A Melbourne woman living in an apartment, who was terrified that the building would collapse, has been forced to stay as she watches the place crumble around her with repairs to the building estimated to cost a whopping $1.5 million. Chunks of plaster have come crashing down from the wall and wind blows through gaping holes in Serena’s* apartment but she said she is trapped – with no way to fix [...]
In response to last night’s damning ABC Four Corners’ report on the strata industry, a coalition of consumer advocacy groups, including insurance brokers, has called on the federal government to launch a public inquiry. A media release cited “systemic harmful practices within the industry that compromise consumer rights and community expectations.” Tyrone Shandiman (pictured above), chair of the Australian Consumers Insurance Lobby (ACIL), said his group has already documented 146 cases [...]
Investor Arthur Panos learned in September that he, along with other owners of the four apartments in a building in Sydney’s inner west, would have to fix the waterproofing of the largely problem-free property. The bill? $500,000. The NSW Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020 imposes obligations on apartment owners to follow tougher repair requirements, such as appointing a licensed practitioner for repairs that cost more than $5000. But Owners Corporation Network executive [...]
The NSW government says there is “more to come” on strata reforms after last week passing legislation to improve disclosure and toughen penalties. The legislation was introduced before Four Corners put the spotlight on the strata sector. The program followed an ABC report earlier in the year focused on NSW company Netstrata. “We have heard about strata managing agents charging excessive fees and commissions when buying strata insurance and using the [...]
Consumer groups are pushing for a national inquiry into the strata management sector and a lawyers’ group has called for tougher state-level regulation following last week’s Four Corners program. The Australian Consumers Insurance Lobby, Choice, Financial Rights Legal Centre and the Owners Corporation Network of Australia are among nine groups pressing Treasurer Jim Chalmers to launch a review led by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission or Productivity Commission. Read full [...]
Speaking at a Public Forum last night on Strata Matters organised by the Strata Community Association ACT and the Owners Corporation Network, Opposition Leader Elizabeth Lee said that under a Liberal Government a Strata & Building Commissioner will be established. The Commissioner would be a single point of contact for people living in apartment and townhouse complexes and assist people facing challenges and issues in strata living, including defects and building [...]
After Four Corners investigated the hidden fees, secret kickbacks and developer deals strata companies were using, consumer groups are calling for action. CHOICE and the Owners Corporation Network have signed an open letter to Treasurer Jim Chalmers. They're calling for a government-instructed inquiry to look into the conduct of strata corporations. They'd also like the inquiry to investigate if current laws were adequate enough to deal with the issues raised by Four Corners. [...]
Ten top consumer groups are demanding the federal treasurer call an inquiry into the strata management industry. It follows an ABC Four Corners investigation that found many apartment owners are being ripped off by their strata management firms. The head of the Owners Corporation Network says it's time for the federal government to step in. Read full article:> Top consumer groups say 'it's time' for urgent action on strata industry, demand federal [...]
OCN spoke to the ABC following the explosive Four Corners episode on 9 September 2024. NSW Housing Minister, Rose Jackson, supported an inquiry and said the NSW government was willing to work with its federal colleagues. The CEO of the NSW Real Estate Institute supported the call for an Inquiry to rid the industry of rorts and restore trust in the many good managers 'who would be cringing' after watching the [...]
A coalition of leading consumer advocacy associations has today called on Federal Treasurer, Hon Dr Jim Chalmers MP to initiate a government-directed public inquiry, led by the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission or the Productivity Commission, into the strata management industry. The coalition cites systemic harmful practices within the industry that compromise consumer rights and community expectations. Noting recent media reports of unethical, questionable or unlawful practices, the groups urge a [...]
Owners Corporation Network
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