. The best advice I can give is from when I was asked by SCA(Vic) to present on Emergency Management Plans AS3745-2010 and I had a Work Health Safety Specialist Lawyer speak first. He said, “The Owners Corporation that fails to comply with OHS and Essential Safety Measures does so at their own peril” and by this he meant, when something does go wrong, the judge will ask “what did you do to meet or exceed the Australian Standard?”.

Our standards have been put in place as the minimum requirement to assist us in reducing harm to ourselves, owner’s, tenants, visitors and even trespassers who come onto the premises (if you would like to understand the legal requirement for this, please refer to Hackshaw v Shaw [1984] 155 CLR 614).

If we all try to be proactive in managing our obligations this should help result in living in a safe and harmonious community.

READ MORE ON THIS TOPIC HERE

Peter Berney | Solutions in Engineering peter@solutionsinengineering.com

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Tips When Choosing a New Owners Corporation Manager

Q A

What are the most important factors when choosing an Owners Corporation management company?

Experience is vital, good understanding of the Owners Corporations Act is integral.

The role of an Owners Corporation Manager is very varied and there is a lack of education when it comes to what the role of the Owners Corporation Manager is. It is quite a diverse role.

It is really important that when you’re looking to appoint an Owners Corporation Management company, that they have the experience as well as the competence to deal with the financials and with compliance of the Owners Corporations Act. There are a lot of companies out there who purport to be Owners Corporation Managers, but really they’re not managing the property that well.

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They’re more Owners Corporation administrators, doing the basic administration tasks and providing documents to the committee to consider.

The role of an Owners Corporation Manager The role of an Owners Corporation Manager should be providing direction and good advice when it comes to Owners Corporation Act, Owners Corporation rules, compliance obligations and also providing insight into other situations that an Owners Corporation may be dealing with. Whether that may be e.g. a waterproofing issue, they could rely on another situation that they have previously dealt with to apply their logic and inform the committee of any challenges they may have experienced in other situations.

Experience is vital, a good understanding of the Owners Corporations Act is integral.

Another factor is good communication. Making sure that there’s a good service level agreement when it comes to response times to owners and committees.

Making sure that the Owners Corporation Manager who was appointed to the property has the time to liaise with the committee. Too often I get asked by prospective clients, ‘How many lots or how many properties are in the portfolio of the proposed manager?’.

Strata insurance commissions are quite common, but not receiving commissions from things like service providers. We don’t agree with that. You need to really ask some of those questions to understand the ethics of those companies.

This intrigues me because what a prospective Owners Corporation Committee should be asking is, ‘What are the tasks the Owners Corporation Manager is responsible for doing?’. At The Knight, what we’ve done is decentralised the role of the Owners Corporation Manager.

Who is the Decision Maker?

The manager is actually focusing on the highlevel Owners Corporation matters and dealing with the committee of management and other owners. We’ve got other support staff who attend to the basic routine administration tasks such as preparing minutes for meetings or dealing with insurance claims, plus a whole host of other matters.

Ultimately, the Owners Corporation Manager is responsible for managing the property and making sure that their support team members are doing their job.

What else should people looking for a new manager look out for? The structure of support in the organisation. When that manager does go on leave, whether it’s annual leave or sick leave, there needs to be a really rigorous process in terms of somebody filling in the void when the manager goes away. Otherwise, their manager may come back in two weeks and nothing’s been done.

The Owners Corporation Manager’s role is to provide guidance and direction to the committee. When it comes to small decisions, it depends on the contract of appointment.

We can make some of the basic decisions on behalf of the Owners Corporation if we are delegated that power.

When it comes to the higher-level decisions, these really rest with the Owners Corporation.

If there is a committee, they are automatically delegated the power to pass those resolutions.

They’re the ones calling the shots and Owners Corporation Manager’s are not the ones making the decisions. We don’t have a vote when it comes to Owners Corporation matters.

READ MORE ON THIS TOPIC HERE

Gregor Evans | The Knight ella@theknight.com.au

At The Knight, we’ve got a system where the assistant managers step up, the team leaders step down, and other support staff chime in as well to make sure that any issues are dealt with during that period of time when the owners corporation goes away.

Also, look out for companies with good integrity. Fortunately, there are a lot of good players in this industry, but there are a few out there to watch out for. What should you look for here? Makes sure everything is being disclosed properly to the Owners Corporation and make sure they’re not getting commissions on the side.

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Where to next for SCA (Vic) Advocacy in 2022?

In what is perhaps the single most consequential year

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has also presented

for strata in Victoria since the passage of the Owners

unique challenges to owners corporations, with the

Corporation Act in 2006, 2021 represents a time of

directions of public health orders which, at times,

significant and meaningful reform for the sector, while

haven’t always proven straightforward.

serving as a stepping stone for even more practical change further down the track.

In 2021, SCA (Vic) have successfully, through continual liaison with the Departments of Jobs, Precincts and

While the changes to the Owners Corporation Act

Regions (DJPR) and Health, secured clarity concerning

taking effect from December have dominated the

COVIDSafe Planning and QR code requirements for

strata discussion in 2021, it is also worth noting some

owners corporations after confusion was caused earlier

of the strides made by SCA (Vic) in our advocacy on

in the year concerning these regulations.

strata matters elsewhere, and what we are looking to achieve for the strata sector in policy terms, into the future.

However, as long as COVID-19 exists, there remains work to be done in building standards concerning multi-unit dwellings, to mitigate risks and best protect

1. Better recognition of strata in government, and improved regulatory outcomes for owners Addressing the OC regulatory framework with the aim of making the landscape easier for owners to navigate has remained a primary goal for SCA (Vic), with encouraging developments arising from our regular liaison with Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV).

SCA (Vic) continues to advocate to CAV seeking clarity concerning the status of owners corporations under Australian Accounting Standards as nonreporting entities now and in the future as the AASB

the health and wellbeing of owners. SCA (Vic) will continue to advocate tirelessly with our counterparts in government toward this end.

2. Incorporating strata and the built environment into sustainability policy In light of the most recent report released by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in August 2021, it is timely that mention is made of SCA (Vic)’s advocacy for a greater role for the strata property sector in future sustainability policy.

considers amending the Australian Accounting

The commitment of SCA (Vic) to the UN Sustainable

Standards.

Development Goals (SDGs) in tandem with the

SCA (Vic) have also been continually coordinating with CAV to deliver much-needed reform to residential tenancy regulations, and dedication of resources to strata managers concerning changes to the Owners Corporations Act effective from December this year.

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Victorian Government, signals an aligned interest in incorporating strata into future decisions to meet these goals, and addressing the challenges and impacts associated with climate change in so doing.

Buildings account for approximately 25% of Australia’s carbon emissions, and 40% of global carbon emissions; the adaptation of buildings to meet these targets will prove crucial going forward and cannot afford to be considered as an afterthought by our policymakers, as the need to address the challenge of climate change gains greater momentum and public attention.

SCA (Vic) have been in ongoing discussion with Victorian cabinet about supporting strata managers to drive sustainable development through the uptake of infrastructure such as renewable energy, energyefficient fixtures and appliances, and even electric vehicle charging in the buildings that they manage, at the macro-level.

Recent submissions made to the Victorian Government consultations concerning embedded networks and climate change adaptability plans for the built environment have also highlighted our recommendations to support owners and owners corporations in meeting the costs of adopting sustainable infrastructure.

Without the input of the strata sector in policy discussions, future targets related to addressing sustainability issues and climate change will prove otherwise impossible to achieve. SCA (Vic) has consistently voiced its support for a strata-led sustainable future and will continue to do so into the future.

3. Improvement in the consumer rights landscape SCA (Vic) proudly fulfils a dual role as a professional institute and consumer rights advocate; this has informed our advocacy work across a plethora of consultations concerning subjects such as energy, waste management, sustainability, and building regulations, among others.

SCA (Vic) have presented recommendations to these consultations throughout 2021 with the goal of protecting and enhancing the consumer rights of owners and minimising costs through supporting strata managers to meet future regulations.

SCA (Vic) remain committed to advocating for consultative, evidence-based, and experience-based policy reforms, affecting an estimated 900,000 Victorian strata owners, with the goal of supporting and reducing costs and other barriers to these owners.

4. Investing in research SCA (Vic) are proud to support research into the strata sector to bring about change and influence policy positions of government, including:

Melbourne University - A Building Information Modelling (BIM)-based Approach to Minimise Property Disputes within Multi-owned Buildings RMIT – Emergency preparedness in Highrise and master plans estates and Emergency Planning Management for Apartments Deakin – Minimum standards for strata managers

Committee Training or Committee embers This course is designed and dedicated to

Upcoming Training Dates

the education of Committee Members.

It teaches you about the importance of Governance, Roles and Responsibilities,

Thursday 28 October

Meetings and Effective Communication.

5:30pm to 8:00pm online

Delivered online, it includes an overview

To book visit www.vic.strata.community/vic-online-activities

of these areas of responsibility and provides clarity of the OC’s and the Committee’s role, purpose and function.

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Software Taskflo Workflow and Compliance Management Software P: 1300 850 837 W: https://www.taskflo.com.au/ E: Info@taskflo.com.au Mimor Connecting People – Creating Communities P: 0414 228 644 W: https://www.mimor.com.au/ E: info@mimor.com.au Stratabox Building Confidence P: 1300 651 506 W: https://stratabox.com.au/ E: contact@stratabox.com.au

StrataMax Streamlining strata P: 1800 656 368 W: https://www.stratamax.com/ E: info@stratamax.com MYBOS Building management for residential and FM schemes

P: 1300 912 386 W: https://www.mybos.com.au/ E: sam@mybos.com.au Strata Vault Securely share documents with third parties P: 1300 082 858 W: https://www.stratavaults.com/ E: julie@thestratavault.com

Accountants Tinworth & Co Chartered Accountant & Strata Auditors P: 0499 025 069 W: https://www.tinworthaccountants.com.au/ E: caren.chen@tinworth.com Future Advisory Victoria's Auditor of OC Financial Statements P: 1300 225 888 W: https://www.futureadvisory.com.au/ E: michael@futureadvisory.com.au

Auditors Property Audit & Assurance Strata & Managed Property Auditing Specialists P: 03 9525 3777 W: http://www.lowelippmann.com.au/ E: paa@llca.com.au

Building Engineers and Inspectors QIA Group Compliance Made Easy P: 1300 309 201 W: https://www.qiagroup.com.au/ E: info@qiagroup.com.au

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LIST MY BUSINESS Building Engineers and Inspectors Budget Vals Built For Strata P: 1300 148 150 W: https://www.budgetvals.com.au/ E: reports@budgetvals.com.au

Solutions in Engineering Quality Reports On Time, Every Time!

P: 1300 136 036 W: https://www.solutionsinengineering.com/ E: enquiry@solutionsinengineering.com Gallagher Jeffs Move Forward with Confidence P: 03 8610 3888 W: https://www.gallagherjeffs.com.au/ E: communication@gj.com.au

Sedgwick Building Consultancy Division & Repair Solutions W: https://www.sedgwick.com/solutions/global/au E: info@au.sedgwick.com Leary & Partners Quantity surveying services since 1977 P: 1800 808 991 W: https://www.leary.com.au/ E: enquiries@leary.com.au Roscon Property services & facilities management P: 1800 767 266 W: https://www.roscon.com.au/ E: info@roscon.com

Core Project Consulting Independent Expertise. We’ve got you covered!

P: 02 8961 3250 W: https://core.engineering/ E: admin@core.engineering Forte Asset Services Operational Excellence in Every Building P: 1300 920 752 W: https://www.forteassetservices.com.au/ E: info@forteas.com.au Independent Inspections Sinking Fund Forecast, Insurance Valuations, OHS P: 1300 857 149 W: http://www.iigi.com.au/ E: admin@iigi.com.au

Mabi Services Valuations, Maintenance Plans, Asbestos P: 1300 762 295 W: https://www.mabi.com.au/ E: info@mabi.com.au Voltin 10,000 Safer Cities P: 1800 865 846 W: https://www.voltin.com.au/ E: accounts@voltin.com.au Essential Services Compliance Essential safety measures reporting & fire safety P: 03 9816 4840 W: https://essentialservicescompliance.com.au/ E: admin@escompliance.com.au

Facility Management

HFM Asset Management Pty Ltd Building Efficiency P: 1300 021 420 W: https://www.hfmassets.com.au/ E: info@hfmassets.com.au

LUNA – The Building Management Company Building and Facilities Manager P: 1800 005 862 W: https://www.luna.management/ E: info@luna.management

Quality Building Management Keeping your buildings legally compliant and safe P: 1300 880 466 W: https://qbm.com.au/ E: qbm@qbm.com.au

JKR Property Group Facilities and Building Management Solved.

P: 1300 294 088

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W: http://www.jkrpropertygroup.com.au/

E: admin@jkrpropertygroup.com.au

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LIST MY BUSINESS Australian Facilities Management Integrated facilities management services & solutions

P: 03 9816 4722 W:https://www.australianfacilitiesmanagement.com.au/

E: info@australianfacilitiesmanagement.com.au

Franchisers Network Pacific Strata Franchise Join our successful team P: 03 9999 5488 W: https://www.networkpacificstratafranchise.com.au/ E: networkpacific@franchisedevelopments.com.au

Insurance Strata Insurance Solutions Online strata insurance quotes P: 1300 554 165 W: https://www.stratainsurancesolutions.com.au/ E: info@stratainsurancesolutions.com.au Whitbread Insurance Brokers Empower Your Vision P: 1300 424 627 W: https://www.whitbread.com.au/ E: info@whitbread.com.au

Strata Lawyers Bugden Allen Graham Lawyers Specialising in property development & strata law P: 02 9199 1055 W: http://www.bugdenallenlawyers.com.au/ E: info@bugdenallenlawyers.com.au RC & Co Lawyers Effective, resource, clear.

P: 1300 072 626 W: https://www.rccolawyers.com/ E: assistant@rccolawyers.com Tisher Liner FC Law Pty Ltd Experts in Owners Corporations Law P: 03 8600 9314 W: https://tlfc.com.au/expertise/owners-corporation/

E: ocenquiry@tlfc.com.au

Grace Lawyers Know. Act. Resolve.

P: 03 9674 0474 W: https://gracelawyers.com.au/ E: enquiries@gracelawyers.com.au

Strata Loan Professionals

QUS Pty Ltd Strata Insurance Underwriting Agency P: 1300 814 011 W: https://www.qus.com.au/ E: qus@qus.com.au

StrataLoans The Experts in Strata Finance P: 1300 785 045 W: https://www.strata-loans.com/ E: info@strata-loans.com

CHU Underwriting Agencies Pty Ltd Specialist Strata Insurance Underwriting Agency P: 1800 022 444 W: https://www.chu.com.au/ E: info_nsw@chu.com.au

Lannock Strata Finance The Leading Strata Finance Specialist P: 1300 851 585 W: https://lannock.com.au/ E: strata@lannock.com.au

Strata Community Insurance Protection for your strata property. And you.

P: 1300 724 678 W: https://www.stratacommunityinsure.com.au E: myenquiry@scinsure.com.au Flex Insurance Your Cover Your Choice P: 1300 201 021 W: https://www.flexinsurance.com.au/ E: info@flexinsurance.com.au

Strata Management The Knight Strong family values & real hands-on experience P: 03 9509 3144 W: https://www.theknight.com.au/ E: lisa@theknight.com.au

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LIST MY BUSINESS Strata Management Consultants We Help Committees to Change OC Companies P: 1300 917 848 W: https://www.strataconsultants.com.au/ E: office@strataconsultants.com.au

Civium Communities When you build trust, you build a community P: 1300 724 256 W: https://civium.com.au/ E: clientservices@civium.com.au StrataPoint Owners Corp.

“A surprising approach to Strata Management” P: 03 8726 9962 W: https://stratapoint.com.au/ E: Hello@stratapoint.com.au

Bright & Duggan Strata Professionals P: 02 9902 7100 W: https://bright-duggan.com.au/ E: customercare@bright-duggan.com.au Quantum United Management Turning large residential estates into thriving communities.

P: 03 8360 8800 W: http://www.quantumunited.com.au/ E: info@quantumunited.com.au SOCM Owners Corporation Management Melbourne P: 03 9495 0005 W: https://socm.com.au/ E: info@socm.com.au Network Pacific Strata Management Vic Supporting our Victorian strata communities P: 03 9816 4722 W: https://www.networkpacificstratamanagement.com.au/vic/

E: info@networkpacific.com.au Body Corporate Victoria Specialist provider of strata management in Melbourne

P: 03 9807 2211 W: https://bodycorpvic.com.au/ E: info@bodycorpvic.com.au

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Strata Reports BIV Reports Specialist in Strata Compliance Reports P: 1300 107 280 W: https://www.biv.com.au/ E: biv@biv.com.au Covid19 Plans Covid19 Safety Plans for Strata P: 1300 828 344 W: https://covid19plans.com.au/ E: plans@covidplans.com.au

Cleaners Strata Shop Online Cleaning supplies, software and signs P: 0468 455 390 W: https://www.stratashoponline.com.au/ E: tony.s@acebodycorp.com.au Pacific Facility Services Strata Cleaning & Ground Maintenance Services P: 1300 378 388 W: http://www.pacificfs.com.au/ E: a.smith@pacificfs.com.au

Ai Odour Control Systems Actualise your facilities’ potential P: 1300 728 760 W: https://www.aiodourcontrolsystems.com.au/ E: info@aiodourcontrolsystems.com.au Clean As You Go Leaders in Caretaking and Facility Maintenance P: 1300 525 651 W: http://www.cleanasyougo.com.au/ E: info@cleanasyougo.com.au OZ Bin Cleaning The Bin Cleaning & Hygiene Professionals P: 1300 651 165 W: https://www.ozbincleaning.com.au/ E: penny@ozbincleaning.com.au

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LIST MY BUSINESS Clotheslines Lifestyle Clotheslines Clothesline and washing line supplier & installer P: 1300 798 779 W: https://www.lifestyleclotheslines.com.au/ E: admin@lifestyleclotheslines.com.au

Defect Restoration Johns Lyng Group 24/7 Response P: 1300 736 000 W: https://www.johnslyng.com.au/ E: strata@johnslyng.com.au 24:seven Maintenance Solutions Comprehensive building maintenance services P: 03 9008 5423 W: https://24sevenms.com.au/ E: admin@24sevenms.com.au

Electrical Energy On Pty Ltd Providing utility network solutions P: 1300 323 263 W: https://www.energyon.com.au/ E: EnergyServices@EnergyOn.com.au ENM Solutions Providing Solutions for Embedded Networks P: 03 9836 6366 W: https://www.enmsolutions.com.au/ E: info@ENMSolutions.com.au

Fire Services Linkfire Pty Ltd Your Essential Safety Partner P: 1300 669 439 W: http://www.linkfire.com.au/ E: sales@linkfire.com.au

Lifts and Elevators Innovative Lift Consulting Pty Ltd Australia's Vertical Transportation Consultants P: 0417 784 245 W: https://www.ilcpl.com.au/ E: bfulcher@ilcpl.com.au

Equity Elevator Consultants Saving our clients time and money P: 1300 080 816 W: https://www.liftsconsultant.com/ E: enquiry@equityelevator.com.au The Elevator Doctor liftphones P: 0430 444 871 E: okeefe.nick@gmail.com

Painting Higgins Coatings Pty Ltd Specialist painters in the strata industry P: 1300 HIGGINS W: https://www.higgins.com.au/ E: info@higgins.com.au Calibre Coatings Committed to Delivering Excellence in Painting P: 08 9331 5553 W: https://www.calibrecoatings.com.au/ E: wa@calibrecoatings.com.au Avello Group Painting Services for Owners Corp properties P: 1300 283 556 W: https://avello.com.au/ E: estimating@avello.com.au

Waterproofing The Superseal Group Trusted Experts in all aspects of Waterproofing P: 07 5519 4916 W: https://supersealgroup.com/ E: admin@supersealgroup.com

Sustainability and Energy The Green Guys Group Australia’s Leading Energy Saving Partner P: 1300 511 875 W: https://greenguys.com.au/ E: sean@greenguys.com.au

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Attention VIC Strata Service Professionals

Join our printable Strata Services Directory today

Contact lizaj@LookUpStrata.com.au to find out more today!

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