Strata Law Review

The current reformist NSW government has been busy reviewing critical community issues such as Planning, Strata Law, the Home Building Act, the CTTT and construction industry insolvencies. 

OCN has made a second submission on the Strata Law Review of NSW' world first, but now 50 year old, strata law. This supplements OCN's comprehensive May 2012 submission based on the collective wisdom of its members, gleaned over 10 years of discussions and decades of strata living.  Our goal is a simple, plain English guide to harmonious strata living.  We have proposed a Strata Renewal Model, and put out a Strata Renewal joint statement with the Urban Development Institute of Australia and Strata Community Australia. 

You can also see what OCN strata law partners, Makinson & d'Apice, have to say.  The government is getting some good advice on its way to making NSW No. 1 again.  Read the submissions and statement.

Apartment Living Guides

OCN has written three new articles as part of the plan to provide content of relevance and interest to owners. These have been funded by The Office of Fair Trading.  Follow the links to:

Executive Committees and How They Should Function
Governance – Working With Your Strata Manager
Noise in Strata Buildings

Recent News & Information

GETTING BETTER VALUE INTO YOUR BUILDING’S MANAGEMENT - Saturday 18 May 2013

09 May 2013

Apartment owner/ resident John Hutchinson has been investigating building management for his medium sized block of 139 apartments. He has focused particularly on how buildings of different sizes can benefit from the use of building management software to better involve owners and residents. He shared  his findings as an owner interested in achieving both transparency and efficiencies.  

For details click here

NBN Rollout

05 Apr 2013

Strata Community Australia (SCA) has allied itself with NBN Co to make it easier for the network builder to get building access to multi-dwelling units for the roll out of the National Broadband Network.

Read more,,,,

Government acts to prevent children falling from apartment windows

13 Mar 2013

On 13 March 2013 Fair Trading Minister, Anthony Roberts, announced that from 1 May 2013 all strata buildings will be required to install safety devices to windows above ground floor, to prevent children from falling.  This will bring older buildings into line with the requirements for new buildings.  The Minister also announced a 6 week consultation period to look at the best ways to implement these measures.  There will be a 5 year transition period, to allow strata schemes time to plan and if necessary save 

Consultation Paper
Letter from Fair Trading Minister, Anthony Roberts
OCN Press Release

How was this duplex certified suitable for occupation?

03 Mar 2013

Sydney Morning Herald Article: Balcony collapses whilst family is having dinner. Family falls six meters to concrete.

Read the article

Fire traps apartment residents

02 Mar 2013

Residents were trapped by fire stairs which emptied into the garage that was on fire.

Read the article

Reform of Company Title Home Unit Disputes - At last!!

20 Feb 2013

The NSW Government and, in particular, the Attorney-General Greg Smith MP, is to be congratulated on a long overdue reform of the management of disputes in Company Title buildings.  Company Title buildings can now refer many disputes to the Local Court rather than (as is presently the case) exclusively to the Supreme Court (an expensive course of action). It is hoped that this will achieve considerable savings in costs and in the speed of resolution of such disputes.

Company Title Dispute Resolution Reforms

Illegal parking on common property

30 Jan 2013

Can cars be camera shy?  Flat Chat explores the question of parking paparazzi in many owners corporation campaigns to drive off rogue parkers, and strata lawyer Beverley Hoskinson-Green comes up with answers!

Read the full article by Beverley Hoskinson-Green, Makinson & d'Apice
Jimmy Thomson, Flat-Chat
Syndicate content