Strata Chat with Joey

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I talk about body corporate in Qld, including what sucks and what should be fixed. Please comment/tweet me.

Jo Bennett


    • Jun 6, 2021 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 4m AVG DURATION
    • 212 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Strata Chat with Joey

    Ep 211 - Filling a Casual Committee Vacancy

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2021 7:20


    Today I discuss the committees option to replace a retired committee member by voting at committee level and appointing a new committee member.

    Ep 210 - Replacing Dektites

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2021 5:08


    I recently had to oversee a Dektites replacement project. This episode discusses what Dektites are and why you might need to get them replaced.

    Ep 208 - Water Leak and Where to Start

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2020 4:47


    Today I tackle a reported water leak and give an outline of the steps I will take to assist the committee get on with finding and fixing the source of the leak. It starts with more evidence.

    Ep 207 - The Upside of Working from Home

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2020 4:26


    Today I talk about how we’ve been able to cure a lot of ongoing maintenance issues by having access to the information and resources provided by occupiers working from home.

    Ep 206 - Amateur Project Management at its Best!

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2020 6:34


    As a body corporate manager we are often forced into the role of project manager and today I highlight the ups and downs of that.

    Ep 205 - NBN and what “NBN Ready” means for your building

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2019 12:28


    I’m having fun and games with a building full of tenants who cannot connect to the NBN. Is NBN in the building? Is it on every level? If it’s on every level why does it not work in the units? Why don’t the NBN plans match with what is actually wired into the building? Wait is that cabling for security cameras or does it house NBN infrastructure? This episode is about my attempts to solve this problem for owners.

    Ep 204 - Solar Panels on your Common Property Roof

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2019 2:49


    Solar panels can be a great way to defray rising electricity costs for a body corporate but they come with their own issues. For example the committee needs to think about budgeting for ongoing cleaning of the Panels each year. Debris and nesting material left by birds can be a fire hazard so regular maintenance is important.

    Ep 203 - AGM Time for a Very Contentious Scheme

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2019 5:49


    In Episode 198 I talked about a Scheme with a split committee in which no agreement could be reached and the in fighting was preventing the committee with getting on with important decisions that needed to be made. Well with the AGM came a new committee and now we get to press on with more important issues than petty point scoring. Expected fire works at the AGM and was not disappointed.

    Ep 202 - Bin Enclosure and the Inbox Full of Hate #strata

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2019 4:27


    Development approvals can be tricky and today I explain problems with a bin enclosure being in each units courtyard.

    Ep 201 - What is a tempering valve? #strata

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2019 3:27


    A commonly failing little known piece of infrastructure is the tempering valve. As a body corporate manager I often do not know what is or is not working when it comes to hot water. Today I talk about tempering valves and the purpose they serve.

    Ep 200 - Bush Turkey at my #townhouse #strata

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2019 4:02


    Following an interesting call from an owner about a bush Turkey that has moved in to her complex I have decided to share my bush turkey secrets. It is not a body corporate issue, bush turkeys are protected.

    Ep 199 - Life Support Equipment at your #apartment? Register with #energex

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2019 5:05


    Do you or someone you know have a ventilator, respirator or kidney dialysis machine at their home? Have they registered that life support system with Energex? Today’s chat is about the importance of registering and government concessions available.

    Ep 198 - AGM Agenda and Budget with a split Committee

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2019 8:10


    I have a Scheme with a split committee which has made it hard to get agreement on anything really and when it comes to the AGM agreement is kind of critical. So this is how I managed that.

    Ep 197 - Positivity Rules Your Committee #strata

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2019 1:39


    I had a 20 minute phone all with a Committee member on Friday who was disappointed other members of the Committee continued to disagree with him and he is wallowing in that disappointment. But that’s not the end of it. If your project is reasonable, if it’s genuinely going to positively impact the scheme then keep putting your point forward. People change, opinions change. Be the positive change you want to see.

    Ep 196 - Minor win getting old documents for #free

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2019 1:30


    We never get all the docs we need for a building and I have a scheme that is getting rendering repaired and we did not have the paint specs. Contacted the original builder and they sent the paint specs right over. I call that a win.

    Ep 195 - A Day in the Life of a BCM #strata

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2019 1:20


    I have managed to smash out 4 sets of minutes and got my emails down to 105. I’ve had no major maintenance issues which is great. Have spent quite a bit of time training a new assistant. Would like to be further in front but not there yet.

    Ep 195 - A Day in the Life of a BCM #smashing emails

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2019 1:25


    I’ve got one budget done, that fishing water leak resolved itself and I am down to 117 emails. I am getting work done but it’s very slow. The good news is no further meetings today.

    Ep 195 - My Day continues #meetings and #coffee

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2019 1:43


    I am down to 127 emails, I I have one gushing water leak, I have 12 agendas to go out this month, 7 sets of minutes. I’ve had one 40 minute meeting already and it’s 10.30. On my way to grab coffee.

    Ep 195 - A Day in the Life of a BCM #gym #wakeup

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2019 0:40


    Welcome to an overview of how I spend my days. This is waking up and getting to the gym.

    Ep 194 - Belligerent Committee member #strata

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2019 5:28


    I manage a scheme where one Committee member is alleged to be making other owners uncomfortable to the point of bullying. All of those allegations aside, there are options open to the committee members and today I provide a quick overview of those options.

    Ep 193 - What is NOT a Committee decision #stratA

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2019 6:32


    Yesterday an angry Committee member called me to complain the I had not taken a step in a matter when he was the only Committee member to have instructed me. I realised he thought his one instruction was sufficient. But in a Committee situation it wasn’t.

    Ep 192 - WH & S report - laundry list of items #strata

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2019 6:48


    Today I explore those options open to the Committee who have received a Workplace Health and Safety report with a long laundry list of items to be attended to. It’s not all bad news and with good management those items can be dealt with.

    Ep 191 - Access to a neighbour’s property #strata

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2019 3:58


    In this episode I talk about dealing with neighbours and how to go about seeking access to their lot where that might be needed to put up a ladder and clean gutters or wash windows.

    Ep 190 - Secret Commissions follow up #strata

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2019 5:06


    Now that my friend has exited his former firm I’ve started researching and reading cases about secret commissions to get a handle on the important issues and hurdles.

    Ep 189 - Contractors are on Holidays #strata

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2019 3:22


    It’s a difficult time of year when contractors are on holidays. I am struggling to get meaningful information from various contractors to pass on to my Committees and it’s quite frustrating. Having a bit of a vent.

    Ep 188 - Garden Variety Fencing Project steps #strata

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2019 5:22


    A quick rundown of the standard 11 steps involved in a fencing project.

    Ep 187 - Solar Panels on your roof in a Standard Format Plan Scheme

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2019 2:28


    Even though you have the right as an SFP owner to maintain your roof, you should consider getting approval and having your solar panels noted on the records as being on the roof for your scheme.

    Ep 186 - Fire Asset Certification - Why does my building have a fire pump?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2019 4:13


    Not all buildings are built the same, some require very specific fire protection assets to be installed like fire pumps and back to base monitoring. These requirements are set by the Council and Certifier’s involved in getting the building ready for human habitation.

    council certifier
    Ep 185 - Putting up a For Sale Sign on the Common Property #strata

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2019 2:30


    Make sure you seek permission for the For Sale sign to be erected, email your body corporate manager to find out how to seek permission.

    Ep 184 - What is a Building Format Plan #strata

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2019 5:24


    Today I describe what a building Format Plan is and why that plan type will determine to a large extent what is a body corporate maintenance responsibility and what is a lot owner maintenance responsibility.

    Ep 183 - What is a Standard Format Plan Scheme #strata

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2019 5:42


    The first question we ask as Body corporate managers whenever a maintenance issue arises is what type of plan the scheme was registered under. Today I talk about the Standard Format Plan scheme and common owner maintenance issues.

    Ep 182 - What is a Restricted Issue for the Committee #strata

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2019 3:49


    There are certain decisions that a Committee has no “jurisdiction” to make. This episode is an overview of that.

    Ep 181 - Statutory Motions which must be considered every year by the owners #strata

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2019 4:11


    Today I talk about the standard motions which body corporate owners are required to vote on at each AGM.

    Ep 180 - Top 5 Things a Committee Can Get Wrong

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2019 6:32


    In this episode I talk about the 5 most common mistakes/issues a Committee might mis-handle and how to manage that better.

    Ep 179 - Future Body Corporate Software

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2019 9:25


    An overview of shortfalls in my day to day role that I am confident can be cured by advances in artificial intelligence, software programs that will help me to better support Committees and get onto their queries with a timely response.

    Ep 178 - #Cladding - What is a building attachment #strata

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2019 3:44


    As we plunge in to Stage 2 of the Cladding compliance project it seems the QBCC are expanding their scope to consider what attachments to the common property of the building are or might be flammable. It’s possible the QBCC might want to make it a requirement for things like an air conditioner to now be certified or for plantation shutters to now be certified but we don’t have enough information just yet.

    Ep 177 - Our by-laws suck - Why #strata

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2019 4:47


    A bit of background to the by-law drafting process as a former property lawyer to explain why you might have a set of by-laws that don’t really work for your scheme.

    Ep 176 - Tupperware Cupboard Methodology #fail #strata

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2019 7:27


    Water leaks are a bitch, but it’s not always the case that a random contractor who touched one aspect of your building is forever responsible for every single other water leak problem that arises after they have visited your scheme. Today I discuss an ongoing water leak issue I’ve been grappling with.

    Ep 175 - Development next door #strata

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2019 4:56


    What options are open to a Committee if they notice vacant land next door is being built on? What if a crane shows up and building material is being sailed in the body corporate’s air space? This is a very niche area but yes there are options. More importantly the body corporate could get money out of that neighbour.

    Ep 174 - Sinking Fund Forecast and waterproofing #strata

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2019 3:15


    I’ve not seen a sinking fund forecast that includes waterproofing even though the body corporate is often responsible for replacing it over time. In this episode I talk about why it’s not included and what a Committee can do about that.

    Ep 173 - Fractured Committee- bills need to be paid #strata

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2019 5:33


    I have a Committee that can not agree to pay a contractor and following a recent vote change the majority Committee now want to allow payment. It’s not straight forward as I can’t just authorise payment as a body corporate manager. In today’s episode I talk about how I will manage the situation moving forward.

    Ep 172 - Death and your body corporate #strata

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2019 4:35


    A Committee member who was a bit of a handful has passed on. I feel conflicted because we didn’t always agree and projects at the scheme were not completed. Today I talk about the paperwork side of death and your body corporate. We are always the last to know.

    Ep 171 - Being sacked by a body corporate #ouch #strata

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2019 7:04


    Sometimes as a body corporate manager we will fail to meet committee expectations and they will press the owners to sack us. It’s a fact of life that I cannot please everyone. When a scheme exercises their right to go elsewhere my job is to work with them to ensure a smooth transfer of their records to the new company.

    Ep 170 - Minor win - smaller scheme is now fire compliant #strata #winning

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2019 3:25


    I have a scheme full of older ladies very keen not to spend any money on the place and their fire compliance was woeful until the most recent AGM where they finally agreed to get their fire doors tested and appoint a fire contractor.

    Ep 169 - QBCC Cladding letters sent direct to owners #fail

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2019 3:10


    As we approach the end of Stage 1 for Cladding compliance it turns out the QBCC has very unhelpfully written to some owners directly, causing alarm and concern. Doing the best we can to manage that but it’s not easy when owners often don’t read what has been sent to them at first instance.

    Ep 168 -No sinking fund forecast #strata

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2019 1:53


    How I usually prepare a draft sinking fund budget where there is no sinking fund forecast or it is completely out of date.

    Ep 167 - Committee Disagreement can be healthy #strata

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2019 4:02


    Sometimes individual Committee members will disagree with each other and it’s not always a bad thing. If Committee members can remain respectful and reasonable in their dealing with each other it can mean outside the box solutions are uncovered.

    Ep 166 - Sewer pipe reline or replace? #strata

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2019 5:08


    A scheme I manage was presented with a sewer pipe issue and two contractors with different points of view on how to deal with the issues. These are both good firms with experience and so I called both to get an explanation on the difference between relining a sewer pipe as opposed to replacing it.

    Ep 165 - What is a Workplace Health & Safety report

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2019 6:36


    A quick overview of what a WH&S report covers and why a body corporate would consider getting one to protect itself.

    Ep 164 - Caretaker Secret commissions #strata

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2019 8:42


    I’ve previously talked about secret commissions a body corporate manager might be taking and today I wanted to talk about the types of secret commissions a caretaker might take.

    Ep 163 - Annual Fire and Evacuation Practice #strata

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2019 6:04


    If your scheme has a Certificate of Classification noting it as a Class 2-9 then an annual fire Evacuation Practice is required by law. Today I talk about what that Practice would look like and where to find forms if you want to DIY.

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