[Greens-Media] (Sylvia Hale MLC) Greens Want Better Protection for High-Rise Residents

[Christopher Holley]

Greens Want Better Protection for High-Rise Residents

Greens MP Sylvia Hale and Greens City of Sydney Councillor Chris Harris
have dismissed the draft Strata Management Legislation Amendment Bill
2008 as falling well short of what is needed to provide adequate
legislative protection for apartment owners and long term tenants
against unfair practices by non resident investors and developers.

“The rapidly increasing number of people who live in apartments
deserve more than the draft Bill is offering.  Their apartment is their
home and they want to have adequate control over their living conditions
just like everyone else,” said Cr Harris.

In a submission to the Strata Management Legislation Amendment Bill
2008, Councillor Harris lists ineffective dispute resolution, barriers
to the ability of executive committees to have building defects remedied
and the lack of legislative assistance for executive committees to
collect unpaid levies and sanction bad behaviour, as three major
inadequacies of the present law. None of these shortcomings are
addressed in the draft Bill.

“The proposed amendments to the legislation don’t go far enough and
have done little to help those who live in strata title developments.
The law will continue to give too much power to developers and the real
estate agents who manage apartments for non-resident investors unless
these commonly occurring problems are sorted out.

“I’d also like to see the office of a Strata Ombudsman set up for
this fast growing type of housing, and the government needs to have a
look at setting up the licensing of building managers, possibly
administered by the Ombudsman. 

“My submission highlights issues that need to be addressed. Hopefully
the Minister for Fair Trading, Linda Burney, will take note of the
latest round of submissions and not continue to favour developers and
real estate agents over the rights and legitimate needs of apartment
dwellers,” Councillor Harris said.
 
Sylvia Hale MLC will be working with Greens Sydney City Councillor
Chris Harris and those who live in strata title buildings to try to
ensure the review addresses all, not just some, of the problems in
strata living. 

“The Greens will move further amendments when the government’s Bill
comes before parliament next month,” said Ms Hale.


More info: 

Cr Chris Harris 0407 469 384
Sylvia Hale: Chris Holley on 02 9230 3030 or 0437 779 546