Owners corporation for 3 subdivided units in victoria

What are the rules for 3 subdivided units in victoria? Do we need to have active owner’s corporation? A registered Manger etc? If it is inactive is there way to activate it?


I have moved into unit few years ago. First time into owners corp. Its 3 sub-divided unit in inner city Melbourne. I live in the front one and there is common driveway. One of the unit owners is looking after the gardening and insurance. She is nice old lady, but very picky about the garden. She hires the top of the range gardener who charges her $220 every time for hedging and trimming 3-4 times a year.


I tried to talk her out of this gardener, but she is pretty adamant that she spends that amount of money and we divide amount us.


What choice do I have to force her to change? According to me even if we spend half of it should suffice. I think the other owner thinks same as well and she refuses to pay anything more than $50 at time. I just like to work out what is best for all 3 us rather than she doing what she likes and asks us to pay up.

 

Yep, no one wants to pay the gardener a reasonable rate, yet pay a plumber or electrician a $100+ call out fee and $80 per 30 min and don't bat an eye.....

Going thru strata you would pay near $100 per visit with 12-20 visits per year totalling $1,200- $2k......

If the old dear in unit 2 is maintaining everything in between visits and it is costing under $900 per annum then it might be easier to let it go !

*how long does the gardener spend there per visit ?

 

They charge $220 every time they visit. All they do is hedges nothing done in between the visits. Its just a common driveway not really a huge garden. The point is she wants to spend this amount on gardening where the other two doesnot. Its common area so everyone should agree to spend. At present it is now i want this done and then split it into 3.

 

Then in writting (email/certified mail) formally notify the old dear that you do not approve this spending on common property, throw in a quote from Jim's mowing while you are at it .......

Get the neighbor to do the same !

Then just don't pay.

If you are contributing monies to the insurance then you are basically being a silent lot owner.
Currently the old dear is acting as the body corporate, and until there is an AGM with a quorum and voting then it's unlikely you can change anything !

Thanks for not answering my question*

 

I have no idea how long the gardener/s spend. I can do the job myself in less than an hour to a home owner DIY quality. Appearently their minimum charge is $180.

I actually did that. I told her that I agree to only pay $150 per year.

 

Thanks
Is it compulsory to have a active owners corp?

 

We bought in June 2019. There is a OC certificate which was just a template download and signed by the lady, which mentions nothing but the insurance. it doesn't even look like a legal document.

 

The certificate which was part of section 32 was pure rubbish. It was a sample cerificate downloaded of the website some details filled in. Last page has unit 2 ladys name and sign and seal. I thnk that is dogy certificate. The lady din't remember such document.

My Lawyer pointed out that vendors conveyancer is horrible and using this and rates notce in the section 32.I asked if I should refrain from bidding auction she said hell no. As they were not claiming no money for the owners corporation she said no issues.

If its not law to have active owners corporation for 3 subdevided property, than shouldnot there be excemption from having certificate attched for section 32?

 

Thanks Y man.
My main concern is that we dont have a Owners Corporation. for now I am and I can live with few hundred dollers extra expense per year,but if some issues arise where we need to deside we have no meetings or formal procedure to comeup with resolution.

I have mentioned this to lady looking after Insurance and gadening to reactivate our owners corporation so that we have someting in place. She is not intersted.

Looking at the link you sent me about OC register we must have one.I dont think she keeps a copy. I will ask her, if she has one before i talk to her about activating the owners corporation.

 

Then why are you persisting in dealing with her ?

Just go through the steps of the link provided by @The Y-man

Apply to register the address, if it already has already been registered then they will give you the strata number.

Then you can follow the steps to notify the other owners as per regulation to call an AGM, with topics to be discussed and voted on (gardening, other maintenance issue's, sinking fund for capital works and quarterly levy for future expenses, quarterly maintenance contribution levy).

 

It's been definitely activated I have search report in section 32. I will have to reactivate it and call AGM. I will go through links and so what is required.I don't think other two are interested, but looks like they have no choice. I sort of knew I had to do that, but was thinking I was overreacting.

Thanks again @Stoffo and @The Y-man