Strata Has Treated Me Unfairly - Can I Challenge The Charges?

Ozbarganator 2000 on 21/08/2024 - 19:16
Last edited 24/08/2024 - 15:40 by 1 other user

I live in a strata unit block in NSW, and I own one of the units. Each unit has a secure parking space with a mesh around it and a gate. Many years ago, a previous owner or someone before that installed a power point on the ceiling above my unit's parking space, which was used for an automatic garage gate opener.

When I bought the unit, the automatic garage gate opener was no longer there but the power point has remained.

Recently, an executive committee (EC) member noticed the power point and reported it to the strata manager. The strata manager was very rude about it and said the power point would be disconnected as it was installed illegally. They said they would organize an electrician to do this.

Some time passed, and I didn't hear anything further. Today, I found that the electrician had actually disconnected the conduit which is located at the ceiling above the parking space next to mine. They didn't remove my power point but cut the power to it instead. The electrician's bill has been added to my strata levy without my knowledge or consent.

Can the strata charge me for this work when:

1) It was not authorized by me and was done on someone else's property
2) The ceiling above the secured parking spaces may be considered common property

I feel I have been treated very unfairly by the strata. Is there any legal recourse I can pursue to challenge these charges?

I would appreciate any advice or experiences you can share on similar situations.

• 

  jug123 on 21/08/2024 - 19:37

  +3

  If you purcahsed your unit will unauthorised works unfortuntely youre still responsible. Generally strata would give you an opportuity to remove using your own electrician unless a safety issue but legally yes they can remove an charge you

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  djsweet on 21/08/2024 - 20:58

  The only possible grounds I can see to dispute the charge is if the power point was actually installed with strata consent. They say it wasn’t but they could be wrong.

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  Sweet3st on 21/08/2024 - 21:21

  Seems to me the issue is that they removed the wrong powerpoint. Why should you pay for them to remove your neighbours? Of course, challenge it. They may well return to yours in future.

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  JIMB0 on 21/08/2024 - 21:30

  +1

  I'm guessing you complained about the roof leaking onto your car and they noticed the power point while checking it out. Looks like you've missed out on free electricity for your future electric car.

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  Downvoter on 21/08/2024 - 21:35

  +1

  No they haven’t.

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  7ekn00 on 21/08/2024 - 21:44

  +2

  Welcome to all the benefits of Units and Strata, congratulations on the purchase ;)

  • 

    brad1-8tsi on 22/08/2024 - 12:44

    Yep. Never again for me and I run the committee….

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  AndyC1 on 21/08/2024 - 23:31

  Write to the strata and ask for proof that the work was done within the area that you own before you will pay for the work.
  Do not say that they stuffed up et, just ask for proof that the work was done and was in your allocated area in the block of units.

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  Dollar General on 22/08/2024 - 05:38

  1. It’s your property now so your issue
  2. It was installed for your (& previous owners) benefit, not for everyone’s so it’s not a strata cost to bear
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  jizmo on 22/08/2024 - 10:57

  Was the power coming from your meter or theirs? If yours, sue them for interfering with private property. If theirs deny any acknowledgement of having it installed in the first place.
  Either way, it will cost a lot of money from the Community to pursue and recover the costs.
  If the sparkie charged $400 to do the job. Strata management may have charged the community $600. I know Barad body corporate management in QLD would have easily.

  They bury hidden extraordinary expenses into their flow chart of costs each month. So the Idiot who rang, the complaints call would fall under construction, the secretary taking the call is now charging $300 an hour to take the complaint, book the sparkie and send emails and notification to owners.

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  brad1-8tsi on 22/08/2024 - 12:43

  They can charge you for removing the illegal power point in your space but they can't charge you for the electricians stuff-up.

  Have you spoken to the Strata Manager (rather than OzBargain)?

  More to the point, as an owner occupier why aren't you active on the Body Corporate? Then you'll see how much money they really waste.

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  cheaplee on 23/08/2024 - 21:31

  If you want to keep the power point, pay the bill.

  If you don't want the power point, just tell them they did next door's and don't pay that bit…