governance Archives - Owners Corporation Network

ABC Sydney Breakfast Discusses Drying Laundry on Balconies

OCN Executive Director2024-10-28T14:20:08+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 BalconiesOCN Executive Director2024-10-28T14:20:08+11:00

Apartment dwellers push for the right to air their clean laundry

OCN Executive Director2024-10-28T11:29:11+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 laundryOCN Executive Director2024-10-28T11:29:11+11:00

Growing calls for a federal inquiry into the strata industry

OCN Executive Director2024-10-24T14:33:07+11:00

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 [...]

Growing calls for a federal inquiry into the strata industryOCN Executive Director2024-10-24T14:33:07+11:00

Consumer Groups Demand Government-Directed Inquiry into Strata Management Industry

OCN Executive Director2024-10-24T11:02:29+11:00

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 [...]

Consumer Groups Demand Government-Directed Inquiry into Strata Management IndustryOCN Executive Director2024-10-24T11:02:29+11:00

How apartment owners are being ripped off….

Jane McIlroy2024-09-11T11:56:12+10:00

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 'it's [...]

How apartment owners are being ripped off….Jane McIlroy2024-09-11T11:56:12+10:00

Why the OCN is fed up with the strata “industry”

Jane McIlroy2024-08-05T12:14:45+10:00

Karen Stiles, OCN Executive Director, shared her thoughts why she's "fed up" during a recent interview with Amanda Farmer's "Your Strata Property" podcast. Hear what she had to say on: how strata owners are being overlooked in today’s conversations about the strata industry, the astonishing lack of consumer protections for those buying apartments, the owners who ARE willing to pay more for good strata management, and why Fair Trading needs to [...]

Why the OCN is fed up with the strata “industry”Jane McIlroy2024-08-05T12:14:45+10:00

Sydney strata manager appeals 10-year ban for accessing funds without approval

OCN Executive Director2024-08-07T12:27:03+10:00

One of Sydney’s highest profile strata managers is appealing against a ruling that saw him banned for 10 years for a multitude of allegations, including failing to act with honesty, fairness and professionalism and accessing apartment buildings’ funds without approval. That same manager – despite having numerous complaints against him with the state government tribunal – had also, by the same body, been given total control over schemes that were in [...]

Sydney strata manager appeals 10-year ban for accessing funds without approvalOCN Executive Director2024-08-07T12:27:03+10:00

Sydney strata manager banned for a decade, company stripped of licence by NSW Fair Trading

OCN Executive Director2024-07-30T17:40:19+10:00

Sydney strata manager Whitney Wang has been banned from practising for 10 years and his company has been stripped of its licence. Mr Wang was the strata manager at the centre of an explosive meeting at the embattled Vicinity apartment complex in Canterbury in 2021 that became so hostile the police were called. He has also been ousted as strata manager twice in the past two years after owners at separate [...]

Sydney strata manager banned for a decade, company stripped of licence by NSW Fair TradingOCN Executive Director2024-07-30T17:40:19+10:00

Elephant In The Room Property Podcast

OCN Executive Director2023-11-17T10:46:06+11:00

30 OCTOBER 2023 OCN discussed "Strata Properties: What's Changing and Why? with buyers agent Veronica Morgan and mortgage broker Chris Bates. Listen here:> https://www.theelephantintheroom.com.au/podcasts/304 00:00 - Introduction 01:25 - Who is Karen Stiles? 02:26 - Building commission changes in NSW and its impact on property owners 08:02 - Complexities, challenges, and risks in strata property insurance 13:21 - Can the strata commissioner contribute to improved strata property management? 14:48 - [...]

Elephant In The Room Property PodcastOCN Executive Director2023-11-17T10:46:06+11:00

Appointment of a Strata Commissioner for NSW

OCN Executive Director2023-10-09T12:38:46+11:00

9 OCTOBER 2023 “We welcome today’s announcement that NSW has appointed a Commissioner dedicated to Strata. The appointment of a Strata Commissioner should lead to better coordinated, and transparent responses to the many challenges facing this growing housing sector,” Karen Stiles, Executive Director, Owners Corporation Network said. “Right now, cost-of-living pressures are putting the spotlight on opaque market practices. Strata residents are facing an energy transition, sustainability demands, and rising costs [...]

Appointment of a Strata Commissioner for NSWOCN Executive Director2023-10-09T12:38:46+11:00