Help Please! RP Data List for a property ownership in a complex

Discussion in 'Property Information Resources & Tools' started by Property Twins, 19th Oct, 2015.

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  1. Property Twins

    Property Twins Mortgage Brokers & Buyers Agents Business Member

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    Hi guys,

    Does anybody have access to RP Data and can help us grab an extract of the strata properties in a complex where we own? Along with the names / contact phone numbers from the search list. I recall that RP data does show this detail. While pricefinder doesn't.

    We have a strata meeting coming up and we want to speak to the owners as there is barely anybody who turns up and a handful of owners & the strata company have created a monopoly with excessive fees that are not required. The complex is one of the larger ones....Looking at the strata report though a lot needs to be done to bring it back in line with reasonable costs e.g. gardens that cost nearly 12k. That's the background.

    P.S. Our PM agency manage 1/4th of the properties in there and have emailed the owners on our behalf. One has gotten in touch with us so far and will likely be at the meeting!

    Many thanks,
    MsAli
     
    Last edited by a moderator: 19th Oct, 2015
  2. D.T.

    D.T. Specialist Property Manager Business Member

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    Is this in NSW? Pricefinder will give you the owners names and addresses, you could send a letter inviting them to the meeting.

    In terms of the strata company though - how are they creating a monopoly when they're just agents? Have you seen the budget and financials?
     
  3. mja

    mja Well-Known Member

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    Can't you contact the strata company and ask for the strata roll? You're entitled to as owner.
     
  4. Property Twins

    Property Twins Mortgage Brokers & Buyers Agents Business Member

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    DT, the addresses listed in NSW are those of the units themselves and not the actual owner addresses.

    We've not been to the meetings in the past. The guy we spoke to was defensive. So lets see what happens. Of course it's in their interest to keep increasing fee by 10% per annum without consideration what people think if 5% of the owners attend the meetings. One owner occupier has asked for the whole complex to be painted - there is no need for that. Quote: 86k!

    MJ, we do have the names. Strata won't reveal their contact details though?
     
  5. mja

    mja Well-Known Member

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  6. Property Twins

    Property Twins Mortgage Brokers & Buyers Agents Business Member

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  7. C-mac

    C-mac Well-Known Member

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    Thats annoying! How many in the block? How many votes would you need to actually change things?
     
  8. Russ

    Russ Well-Known Member

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    Disclosure: I'm a Strata Managing Agent.

    There are two separate issues that confuse people.

    1) What you are entitled to see / get

    The Strata Roll is limited to the names and the Australian address for service of notice, for the Owner of each Lot. The Strata Schemes Management Bill 2015, being debated in parliament at the time of writing (22 October) proposes to include an email address if provided, but currently that is not part of the Strata Roll. The Strata Roll is what a member is entitled to view, and the Secretary may request from the Agent. An Owner should not expect access to other details such as phone numbers and email addresses, even though the Managing Agent may have them, but all you need are the details on the Strata Roll and you can send a letter to all Lot Owners.

    2) How you can get it

    As the lawyers commented on the StrataLive forum (link above) all Owners are entitled to undertake a s108 search, and there are arguments that the Committee or Committee members are entitled to have it supplied to them electronically or in hard copy. The statutory duties of the Secretary defined in s22(c) includes maintaining the Strata Roll, and s29(2) allows the Secretary to exercise the delegated function, so the Secretary has a clear right to access the Strata Roll which is usually maintained by the Managing Agent under the Agency Agreement.

    If you're a Lot Owner and not on the Committee, then your best option might be to spend the $31 (ex GST) for access to the records for an hour, to copy or take details from the Strata Roll. You can then contact all Lot Owners directly.


    Then what?

    It's one thing to get people's attention, another to lead them to a better outcome. Unless you are un-financial or otherwise prevented from doing so (rare circumstances), any Owner can request a Motion be added to the Agenda for the next Annual General Meeting. Don't turn up and expect to make any decisions on this matter without it being on the Agenda, because an Owners Corporation can only make decisions in General Meeting on matters that are on the Agenda. Bad meeting practices sometimes make it appear that motions can be moved and resolved at the meeting without having been on the notice but that is not the case, and would never be accepted for something as serious as termination of 1 Managing Agent and appointment of another.

    If you want to help lead your Owners Corporation to a better situation then it would be good for you to have spoken to a couple of Agencies and be able to demonstrate that you've found a solution, not just point to the problem. Always try to present a solution, anyone can find problems but you'll get much more support and make better progress if you have a solution.


    The take-away: participate

    MsAli's problem is not uncommon.

    If you have the time and energy to participate then the position from which to make the best contribution is as a member of the Executive Committee. Being on the Committee is a role of service, not privilege, but you have superior access to records and are in a position to work closely with the Managing Agent and other interested Lot Owners. In fact, the Committee make most decisions and Managing Agents usually act under instruction. When you're closer to the action you can form the best view of whether you're getting value from your Managing Agent or not, and you can manage the relationship better. You can also influence how your Owners Corporation's money is spent across the board, not just to the Managing Agent.
     
    Last edited: 23rd Oct, 2015

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