NSW Strata Webinars

NSW: Tools and techniques for running an effective AGM | Rod Smith, The Strata Collective – July 2023

Rod Smith from The Strata Collective joins us to discuss how to run an effective Annual General Meeting.

Running an effective Annual General Meeting is one of the most important functions of an Owners Corporation. It is the Strata Manager’s time to shine and show their knowledge, commitment and passion for their work.

As the Managing Director of The Strata Collective with over 20 years of experience running strata meetings, Rod is the ideal candidate to present this session. Rod has conducted more than 2000 Strata Meetings and has generously offered to share his valuable tools and techniques with us today.

Rod takes us beyond the legislation and into the practical aspects of running an effective AGM:

• Ensure the meeting time doesn’t blow out.
• Get owners on board when dealing with challenging decisions such as levy increases.
• How to make sure you get the right mix of people on the committee.
• Setting up a good culture for the management of your owners corporation.
• A prep list: what strata managers need to take to the AGM.

Links to resources mentions during the session:

• Watch the recordings of Rod Smith’s previous webinars here:
  
  • NSW: Interpreting Your Strata Plan – Lot property and common property boundaries
  • NSW: High Performing Strata Committees
  • NSW: Voting and proxies – How to fill in a proxy form
• Be the first notified when we upload a video. Head over to the LookUpStrata YouTube Channel to subscribe, and like or comment on our videos. We thank you for the support!

Download the presentation

Download the slide pack from today’s presentation here: NSW: Running an effective AGM.

Rod Smith
The Strata Collective
E: rsmith@thestratacollective.com.au
P: 02 9879 3547

NSW: Resolving building defects with the help of Project Intervene | Bruce Mckenzie, Sedgwick and Yolande Nyss and Elizabeth Stewart, NSW Department of Customer Service – May 2023

Bruce Mckenzie from Sedgwick and Yolande Nyss and Elizabeth Stewart from NSW Department of Customer Service joined Nikki Jovicic from LookUpStrata to explain how Project Intervene is helping to resolve serious defects in NSW strata buildings.

Project Intervene is a NSW government-driven program that works to resolve serious defects in the common property of occupied buildings under statutory warranty (typically, up to 6 years old). One of the major benefits of Project Intervene is there is no cost to the owners corporation. The developer pays for the remediation works and all associated costs. Registration for the project has been extended to 30 November 2023!

The detailed presentation explained how the project works, who can apply and what the process looks like, as well as:

• What defects are addressed by Project Intervene
• What you can expect from Project Intervene
• The benefits of participating in Project Intervene
• Why it’s important to register now (before the new 30 November 2023 deadline), even if you are not sure if you meet all of the requirements

Links to resources mentions during the session:

• More information on Project Intervene including how to register.
• Read the The Shergold Weir Report.
• Watch the Webinar – NAT: Leaky Buildings in Strata James McIntosh and Bruce McKenzie from Sedgwick.
• Watch the Webinar – NAT: Changing the landscape of consumer protection (Project Intervene) Bruce McKenzie and Morris Mellinger from Sedgwick and Corey Nugent from Resilience Insurance.
• Watch the Webinar NAT: Scope of Works Assisting Committees to Manage Rising Costs James McIntosh, Daniel McCullagh and Werner Preller from Sedgwick.
• Be the first notified when we upload a video. Head over to the LookUpStrata YouTube Channel to subscribe, like and comment on our videos. We thank you for the support!

Download the Presentation

Download the slide pack from this webinar presentation here: Project Intervene

Bruce McKenzie
Sedgwick
E: bruce.mckenzie@au.sedgwick.com
P: 1300 735 720

Yolande Nyss
Program Manager
Register for Project Intervene

Elizabeth Stewart
Director Legal
Register for Project Intervene

NSW: Bylaw breaches – The step-by-step guide to enforcement | Leanne Habib, Premium Strata – May 2023

Leanne Habib from Premium Strata joined Nikki Jovicic from LookUpStrata to navigate us through a step by step guide to bylaw enforcement.

The information contained in the session is invaluable for those battling with breached bylaws. The slides contain excellent resources you’ll refer to again and again:

• The responsibility of the owners corporation to enforce the bylaws
• The step by step procedure for enforcing bylaws (see slide pack)
• Who issues the Notice to Comply and how is it served?
• Tangible steps to take if the breach continues
• Penalties – how much can be awarded?
• Flowchart for mediation and application for NCAT orders
• Four (very) helpful hints to help you with your bylaws breaches
• A case study showing how this process resolved problems with bylaw breaches

Links to resources mentions during the session:

• Watch the Video – NSW: How to Stop Cigarette Smoke From Entering Your Apartment Karen Stiles, OCN + Brenton Pittman, Lot Owner Applicant.
• Watch the Webinar – NSW: Would your bylaws pass the ‘reasonable’ test? Allison Benson from Kerin Benson Lawyers.
• Watch the NSW: How strata managing agents assist committees through difficult times Leanne Habib, Premium Strata.
• Be the first notified when we upload a video. Head over to the LookUpStrata YouTube Channel to subscribe, like and comment on our videos. We thank you for the support!

Download the Presentation

Download the slide pack from this webinar presentation here: Webinar Presentation Enforcing by-law breaches

Leanne Habib
Premium Strata
E: info@premiumstrata.com.au
P: 02 9281 6440

NSW: The importance of complete strata records and why you should care | Michael Ferrier, Eyeon Property Inspections – May 2023

Michael Ferrier from EYEON Property Inspections joins Will Marquand from Tower Body Corporate (on behalf of LookUpStrata) to discuss the importance of well-organised strata records.

Here are just some of the important points Michael makes during the session:

• No matter who keeps the records, they belong to the Owners – not the strata management business.
• The records are the shared history of the building.
• Buildings with poor records are often poor in other ways as well.
• Why the transfer of records when a building changes strata
• managers is a flawed process and what you can do about it.
• Michael outlines the major problems with records and offers solutions to overcome these problems.

Michael outlines the major problems with records and offers solutions to overcome these problems.

Download the slide pack from this webinar presentation here: Strata Records: Why good records are important

Michael Ferrier
Eyeon Property Inspections
E: michael.ferrier@eyeon.com.au
P: 02 9260 5510

NSW: Would your bylaws pass the ‘reasonable’ test? | Allison Benson, Kerin Benson Lawyers – April 2023

Allison Benson from Kerin Benson Lawyers joined Nikki Jovicic from LookUpStrata to discuss reasonable by-laws. What is classed as reasonable? Could your by-laws fall into the harsh, unconscionable and oppressive basket? Can unreasonable by-laws be enforced?

Allison provided an overview of recent decisions affecting by-laws to review what is or is not a harsh, unconscionable and oppressive by-law. Using these cases, Allison shares the two key considerations when reviewing your bylaws. Don’t miss these!

Links to resources mentions during the session:

• Watch the Webinar – NSW + ACT: Helping lot owners deal with strata building defects with Christopher Kerin, Kerin Benson Lawyers.
• Watch the Webinar – NSW: Renovations and what you can and cannot do without OC approval with Allison Benson from Kerin Benson Lawyers.
• Australian Strata Insights 2020 Report published by City Futures Research Centre UNSW.
• Section 139 Restrictions on by-laws Strata Schemes Management Act 2015.
• Section 137B Order with respect to common property rights by-laws Strata Schemes Management Act 2015.
• Section 149 Keeping of animals Strata Schemes Management Act 2015.
• Cooper v The Owners – Strata Plan No. 58068 [2020] NSWCA 250.
• Harsh, unconscionable, oppressive: Angus has the last bark on strata by-law Allison Benson, Kerin Benson Lawyers.
• The sword and the shield: dealing with harsh, unconscionable and oppressive by-laws Allison Benson, Kerin Benson Lawyers.
• To Cook, or Not to Cook? Jasmin H.Singh & Allison Benson, Kerin Benson Lawyers.
• Be the first notified when we upload a video. Head over to the LookUpStrata YouTube Channel to subscribe, like and comment on our videos. We thank you for the support!

Presentation slides: Would your by- laws pass the ‘reasonable’ test?

Download the slide pack from today’s presentation here: Would your by-laws pass the ‘reasonable’ test?

Allison Benson
Kerin Benson Lawyers
E: allison@kerinbensonlawyers.com.au
P: 02 4032 7990

NSW: Voting and Proxies – How to fill in a proxy form | Rod Smith, The Strata Collective – February 2023

The area of proxies is often quite a complicated and technical one. As a lot owner or Strata Manager, it is really important you have a clear understanding of how to complete a proxy form. This session covered some of the common errors that invalidate proxy forms. During the session, Rod demonstrates how to fill out a proxy form and provides some examples of proxy forms that have been incorrectly filled out.

This session provides a framework for completing and registering proxy forms so that participants can be confident proxy forms have been correctly recorded and that the voting at General Meetings is correct and in accordance with NSW legislation.

Rod generously provides the secret spreadsheet used by The Strata Collective to stay on top of proxies, especially when working with larger buildings. This access to Rod’s processes and procedures will assist strata managers to move on to the next stage of community management. It also provides lot owners with a glimpse into the work your strata manager does (or should be doing) when organising for your AGM.

During the webinar, we spoke about:

• Decision of the Owners Corporation
• Decisions of a Strata Committee
• Completing a Proxy
• Existing requirements
• Some common errors.

Links to resources mentions during the session:

• Watch the recordings of Rod Smith’s previous webinars here:
  
  • NSW: Interpreting Your Strata Plan – Lot property and common property boundaries
  • NSW: High Performing Strata Committees
  • NSW Ask Us Anything (Strata) Q&A
• Upcoming Webinar – Register here: NAT: Insurance premium increases in 2023 – Committee considerations Tyrone Shandiman from Strata Insurance Solutions – 2 Mar
• Upcoming Webinar – Register here: NAT: Changing the landscape of consumer protection Morris Mellinger from Sedgwick and Corey Nugent from Resilience Insurance – 9 Mar
• Upcoming Webinar – Register here: NAT: Solve Airbnb / Trade Access Issues & Improve Safety in Your Building Jake Sharp from MIMOR – 16 Mar
• Be the first notified when we upload a video. Head over to the LookUpStrata YouTube Channel to subscribe, and like or comment on our videos. We thank you for the support!

Download the slide pack from today’s presentation here: NSW: Voting and Proxies.

Rod Smith
The Strata Collective
E: rsmith@thestratacollective.com.au
P: 02 9879 3547

NSW: Renovations – what you can and cannot do without OC approval | Allison Benson, Kerin Benson Lawyers – September 2022

Allison Benson from Kerin Benson Lawyers joins Nikki Jovicic from LookUpStrata for a webinar about applying for renovations. Over the last 2.5 years, there has been a boom in home renovations. In this session, we discussed the three levels of approval for works in strata schemes and what you can and cannot do in NSW strata schemes without the approval of your owners corporation or strata committee.

Don’t miss Allison’s tips on how to streamline your renovation approval application.

During the webinar, Allison spoke about:

• What are the renovation rules?
• The DO’s – What are the recommended steps if you are wanting to renovate.
• What changes when your renovation involves sustainability infrastructure?
• How to smooth out to process if you do need approval.
• The BIG 5 – Strata Renovation DON’T’s.
• Two real life renovation examples.
• Lots of interesting questions….. so many that we ran a little over time (but it was very worth it).
• We even got to see Ollie Dogasaurus and Melvin.

Links to resources mentions during the session:

• Watch the Webinar – NSW + ACT: Helping lot owners deal with strata building defects with Christopher Kerin, Kerin Benson Lawyers.
• Download the Do I Need a ByLaw? flowchart.
• Be the first notified when we upload a video. Head over to the LookUpStrata YouTube Channel to subscribe, and like or comment on our videos. We thank you for the support!

Download the slide pack from today’s presentation here: Renovations- what you can and cannot do without OC approval.

Allison Benson
Kerin Benson Lawyers
E: allison@kerinbensonlawyers.com.au
P: 02 4032 7990

NSW: Strata Managing Agents – Assisting committees through difficult times | Leanne Habib from Premium Strata – June 2022

Leanne Habib from Premium Strata joined Nikki Jovicic from LookUpStrata for a webinar about how to get the most out of your Strata Manager. Are you fully accessing your strata manager’s knowledge and expertise to gain the most assistance when times get tough? Good Strata Managing Agents allow you access to their extensive practices and procedures, systems, knowledge, and expertise to assist committees through difficult times.

During the webinar, Leanne spoke about:

• The difference between choice and obligation
• The steps involved in tackling a large problem, including practical examples
• The importance of having the strata manager and committee on the same team with goals aligned
• How important it is to have a strata manager with strong leadership skills
• Tips on how to get a large decision across the line (spoiler – it’s to do with transparent communication)

Links to resources mentions during the session:

• NSW: Ask Us Anything with Leanne Habib from Premium Strata [Webinar Recording]

Download the slide pack from today’s presentation here: Strata Managing Agents: Assisting committees through difficult times.

Leanne Habib
Premium Strata
E: info@premiumstrata.com.au
P: 02 9281 6440

NSW: Interpreting Your Strata Plan | Rod Smith from The Strata Collective – May 2022

Rod Smith from The Strata Collective joined Nikki Jovicic from LookUpStrata for a webinar about how to interpret your strata plan and recognise what is lot property and what is common property.

During the webinar, Rod spoke about:

• Key Legislations involving Strata Schemes
• Lot vs Common Property
• Understanding key terms on a Strata
• Plan Some Case Studies

This webinar session is an important reference tool for NSW lot owners and the strata industry.

Links to resources mentions during the session:

• NSW: High Performing Strata Committees with Rod Smith, The Strata Collective [Webinar Recording]
• Common property memorandum
• The Strata Collective: What Is Strata Walk through Video
• Pre 1974 Schemes and the Centre Line Rule
• Rod’s articles on The Strata Collective website

Download the slide pack from today’s presentation here: Reading a Strata Plan.

Rod Smith
The Strata Collective
E: rsmith@thestratacollective.com.au
P: 02 9879 3547

NSW + ACT: Helping lot owners deal with strata building defects + Q&A | Christopher Kerin from Kerin Benson Lawyers – March 2022

5 stages of defects

Christopher Kerin from Kerin Benson Lawyers joined Nikki Jovicic from LookUpStrata for a webinar about lot owner reactions to building defects in NSW and the ACT.

During the webinar, Chris spoke about:

• 5 stages of defects
• how these reactions influence a building’s success when negotiating remediation of defects
• the difference between an apartment block that responds in a constructive way and an apartment block that is inert or incapable of responding to defects

Chris’s presentation triggered an interesting discussion driven by comments within the session chat. This session is a very different format from our usual webinars and Chris introduces ideas you probably have not heard before!

Christopher Kerin
Kerin Benson Lawyers
E: enquiries@kerinbensonlawyers.com.au
P: 02 8706 7060

NSW: What to Look for in a Fire Contractor… aside from price! + Q&A | Rob Broadhead from 2020 Fire Protection – March 2022

Making the Right Decision When Choosing a Fire Contractor

Rob Broadhead from 2020 Fire Protection joined Nikki Jovicic from LookUpStrata for webinar about the importance of choosing a fire contractor you can trust.

During the webinar, Rob spoke about:

• The first step in choosing a fire contractor is getting confirmation that they are going to follow AS1851-2012 in-full.
• If a contractor’s prices are cheaper than the others, make sure they aren’t “cherry picking” from the requirements of AS1851-2012. The person(s) losing out is YOU! Be sure the systems protecting you continue to work reliably to keep your building’s residents safe?
• Number 1 take away – get written confirmation that the quote you are reading includes ALL testing to AS1851-2012.

After the session, Rob responded to our audience’s questions about choosing a fire contractor plus other more general fire safety questions.

The presentation slides accompanying the session can be accessed via this link.

Rob Broadhead
2020 Fire Protection
E: rob.broadhead@2020fire.com.au
P: 1300 340 210

NSW & QLD: Embedded Energy Networks for Owners Corporations and Bodies Corporate Webinar + Q&A | Drew McKillican from Altogether Group – February 2022

The importance of knowing your obligations with Embedded Energy Networks

Drew McKillican from Altogether Group joined Nikki Jovicic from LookUpStrata for a webinar on NSW and QLD Embedded Energy Networks. In this webinar, Drew explained the key differences between having a billing agent manage your embedded network under an exemption scheme versus an authorised energy retailer and why this is important.

During the webinar, Drew spoke about:

• How customer pricing works and what you’re really paying for.
• The advantages the owners corporation/body corporate and the residents should be experiencing from their embedded network.
• How to work out whether you’re paying too much for your energy.
• Whether your owners corporation/body corporate could be exposing themselves to risks and how to mitigate those risks by passing responsibility back to the supplier. 
• How if you are in a building with an embedded network and you are NOT getting a better deal than you could get if you were to leave the network, something is fundamentally wrong with the arrangement.
• How owners corporations/bodies corporate (and their residents) have more power over your embedded network arrangements than you may think! 
• How the costs structures of embedded networks are such that you should almost never be paying more and you should be paying significantly less.
• Plus Much More…

The presentation slides accompanying the session can be accessed via this link.

Drew McKillican
Altogether Group
E: DMcKillican@altogethergroup.com.au

NSW: Annual Strata Audits and Financial Statements Webinar + Q&A | Presented in Conjunction with OCN, featuring Rod Laws and Caren Chen, Tinworth & Co – October 2021

As well as discussing what you need to know about auditing strata scheme annual accounts and financial statements, Rod and Caren also answered many questions. Just some of the information touched on:

• Information about auditor appointment, audit scope and process
• Trust Account Audit VS Strata Financial Audit
• Strata audit myths – the misconceptions owners commonly make
• Plus Much More…

As always, the presentation is followed by a short Q&A session where the panel responded to some very interesting questions submitted by our audience on the topic, such as:

• What triggers an audit?
• The value of an annual audit when you have a diligent and hands-on Treasurer
• Whether an auditor provides any proactive mitigation against the risk of strata manager fraud
• Whether the committee can have a credit card for the trust account

The presentation accompanying the session can be accessed via this link.

Tinworth & Co
E: Caren.Chen@tinworth.com
P: 02 9922 3660

OCN Membership

Find out about becoming an OCN Member here:

Owners Corporation Network of Australia Ltd
E: enquiries@ocn.org.au
P: 02 8197 9919

NSW: High Performing Strata Committees | Rod Smith, The Strata Collective – August 2021

In August 2021, Rod Smith from The Strata Collective joined us for a webinar on High Performing Strata Committees. His session contained a presentation that includes lots of really great information, plus a Sample Agenda and Sample Minutes. You can DOWNLOAD THE PRESENTATION here: High Performing Strata Committees.

During the same session, one of our regular NSW viewers mentioned their building used a Management Handbook and found it very useful. They have generously offered to share the resource with our audience and you can download it here: Management Handbook.

Both of these resources were shared with the list of Webinar Registrations from the session shortly after the event (which is why it is a good reason to attend our sessions) however, we are making these resources available to our broader audience now. Rod Smith can be contacted here:

Rod Smith
The Strata Collective
E: rsmith@thestratacollective.com.au
P: 02 9879 3547

NSW: Ask Us Anything Strata Webinar | Leanne Habib, Premium Strata – June 2021

NSW: Pets In Strata Q&A | Adrian Mueller, JS Mueller & Co Lawyers

NSW: Ask Us Anything (Strata) Q&A | Rod Smith, The Strata Collective

NAT: Ask Us Anything Strata Insurance | Tyrone Shandiman, Strata Insurance Solutions

NAT: Stratabox Demo | Paul Chervot, StrataBox

NSW: Top 5 Ways the New Strata Reforms will Impact Your Life | Adrian Mueller, JS Mueller & Co Lawyers

NSW: Strata Window Safety | Peter Berney, Solutions In Engineering