Strata Management

Our office offers a pre-eminent service for strata schemes, home unit companies and community & neighbourhood associations.

We have managed home unit buildings including company title since 1959 and have a substantial practice throughout the Sydney Metropolitan Area.

Our practice is directed by John Sarraf, a Licenced Real Estate and Strata Managing Agent who has had substantial experience in the development and management of commercial and residential strata schemes and condominium complexes. John in association with our senior strata managers, Maria Maire, Frank Tripolone, Charlie Boustani, Ricardo Leiker, Susan Crawford, John Edwards, Rita Haddad, along with our trainee managers, provide a leading specialised strata management service.

Somerville First National's involvement with the Real Estate Institute of NSW and Institute of Strata Title Management, ensures that the latest developments and knowledge relating to the affairs of your owners corporation, company or association is available through our services.

We offer advice to owners, investors and developers in relation to both new and existing home unit schemes.

email: johns@somervilles.com or phone us on (02) 9797 0777.

Latest Strata Developments

Latest Strata Developments

The Strata Schemes Management Act 1996 has now been in operation for some time and we have had a number of mediations under the new provisions governing the resolution of disputes between residents and/or with an owners corporation. It should be noted, important changes to the act commenced in February 2005.

	The Act changes the manner in which by-laws are created when a strata plan is registered and also the way in which an owners corporation enforces its by-laws. Contact us for details.
	All existing strata schemes will now require a ten year sinking fund plan. The Strata Schemes Management Amendment (sinking funds) Regulation 2006 was gazetted on April 28 2006. The effect of the April 2006 Regulation is that existing schemes will be gradually brought within the 10 year planning obligations according to its strata plan number.
	There has been an increase in the number of fire and safety orders issued by local council requiring buildings to upgrade their services. Often this involves substantial cost to individual owners. We have managed a number of such upgrades and liaise with appropriate consultants to carry out this work. Are you budgeting to allow for the likelihood of such work being required at your building?

Councils require annual certificates regarding fire services to buildings and these can be delayed where residents have installed non-approved locks or other hardware on the front door. These devices may impact on the fire rating of the door and, consequently, may have to be removed or replaced before a certificate as to the fire rating of these doors can be obtained. We recommend a by-law to ensure individual owners are liable for any expense and are alerted to the issue before they add inappropriate locks to their front door.

For any information on the management of home unit buildings, contact Somerville First National. strata@somervilles.com