What are pro-rata levies? You’ve done everything right. You attended your Owners Corporation’s Annual General Meeting (AGM). You were part of the discussion about raising the budget to what you believed was a sensible, but affordable amount. Then you got your latest levies, and they were higher than you anticipated. How did this happen? Welcome to pro-rata levies. Your levies are a direct reflection of your Owners Corporation budget. Every year at your ...

Airbnb data highlights need for government leadership Alarming new data has heightened the concerns of apartment owner-occupiers across Melbourne with respect to Airbnb and other short-stay leasing in the Victorian capital. As it stands, Owners Corporations are relatively powerless to make and enforce rules with respect to short-term leasing in their buildings. Even leading Strata lawyers have urged caution from Owners Corporations considering taking legal action to prohibit lot owners within their buildings ...

Sandy Hill: Functional living by the bay Strata Plan is proud to play a role in the management of over 600 buildings across Melbourne. Those buildings come in all shapes and sizes, but few are as impressive and pack as many features as Sandringham's Sandy Hill development. The 400-lot development, spread over four buildings is a stunning combination of modern design with all the functionality you could desire. The developments stunning interior design ...

Your Owners Corporation Fees: What Are They? How Are They Calculated? What Do They Pay For? As we close in on the end of yet another quarter of the financial years, lot owners everywhere are preparing for another round of Owners Corporation fees. Some will have paid them before, some might be paying for the first time – but many still fail to appreciate what their money pays for. Contrary to popular belief, ...

Owners Corporation Should Think Twice Before Battling AirBNB In Court Leading Strata lawyers have warned Owners Corporations against challenging short-team leasing within their buildings. The spat between Owners Corporations and their members who use their private lots for short-term leasing on online platforms such as AirBNB. Across the country, there have been examples of Owners Corporations drafting by-laws or rules banning short-term letting, only to be dismissed in the courts. As the Victorian ...

How To Connect Your Apartment To The Internet It is one of the biggest frustrations we at Strata Plan hear from apartment owners. We’re talking, of course, about connecting your apartment to the internet. Specifically, we’re talking about jumpering. No, it isn’t something you wear, but rather the process of connecting the local telephone exchange to your building’s Main Distribution Frame (MDF) and then to your apartment or unit. Confused? Don’t worry. Most ...

Strata Plan's After Hours Service Assists Owners Corporation With Emergency Management When emergency strikes it is always good to know someone is there for you. Strata Plan’s emergency after-hours number means that every one of our customers, their tenants and managing agents have access to assistance in the event of an emergency, no matter the time. January proved a busy month for Strata Plan’s after-hours team. Strata Plan was required to respond to ...

What does your Owners Corporation insurance cover? Your Owners Corporation’s strata insurance policy covers you for a lot of things. As set out in the Owners Corporation Act (VIC) 2006, Owners Corporations must take out insurance to cover all buildings on the Plan of Subdivision. These policies typically cover the building structure on behalf of all owners within any given Owners Corporation. Generally speaking, most strata insurance policies cover material damage as a ...

After-hours assistance: A massive responsibility for Strata Plan One of Strata Plan’s biggest responsibilities as an Owners Corporation manager is being robust and capable enough to provide assistance in the event of emergencies. Strata Plan boasts its own in-house emergency after-hours phone available to all customers and residents at buildings we help to manage. Hosting this service in-house as opposed to outsourcing the service ensures Strata Plan is in full control of its ...