OCN Executive Director

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So far OCN Executive Director has created 181 blog entries.

Apartment owners being ‘penalised’ for other buildings’ defects

2024-08-06T18:12:49+10:00

Sky News host James Macpherson says the poor quality of strata apartment buildings is “killing owners”. His comments come as a new report from the New South Wales government, which looked at 600 new or near new strata buildings, and found 53 per cent of them had serious or major defects within six years of being built. “Even if they don’t have defects in their building,” he said. “The Owners Corporation [...]

Apartment owners being ‘penalised’ for other buildings’ defects2024-08-06T18:12:49+10:00

Dire warning for Aussies in apartments

2024-05-06T19:01:29+10:00

Australians who’ve tried to escape colossal house prices by living in an apartment face another looming disaster. Amid challenging circumstances for prospective home buyers, purchasing an apartment or a unit has been a viable means of escaping the rental crisis for many, but it has also proven to be a strategy that comes with potential downsides of its own, such as: Building defects Rising cost of repairs Rising cost of insurance [...]

Dire warning for Aussies in apartments2024-05-06T19:01:29+10:00

Electric vehicle dilemma faced by millions of Aussie residents: ‘It’s a nightmare’

2024-05-07T09:53:34+10:00

Aussie man Robert Till has been desperate to ditch his 2011 Holden Calais for an EV for the past three years, but he faces a common dilemma felt by millions of apartment dwellers across the country. With no charging infrastructure currently available at his block in Brisbane, he would have nowhere to charge his vehicle. And the "simple" solution he's proposed requires body corporate approval, but he's been told no. Fred Tuckwell, chair at the [...]

Electric vehicle dilemma faced by millions of Aussie residents: ‘It’s a nightmare’2024-05-07T09:53:34+10:00

Strata reforms send bills soaring from just $5,000 to $60,000

2024-04-12T16:37:22+10:00

9 APRIL 2024 In response to emergency evacuations the NSW government response was the NSW Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020, which imposes complex obligations on practitioners and builders to ensure safeguards. An overarching law, the same regulations apply to new buildings as existing ones. NSW is the only state to enforce such rigour. Patch repairs to mixed-use buildings and strata apartments – the fastest-growing form of Australian property ownership – [...]

Strata reforms send bills soaring from just $5,000 to $60,0002024-04-12T16:37:22+10:00

Strata practices report unleashes torrent of criticism

2024-03-27T15:11:02+11:00

25 MARCH 2024 Allegations that a major NSW strata management firm has been charging excessive fees for insurance services without full disclosure of the arrangements have touched a nerve and triggered a torrent of criticism directed at practices within the sector. The Australian Consumers Insurance Lobby (ACIL), a strong advocate on strata insurance issues, last week joined with the Owners Corporation Network of Australia (OCN) and the Unit Owners Association of [...]

Strata practices report unleashes torrent of criticism2024-03-27T15:11:02+11:00

United Call for Investigation into NetStrata Practices by Regulatory Bodies

2024-03-27T18:45:04+11:00

22 MARCH 2024 In response to alarming revelations broadcast on ABC’s 7:30 Report, the Australian Consumers Insurance Lobby (ACIL), Owners Corporation Network of Australia (OCN), and Unit Owners Association Queensland (UOAQ) are jointly calling upon ASIC, ACCC, and the Strata & Property Services Commissioner of New South Wales to commence a thorough investigation into the practices of NetStrata and its associated entities. “OCN is deeply troubled by the findings reported on [...]

United Call for Investigation into NetStrata Practices by Regulatory Bodies2024-03-27T18:45:04+11:00

ACIL, apartment owners call for ‘thorough investigation’

2024-03-26T08:59:57+11:00

22 MARCH 2024 The Australian Consumers Insurance Lobby (ACIL), the Owners Corporation Network of Australia (OCN) and the Unit Owners Association of Queensland (UOAQ) have issued a joint call for national and NSW regulators to start a “thorough investigation” into the practices of strata management firm Netstrata and its associated entities following issues identified by the ABC this week. “The integrity of the strata management and insurance sectors is paramount for [...]

ACIL, apartment owners call for ‘thorough investigation’2024-03-26T08:59:57+11:00

Inquiry into the Transition to Electric Vehicles

2024-03-25T13:24:54+11:00

22 MARCH 2024 OCN responded to the Australian House of Representatives Standing Committee on Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water inquiry into: the establishment of resources, systems and infrastructure required to support transition to EVs the impact of moving from internal combustion engine vehicles, including fuel excise loss, existing auto industry component manufacturers and the environment the opportunities for fuel savings, such as by combining EVs with other consumer energy technologies [...]

Inquiry into the Transition to Electric Vehicles2024-03-25T13:24:54+11:00

The apartment building with sustainability at its core

2024-03-20T18:44:09+11:00

14 MARCH 2024 The Antias building, with 43 apartments and part of the Jackson’s Landing precinct in Pyrmont, has undertaken significant efforts to enhance its environmental sustainability since its completion in June 2012. The lessons learned include a combination of financial prudence, community engagement, strategic grant utilisation and a commitment to embracing emerging technologies and standards for long-term environmental benefits. “We would not have pursued these important ratings had it not [...]

The apartment building with sustainability at its core2024-03-20T18:44:09+11:00

How to get Australia’s bodies corporate to go green and save money

2024-03-21T11:51:15+11:00

9 MARCH 2024 Whether you’re an owner or a renter living in an apartment, navigating the body corporate can be like tiptoeing through a minefield of different opinions and competing interests. So how do you negotiate making eco-improvements to your building, when it can be hard enough to get agreement on rules for hanging out your washing? A good first step, according to Megan Chatterton, chief resilience officer for the Owners [...]

How to get Australia’s bodies corporate to go green and save money2024-03-21T11:51:15+11:00
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