OCN Executive Director

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So far OCN Executive Director has created 181 blog entries.

Big changes in store for apartment laws

2023-10-09T17:48:42+11:00

25 AUGUST 2023 Major updates to NSW strata are being proposed, with working groups having recommended some bold regulatory reforms for the sector. Among the changes afoot is a recommendation to make the initial annual general meeting of new buildings a two stage process so that owners, especially first timers, cannot be railroaded into agreements that are not in their best interests, such as embedded networks [https://www.afr.com/wealth/personalfinance/howtostop-dodgymaintenancecontractsinyournewapartmentblock-20230801-p5dt3d]. Allied to the recommendation above [...]

Big changes in store for apartment laws2023-10-09T17:48:42+11:00

Home Building Act 2023 Licensing Framework

2023-10-08T18:13:44+11:00

The OCN welcomes the opportunity to comment upon the Building Bill 2023 – Licensing Proposals. The OCN is one of, if not the most, important stakeholder in this area, but does not have the resources or paid staff or lobbyists that industry stakeholders have.

Home Building Act 2023 Licensing Framework2023-10-08T18:13:44+11:00

Apartment owners face strata fee increases of 20 per cent as costs soar

2023-07-19T10:50:04+10:00

19 JULY 2023 Strata levies paid by apartment owners are up by 15 to 20 per cent on average over the past year as the costs of insurance, utilities and repairs and maintenance outstrip even the rapid rise in general inflation. Apartment owners are facing an increase in strata fees on top of rises in mortgage repayments. Without any official source of strata levies, the evidence for rising levies is anecdotal, [...]

Apartment owners face strata fee increases of 20 per cent as costs soar2023-07-19T10:50:04+10:00

The ‘extra obstacle’ for owners clashing with body corporates over building defects

2023-07-19T17:35:13+10:00

16 JULY 2023 The number of people applying for strata scheme mediation has surged by 45 per cent in five years as owners clash with owners corporations over building defects and repairs. The average wait time for parties to meet with a mediator was three months, NSW Fair Trading confirmed, while it takes another four months on average for a resolution for those who escalated the issue to the NSW Civil [...]

The ‘extra obstacle’ for owners clashing with body corporates over building defects2023-07-19T17:35:13+10:00

NSW’s building industry is reforming after years of apartment defects, but comes too late for many owners

2024-01-11T12:21:19+11:00

15 JULY 2023 Brian Tucker is forking out thousands of dollars on quarterly strata fees and paying down his mortgage on an apartment that's been uninhabitable for more than four years. So far this year NSW Fair Trading has issued more than 30 work rectification orders across building sites, including The Laneways Rosebery, which remains empty and has serious structural defects, and Toplace's Vicinity complex in Canterbury over "potential serious defects". [...]

NSW’s building industry is reforming after years of apartment defects, but comes too late for many owners2024-01-11T12:21:19+11:00

Apartment owners fear multi-million-dollar repair bill after developer Toplace goes into administration

2024-01-11T12:24:28+11:00

13 JULY 2023 Patrick Quintal was newly married and eager to begin a fresh chapter when he bought a Sydney apartment two years ago. Now the IT manager feels financially trapped, fearing a $180,000 repair bill after the developer of his apartment, Toplace, went into administration. Karen Stiles, head of peak residential strata body Owners Corporation Network, said the situation surrounding Toplace was "not a one-off occurrence". She said apartment owners [...]

Apartment owners fear multi-million-dollar repair bill after developer Toplace goes into administration2024-01-11T12:24:28+11:00

Premier urges fugitive developer to turn himself in

2023-07-13T13:46:31+10:00

12 JULY 2023 Controversial Sydney developer Jean Nassif is being urged to submit to authorities as his company collapses, a month after a warrant was issued for his arrest. NSW Fair Trading this week said it was working with Strata Communities Australia and the Owners Corporation Network to help strata managers and owners in Toplace buildings. The agency advised buyers with deposits on off-the-plan Toplace sales to contact their conveyancer or legal [...]

Premier urges fugitive developer to turn himself in2023-07-13T13:46:31+10:00
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