OCN in the Media

Published in the media

The brutal world of owners corporations – and how to get them to electrify apartments

2024-12-13T09:27:53+11:00

Fred Tuckwell, strata management expert and board chair of the Owners Corporation Network (OCN) spoke to the Fifth Estate recently about OCN's clear sustainability vision, aimed at creating “a better future in residential strata and community living and ownership … [with] resilient, empowered communities living in climate ready, defect free buildings.” OCN have assisted the NSW Government in creating guidelines for making strata buildings EV ready. Read Full Article: https://thefifthestate.com.au/energy-lead/the-brutal-world-of-owners-corporations-and-how-to-get-them-to-electrify-apartments/ Related Content: [...]

The brutal world of owners corporations – and how to get them to electrify apartments2024-12-13T09:27:53+11:00

Units of controversy

2024-12-13T09:47:50+11:00

Shari Driver, CEO of OCN, recently spoke to Insurance News about insurance commissions. Shari told Insurance News that: “Disclosure is a mere ‘apology after the fact’ approach that seems to put the strata manager’s interests above their client, and if that happens, legally it does not meet the standards required of fiduciaries,” “Insurance is one of the largest expenses borne by owners’ corporations. OCN has been horrified to discover the extent [...]

Units of controversy2024-12-13T09:47:50+11:00

NSW strata watchdog seeks power to enter apartment buildings without a warrant, fine owners if common property not maintained

2024-12-20T13:40:32+11:00

Shari Driver, Chief Executive Officer of OCN, spoke to ABC about the proposed changes to powers of entry for strata. OCN fears that there would be unintended privacy implications. "The government in my bedroom is not what we want" Shari told ABC. OCN's view is that the new powers modelled those given to the NSW building commissioner were designed to target not developers and their associated companies and they will now [...]

NSW strata watchdog seeks power to enter apartment buildings without a warrant, fine owners if common property not maintained2024-12-20T13:40:32+11:00

Apartment Noise Nightmare: Commercial Gym

2024-11-22T16:56:55+11:00

Karen Stiles spoke on the Real Estate Podcast about people buying into an apartment building with a commercial gym within the building. Karen described a situation where one owner had to call the Police because of a sound that was like a bomb going off.  It turns out it was noise coming the gym and the dropping off weights. The vibrations from dropping of dumb bells and re-racking of weights were creating [...]

Apartment Noise Nightmare: Commercial Gym2024-11-22T16:56:55+11:00

If you live in an apartment, where do you dry your laundry?

2024-10-29T14:45:31+11:00

Where you dry your laundry can all depend on your Strata rules if you're in an apartment, and that can mean even your balcony is off limits. Why do these rules exist and are they fair? Guest: Karen Stiles, Director of the Owners Corporation Network Listen to interview with Andy Park:>  https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/radionational-drive/does-your-strata-rule-where-you-put-your-laundry-/104527622

If you live in an apartment, where do you dry your laundry?2024-10-29T14:45:31+11:00

ABC Sydney Breakfast Discusses Drying Laundry on Balconies

2024-10-28T14:20:08+11:00

Apartment buildings that restrict residents from drying their washing outdoors are facing a push to relax the rules as sustainability and cost-of-living concerns make dryers less desirable. OCN talks to Craig Reucassel about the vexed issue of residents being allowed to dry their laundry on their balcony. Listen to interview (2:18:55 minutes - 2:22:39 minutes):>  https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/sydney-breakfast/sydney-breakfast/104500156

ABC Sydney Breakfast Discusses Drying Laundry on Balconies2024-10-28T14:20:08+11:00

Apartment dwellers push for the right to air their clean laundry

2024-10-28T11:29:11+11:00

Apartment buildings that restrict residents from drying their washing outdoors are facing a push to relax the rules as sustainability and cost-of-living concerns make dryers less desirable. Karen Stiles, executive director of the Owners Corporation Network of Australia, said conflict over laundry was becoming more common in both states because new developments were not designed for people’s needs. While older apartment blocks typically had communal clotheslines, this had “gone out the [...]

Apartment dwellers push for the right to air their clean laundry2024-10-28T11:29:11+11:00

A place in the sun: How to get solar to 2.5m apartment dwellers

2024-10-26T10:41:28+11:00

Australia has the highest uptake of rooftop solar in the world, but millions of apartment residents are not reaping the benefits of cheaper power and electrification. Yet in large buildings such as high-rise apartments, the report says, up to 60 per cent of energy consumption comes from common areas and shared services, and about 25 per cent of administrative fund strata levies are spent on energy bills alone. Karen Stiles, executive [...]

A place in the sun: How to get solar to 2.5m apartment dwellers2024-10-26T10:41:28+11:00

Bukola bought a home. Now she’s trapped in a noise nightmare

2024-10-24T15:22:11+11:00

When businesswoman Bukola Adede bought an apartment in a luxury high-rise in North Sydney, she was shocked to be disturbed all day long by what she assumed was a neighbour constantly moving furniture around.  Then there was a series of thudding noises that were so loud and made her apartment shake so much that Adede and a visiting friend thought bombs had gone off and called police. Finally, she was told by [...]

Bukola bought a home. Now she’s trapped in a noise nightmare2024-10-24T15:22:11+11:00

New commish seeks collaboration, not conflict

2024-10-24T16:02:27+11:00

NSW has a new Building Commissioner, and he’s promising a different approach to his predecessor, David Chandler, the scourge of dodgy developers and bodgy builders. Mr Sherrard’s challenge is to maintain wavering public confidence in apartment construction, so that people still buy off the plan which is necessary to fulfil the state’s need for hundreds of thousands of new apartments. Owners’representatives have welcomed the appointment, albeit with a level of caution. [...]

New commish seeks collaboration, not conflict2024-10-24T16:02:27+11:00
Go to Top