In my last article, I told a story about the Moso bamboo tree, patience, and growth. Today, I’ll share the story of the lobster – another source of inspiration that I share with my team. Everyone at Strata Plan will tell you I’ve said this between 10-100 times (depending on how long they’ve worked there). So, [...]

When I was very young, a friend of my father told me about the philosophy of the Moso tree, a Chinese bamboo tree. It taught me about hard work, focus, patience, resilience, perseverance, and consistency. This is one of the stories that has eventually become one of my biggest inspirations to plant my dream. I [...]

Strata Plan strives to provide its customers with a hassle-free experience. We are passionate about cladding safety and actively advocate for ensuring that our customers’ cladding on their property is compliant. You may read more about our cladding wins here. The article below is a repost. Originally posted on 2019-02-05 and can be accessed through [...]

This is an article repost, originally posted on 2019-02-03, and can be found on this link   GRENFELL CLADDING SUSPECTED IN LATEST MELBOURNE APARTMENT FIRE Melbourne apartment owners can expect further scrutiny around the building materials used on their building after a Spencer St building caught fire in the CBD on February 4, 2019. It is [...]

This is an article repost. Originally posted on 2018-06-29 on this link Sometimes, taking on the role of Owners Corporation chairperson can feel like a thankless task. Yet without those few who generously contribute their time and ideas to the cause, their properties and shared spaces would fail to functions. As one of the largest [...]

This is an article repost. Original article posted 2018-07-25 Owners Corporations in Melbourne have been warned that having building insurance is not an excuse to neglect your building’s most important assets. Often, owners attend Annual General Meetings and question costs of maintenance and servicing, particularly with insurance there to cover any breakdowns of assets. However, [...]

This is an article repost. Originally posted in our old website on 2018-10-29 New Airbnb laws are now in force in Victoria and wherever you stand on the debate, it is important to know how these laws affect you and your Owners Corporation and how they can be enforced in practice. Strata Plan sat down [...]

This is an article repost. Over the last few weeks, Strata Plan has received a number of calls from customers with questions about building insurance. In particular, it has become apparent that some customers who own lots which are units or townhouses have organised their own building insurance, essentially doubling up on insurance costs. Whether [...]

This is an article repost. Posted in our previous website on: 2018-07-02T02:36:16+00:00 As state governments across Australia contemplate new ways to manage and regulate Airbnb in apartment communities, property investors may be voting with their feet. While Owners Corporations seek greater control about the use and nature of short-term leasing within their buildings and communities, [...]

MANAGING NUISANCE PETS IN YOUR OWNERS CORPROATION In September 2016, VCAT made a ruling which effectively made it impossible for an Owners Corporation to place a blanket ban on pets within their buildings. The ruling stated that pets could not be banned on the presumption that they could be a nuisance to fellow lot owners and [...]

This is an article repost. Posted in September 2018 Last week (September 7, 2018) the Victorian parliament passed new laws which hope to afford tenants greater security and protection which further erode the power of Owners Corporations to enforce no-pet rules at their properties. As a result of the new laws, Victorian renters will be the best [...]

The situation regarding COVID Safe Advice is constantly changing and Strata Plan will monitor it closely for updates. These updates are direct from the website of the Victorian Premier. Links to the sources are attached below. A statement was issued today by Victoria’s Acting Premier. “On the advice of our public health team, Victoria will [...]

In April 2017, the Domestic Building Dispute Resolution Victoria (DBDRV) was established by the Victorian government. A business unit of the Department of Justice and Regulation, the DBDRV was established as an independent government agency to assist with the resolution of domestic building disputes. The service is free to building owners – such as an Owners Corporation [...]

They take a team of committed and united lot owners to co-create solutions and forge a successful path to rectification. Factions of fractured owners with different goals and agendas will never get their building’s issues sorted. Your Owners Corporation is the body that enables all owners to work together to solve the issues that affect [...]

This is an article repost. Originally published 2018 – 05 -21 on our previous website. Strata Plan believes that Owners Corporations work best when owners take an active interest in their property and work collaboratively with all stakeholders to co-create amazing outcomes. And when it comes to amazing outcomes, it does not get much better [...]

Owners Corporations have minimum insurance requirements. This is to ensure that common property the owners’ corporation has cover for unexpected events that might lead to damage of the structure or within common property. You’d think that having insurance coverage is enough, but our most recent #StrataPlanWin shows that having coverage isn’t good enough, it’s also [...]

With the Annual General Meeting season almost over, it’s been a great opportunity for our Owners Corporation Managers and their supporting staff to meet so many of our customers. For some customers, it has been the first time they have attended an AGM, while others might be considered Owners Corporation veterans. Unfortunately, Strata Plan is [...]

Communication is key to every working relationship. That much is true of our personal lives and our working lives and it applies equally to property ownership, particularly in Owners Corporations. Not everyone has the time to commit to an active role on your Owners Corporation’s committee, which means communication between those that do and those [...]

If you are a member of your  Owners Corporation’s committee, you’ll knows that it can be a lot to take on. Whether you live in a 10-lot development or a 100-lot development, many of the problems Owners Corporations and their committee members face are the same. More often than not, these problems relate to resolving disputes [...]

FOUR THINGS YOUR OWNERS CORPORATION COMMITTEE SHOULD BE DOING Owners Corporations are a team effort. They depend on the collaboration of many to co-create amazing life spaces. Your Owners Corporation is the body that comprises all lot owners in your building. Essentially, if you own a unit, townhouse, apartment or even a commercial property in [...]

As we continue to fly through the Annual General Meeting season here at Strata Plan, we are seeing a healthy number of bright-eyed new committee members making the step up to become actively involved in the management of their property. Of course, there is also a solid number of seasoned veterans who continue to volunteer [...]

One of the biggest problems Owners Corporations can face is members who do not pay their levies or fees on time. Maybe they do not understand what their fees pay for. Maybe they think they can hold off on paying. Maybe their Owners Corporation just is not a priority. It is an issue most Owners [...]

We have updated our website. This is an article repost. Originally published on 2018-07-04 We often hear of the Owners Corporation’s responsibility to act in good faith on behalf of fellow owners. In fact, the Owners Corporation Act (VIC) 2006, says as much. In keeping with this, the Owners Corporation’s must also act reasonably when [...]

What makes a great Owners Corporation committee? That is literally the million-dollar question. Your Owners Corporation is responsible for insuring, maintaining, and repairing all common property at your building, as well as budgeting for, the collection of and expenditure of hundreds of thousands of dollars. In doing so, the Owners Corporation should be protecting and/or [...]

This is an article repost. Original article was posted on 2018-06-26 on our old website. Volunteering and being nominated as chairperson of an Owners Corporation is a big responsibility, but it’s also a privilege. Your owners have elected you to look out for their best interests. Strata Plan discussed the role with one such person, [...]