Benefits of Heat Pump Hot Water Systems
Key Benefits of Heat Pump Systems for Strata Strata committees and owners looking to reduce costs and improve sustainability should consider switching to a heat pump hot water system (HWS). These systems offer substantial savings and environmental benefits compared to traditional gas or electric water heaters. Significant cost savings Most strata schemes use gas hot water systems, which […]
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Energy Consumption & Saving in Strata
Energy consumption plays a significant role in both costs and environmental impact in multi-unit residential buildings. For strata owners, understanding how energy is used—and how it can be saved—offers the potential for meaningful cost reductions and sustainability improvements. Whether reducing expenses in common areas or promoting energy efficiency within individual units, every step counts toward […]
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Remedial Works, the DBP Act
and Planning Approvals
Planning approvals & the D&BP Act for strata remedial works In a recent interview with Helen Kowal, Partner at Swaab, we discussed the implications of the recent legislative and regulatory reforms in the construction industry of New South Wales. These reforms, while widely acknowledged as necessary for enhancing the quality of construction work in both […]
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Unraveling the Responsibility for Upstairs Water Leaks
It is not always clear whether water ingress results from defective common property, or whether it is originating from another lot, usually being the lot directly above. Generally, where water ingress is being caused by another lot owner, it is due to renovation works being carried out in that other lot. For a lot owner […]
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Show me the money – funding major remedial work and renovations
Time marches on in strata, as in life. Our strata buildings are ageing and increasingly in need of some serious attention to maintain the quality of life for residents. As the 2022 UNSW strata insights report pointed out, the number of schemes in NSW more than 20 years old has exceeded the 50,000 mark. Every […]
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Smoking and Strata
Can you ban smoking in strata without a by-law? In a series of NCAT cases, several owners corporations succeeded in obtaining orders to prohibit or restrict smoking in strata buildings. These cases all shared a common element: the smoke from cigarettes or tobacco products was deemed a nuisance interfering with a residents’ amenity, contrary to […]
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Fire safety for strata owners
Fire safety in strata Fire safety is a core responsibility of owners corporations and strata committees. It is not simply a matter of compliance with regulations. It is one area where a “she’ll be right” attitude or “near enough is good enough” can be a fatal error. As a recent fire in Rome illustrated, one […]
Read MoreSecurity in strata
We like to know our homes are secure from intruders and most strata properties rate highly on that score. Apart from some smaller, older blocks it is rare to find a property where access to individual lots or shared areas like foyers, lifts, stairwells and even garages is not protected both physically end electronically with […]
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