Paper notifications for strata meetings and other issues persist. This makes strata management harder, and results in unnecessary complexity and costs for owners corporations.
This happens either because some people lack skills in electronic communication, or, more sinisterly, because strata managers derive income for producing paper. Neither end justifies the means.
If just one owner requires a paper notice for a meeting, timeframes and processes for calling a meeting are disrupted because of the postal rule about providing clear notice. This can extend minimum meeting notice periods by as much as 8 – 10 days.
An amendment to strata laws can fix this problem. The section should provide that a person must appoint an agent to receive strata communications if they can’t use or access a means of electronic communication.
Scrap it or does it stay?
Michael Teys advises strata management businesses on improving profitability through professionalisation and streamlined operating systems.
He has more than 30 years’ experience as a strata lawyer and academic and has owned 11 strata management agencies throughout Australia. He has a Master of Philosophy (Built Environment) and Bachelor of Laws. He lectures and writes widely about strata management issues in Australia and internationally.
