From the Forum: $300k levy under cover of Covid

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Are some strata committees taking advantage of the Covid-19 crisis to push through extreme measures while half their residents are still struggling to get their Zoom or Skype working ?

One Flatchatter says his committee proposed a $300,000 upgrade of the block’s windows for approval at his block’s recent e-AGM. Then they got another quote for $100k less.

But then that was knocked over in the meeting and owners are looking at special levies of about $10,000 per apartment.

Are they just getting the job done decause it’s long overdue? Or is there something more sinister afoot? That’s HERE.

Also in the Forum:

  • Cheap timber flooring is one thing but what if the noise upstairs is coming via cheap carpet? That’s HERE.
  • Why do I need a by-law to change my windows? That’s HERE.
  • Is it important that your strata manager is a member of the SCA? That’s HERE.
  • The by-laws banning pets have been reinstated – not all Flatchatters agree on whether that’s a good thing.  That’s HERE.
  • There are even more suggestions on the best questions to ask a potential new strata manager.  That’s HERE.
  • A reader responds to our story about over-aggressive lawyers.  Settle back – it’s a long and disturbing read.  That’s HERE.

By the time you read this, there will be more questions and answers – and a few updates – on the Flat Chat Forum.  Why not register, log in and have your say – the only problem is, it’s a little addictive.

3 Replies to “From the Forum: $300k levy under cover of Covid”

  1. Frances says:

    At last year’s AGM, 10-year plan was approved, following which it is apparent that Committee has taken this as authority to implement year 1 at least.
    * Water penetration into basement car park has already been done (approximately $50K to $80K) I am told (I am not sure if this was on 10 year plan)
    * They are about to power clean entire building
    * Surface remediation and painting all painted surfaces on whole building
    * Replace all garage doors
    * Remediation and repainting of all internal common areas including foyers on all floors
    * Resurface bitumen on ground floor carpark
    They have appointed a Project Manager to oversee and implement this project who will I am told also finance some of this work.
    No financial information, quotes, etc have been submitted to owners.
    No information on costs have been included in minutes – in fact only about 2 minutes of meetings have been displayed.
    Information sessions are to be held shortly. No EGM’s have been held.
    I have submitted a number of questions to Chairman who has promised to respond but has not done so.
    I acknowledge that Committee have done a lot of work in getting to this stage and for this I am very grateful but I do wonder if Committee are adhering to the regulations.

  2. chercheuse says:

    No, its not legal, you were coerced into signing a contract for 2 years.
    Read the agreement, there is a clause to give notice to the strata manager to terminate management services

  3. Class66 says:

    IS THIS STRATA MANAGER ACTION LEGAL
    We moved into a brand new apartment building and had the first AGM where we were asked to sign a strata manager contract with a 2 year term.

    We advised that we understood that it was a law that an inaugural AGM strata manager contract could only legally be for 12 months. The Strata manager in question (who chaired the meeting) said it was not worth his while for 12 months and insisted on a 2 year contract. We were unsure of the facts and were pressured into signing a 2 year contact against our will.

    We have subsequently been dissatisfied with the performance of the strata management and advised him that we intend to terminate his contract after a 12 month period as his contract is not legal.

    He has advised that it is and he intends to hold us to the two years. His reasoning is that he (deceptively) wrote two sets of minutes, one for the inaugural AGM, and another set of minutes for a GM, the only items being the appointment of the strata managers for two years and a building manager. There was only ONE meeting.

    I would appreciate any help with this

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