Body corporate legal battle over red roof ‘ludicrous’ waste of money
OCN Director, Chris Irons says the dispute between an owner and a body corporate over roof colour should never have reached Queensland's Body Corporate and Community Management Commission (BCCM), which involves significant legal fees. Guest: Chris Irons, Director of the Owners Corporation Network Listen to interview with Steve Austin (from 1:05:30):https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/brisbane-mornings/mornings/104855614 Related article: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-29/former-body-corporate-commissioner-condemns-red-roof-dispute/104867928
Watchdog promises report as NetStrata probe continues
On 28 January 2025, Insurance News reported that "Groups including the Owners Corporation Network have called for the urgent release of the report summary. “Consumers expect transparency and to know that due process has been followed. The NSW government needs to quell the concerns that have been raised by the ABC article,” network CEO Shari Driver said. “Everyone needs to have certainty and confidence in the management of the strata [...]
OCN reviews the upside and downside to this $3.2m Sydney apartment
The Sydney Morning Herald recruited a range of independent architects, academics, builders and other experts to review apartments near completion or new to the market with an eye to market trends, policy, reliability, sustainability, quality, layout and amenities. The Herald’s first review was of a large four-bedroom family apartment, a type which is in growing demand yet hard to find. OCN was quoted in the Herald article as follows: "What the strata [...]
Strata owners are increasingly banning electric vehicles from charging in apartment carparks
Strata owners are increasingly banning electric vehicles (EVs) from charging in apartment basement carparks, citing a perceived risk of battery fires writes Technology reporter James Purtill in a recent article on abc.net.au EV fire safety researchers say the risk is no greater than for petrol and diesel cars and such concerns are fed by misinformation, but state fire authorities urge caution These conflicting messages around EV fire safety are generating [...]
Miguel bought a car – then there was a $2000 cost to charge it
A recent article in the SMH highlighted the high costs that some apartment buildings are imposing on residents who simply want to charge their EVs. And the apartment owners’ peak body, the Owners Corporation Network (OCN), chair Fred Tuckwell agrees, saying both strata owners and tenants should be free to use their EVs. “We are advocating for a right to charge,” he said. “There should be a set of criteria [...]
The brutal world of owners corporations – and how to get them to electrify apartments
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 [...]
Units of controversy
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 [...]
NSW strata watchdog seeks power to enter apartment buildings without a warrant, fine owners if common property not maintained
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 [...]
Apartment Noise Nightmare: Commercial Gym
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 [...]
If you live in an apartment, where do you dry your laundry?
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
ABC Sydney Breakfast Discusses Drying Laundry on Balconies
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
Apartment dwellers push for the right to air their clean laundry
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 [...]
A place in the sun: How to get solar to 2.5m apartment dwellers
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, [...]
Bukola bought a home. Now she’s trapped in a noise nightmare
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 [...]
New commish seeks collaboration, not conflict
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 [...]
Shocking pictures reveal ‘horror’ in home
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 [...]
Brokers and advocates call for public strata inquiry
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 [...]
Apartment repair laws create extra burden for owners
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 [...]
NSW flags further strata crackdown
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 [...]
Lawyers, consumer advocates press for strata action
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 [...]
Liberals to establish Strata and Building Commissioner
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 [...]
Call for Strata Corporations Inquiry
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 [...]
Consumer groups demand federal inquiry into strata industry
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 [...]
Growing calls for a federal inquiry into the strata industry
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 [...]
How apartment owners are being ripped off….
Here's today's media UPDATE ABC Four Corners:> VIEW THE FULL EPISODE HERE ABC News: How apartment owners are being ripped off> http://ABC News Daily: How Apartment Owners Are Being Ripped Off ACCC Chair calls for a ban on Strata Insurance Commissions:> ABC News today Brokers and advocates call for public strata inquiry:> Call for a public inquiryAnd in the interest of fairness, Steadfast's response:> https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/au/news/breaking-news/steadfast-on-abc-strata-investigation-we-refute-the-allegations-504852.aspx Plus there's more Top consumer groups say [...]
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