Author: Lindsey

Is your pool ready for summer?

Posted on by Lindsey

 

With Summer on our doorstep and restrictions easing, strata residents will be preparing for fun by the pool. Owners corporations need to remain vigilant about pool safety and compliance.

It’s the responsibility of owners corporations to maintain the best interests of their community, and this extends to safe-proofing communal areas and facilities such as pools and spas from potentially life-threatening situations. Additionally, any owners whose lot contains their own private pool will also need to meet these obligations.

Swimming pools are a great addition to any strata community, but without regular management, they can become a real risk, especially in communities with a high number of young families.

Under current restrictions, shared facilities can open as long as restrictions are in place, including physical distancing and hygiene. Most importantly, only one person per four square metres is allowed in each space.

These facilities can include:

  • swimming pools, saunas and spas
  • barbeques
  • gyms

These facilities can be open for residents (as they aren’t a facility open to members of the public). However, facilities need to operate safely and comply with physical distancing and hygiene measures.

If an owners corporation temporarily closes facilities on the common property, a notice of closure must be posted so all residents are aware.

Pool users should be informed that:

  • That use of pool is at their own risk
  • To shower before and after use (in unit)
  • Stay in their apartment if they don’t feel well.
  • Sit on their own towels
  • Wipe common areas used with a disposable paper towel, dispose of correctly and wash their hands after.

COVID restrictions are ever-changing. Keep up with NSW Public Health Orders and updates to stay informed. 

Physical distancing

A limitation on numbers, based on the ‘one person per four square metres’ rule, must be first determined for each facility. However, managing both the limitation and physical distancing rules is difficult given that most facilities are unmonitored.

Hygiene

Owners corporations must consider cleaning common areas more frequently.

Frequent points of contact must be disinfected more regularly.

Strata managers, committees and contract cleaners must have procedures in place to ensure cleaning practices conform with the Department of Health’s environmental cleaning and disinfection-principles for COVID-19.

Speak with the strata managing agent or strata committee if you’re concerned about common area hygiene.

Considerations for evaluating whether facilities can be safely opened include:

  • Can numbers be restricted
  • Placing time limits on the use
  • Using a booking system.
  • Determining that residents should actively use the COVID App if they wish to use the facilities
  • Having a sign-in register at each facility where residents must record their details (as has become the practice in restaurants)
  • Clear signage stating 1.5-metre minimum must be adhered to, and the number of persons allowed in the facility at any one time
  • Using social distancing markers

Listed below is information relating to swimming facilities for detailed consideration by all stakeholders when determining whether their pool is compliant.

In a strata or community scheme, the owners corporation is responsible for ensuring such pools are compliant with the Swimming Pools Act 1992.

CPR Signage

In case of an emergency the law requires that you have a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) sign displayed near your pool.

CPR signs are available from your local pool shop, council or community organisations such as St John Ambulance, the Australian Red Cross or Royal Life Saving.

The sign must be in good condition and able to be read easily from 3 metres.

From 1 September 2019, new CPR signs came into effect and all new pools must use the updated signage.

Fencing

Owners of properties with swimming pools must at all times:

  • ensure that pools are surrounded with a child-resistant safety barrier that separates the swimming pool(s) from any residential building and any place adjoining the property
  • keep closed the doors and gates that provide access to the swimming pool
  • ensure that fences surrounding pools are designed, constructed, installed and maintained to comply with the relevant Australian Standards.

Note that portable and inflatable pools that are capable of being filled to a depth of 30cm (300mm) or more must also be surrounded by a swimming pool safety barrier and meet the requirements listed above.

Pool cleaning systems

There have been several incidents where children have become trapped in cleaning and skimming systems used in swimming pools.

The types of pool cleaning devices involved in these incidents have included:

  • potty-style skimmer boxes
  • in-floor cleaning systems using suction outlets that are located on the bottom of the pool.

All pool owners should:

  • prevent anyone using their pool, particularly children, from playing with or near any pool outlets
  • clearly label and know the location of the on/off switch for the pool filtration system
  • display an approved cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) sign in the pool area.

All pools must be certified and kept in good condition so ensure yours is up-to-date and well-maintained, especially if you have pool heating or cleaning systems. See to it that these are being taken care of effectively.

Airbnb and Schoolies 2020

Posted on by Lindsey

 

A recent decision by Airbnb to ban so called ‘party houses’ has been welcomed by the strata sector in New South Wales and changes the landscape drastically for the upcoming (and ongoing) schoolies celebrations.

Airbnb announced a worldwide ban on party house bookings and said it would consider legal action against anyone caught out.

This is good news for the strata sector and for owners of apartments, units and townhouses who have had to pay out large sums of money to repair the damage caused by party house use.

Apart from the noise factor, party houses have seen a trail of destruction which the owners have had to pay for, for too long.

In the strata sector, Airbnb use in apartments and units has also been a problem for residents and other owners because of damage done to common property. Leaving owners to foot the bill.

The Airbnb decision will also cause a major rethink about how schoolies will operate this year in NSW.

Schoolies Week 2020 has been formally cancelled by the Queensland Government, because of coronavirus restrictions, leaving many northern NSW school leavers needing to rethink their plans this November.

Byron Bay Mayor Simon Richardson confirmed schoolies in the northern NSW tourist town – emerging as the most viable schoolies option for Sydney students due to travel restrictions – would not be serviced with typical amenities this year.

As authorities confirm the end-of-year event will look quite different at hotspots in Northern New South Wales, young people and event planners are being warned that any large parties will be shut down under public health orders.

Despite the restrictions, overcrowding in apartments, noise complaints, damage to private and common property, drugs and underage drinking, and the health and safety of all are some of the concerns held by the industry in New South Wales.

We are urging strata managers and on-site letting agents to carefully consider applications for accommodation from school-leavers to ensure issues like overcrowding and parties are avoided.

Any schoolies flouting Public Health Orders or partying in an Airbnb booking could face stiff penalties and could face legal action for those who are caught.

Parents of schoolies should be very aware that they may now be held liable given this party house ban or for any damage caused to individual units and apartments or public spaces. The entertainment factor may be scaled right back because of COVID-19, but the bookings will still happen whether border restrictions are in place or not.

 

Strata Popularity Continues to Grow

Posted on by Lindsey

 

High density living is a growing phenomenon across NSW, with people looking to live as close as possible to the heart of the city’s action, entertainment, and culture. More than 70% of new residential buildings built in Sydney last year alone were classed as medium or high density. That means there is plenty of demand from owners and tenants alike for central and convenient housing.

Bolstering the popularity of Strata across the state.

The increasing popularity of strata title has been driven by a few main factors:

  • conversion of existing buildings in single ownership to strata title
  • the countries population growth
  • new development and
  • government policies to promote building up (rather than out) within existing urban areas

Enabling strata title ownership of existing developments, especially apartment buildings, by dividing the development into smaller units, reinvigorates local property markets by making the apartments more tradeable, consumable, and accessible to a broader and larger market.

The use of strata title in medium and high development in countries like Australia has been driven largely by an embedded cultural drive for home ownership. This driving force, when combined with decreasing affordability especially over the last decade, has meant that apartment living has become an important entry point into the housing market for many Australians and an option for older Australians looking to downsize.

The increasing significance of strata title development is illustrated by the fact that over $AUD350 billion worth of property is now estimated to be managed under such schemes in NSW alone, with 1.12 million people living in strata title schemes.

According to data contained in the Australasian Strata Insights 2020 report (by City Futures Research Centre), from the time strata title property ownership was first introduced in Australia 60 years ago, the number of people choosing to live in strata has continued to accelerate.

From a few small clusters in inner urban areas in NSW in 1961, strata developments are now an important feature of the housing landscape in NSW, with almost 900 thousand strata and community-titled properties in the state alone.

The report, which provides a comprehensive picture of the strata industry in Australia and provides an invaluable tool for policy-makers instigating changes to the framework for the strata industry, shows 15% of the total NSW population now reside in apartments, villas, units or townhouses.

Strata living is often convenient, cost-effective and can provide services to residents that they would not otherwise have access to.

If policy drivers of population growth supported by migration, and urban consolidation in existing areas continue, we can expect strata developments to play an important role in urban development for many years to come.

Strata Parking

Posted on by Lindsey

 

When it comes to shared parking spaces and dealing with parking on common property, owners corporations and strata managers have often struggled. While most property owners and residents abide by the by-laws or building rules, others may be oblivious if they are new to the building or if they are guests.

We’d like to highlight some pertinent information as parking remains an ongoing headache for schemes across the state.

Fair Trading and your owners corporation are both valuable sources of information for any strata related inquiry.

Where owners can park

Owners and residents are only allowed to park in the spaces allocated to them. They cannot use parking for visitors or emergency vehicles. They should check that their lot entitlement includes a car space.

If there is no space, they can apply for a common property rights by-law which will allow them to park on common property.

Visitor parking

Signs should state how long visitors can park in the visitors’ spaces. If there are no signs, visitors can park there for a reasonable time.

A local council can help police visitor parking with parking management services.

Parking by-laws

The owners corporation can control parking on common property by using signage, security guards, key card systems or parking barriers.

Most strata schemes have by-laws on parking. If they are breached, penalties apply.

  • The owners corporation serves a notice on an owner or occupier to comply with the by-law being breached.
  • If the by-law is breached after this, the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal can order a person to pay a penalty of up to $1,100.
  • If the by-law is breached again within 12 months, the penalty can double (up to $2,200).

Council enforcement of parking

A council can provide a strata scheme with parking management services for a fee. This means council rangers can issue parking infringement notices just like they do on public streets. If someone disagrees with receiving a notice, they can:

  • contact the council to dispute it, or
  • have the Local Court deal with the matter.

Towing a car

From 1st July 2020, new laws regarding the disposal of goods abandoned on the common property came into effect. Please click here to find out more. 

Importance of Recycling and Waste Management

Posted on by Lindsey

 

Nearly every unit in strata generates waste, materials, and debris. The result is a huge pile of waste that demands good planning to manage. While the waste from each unit may vary, the total waste collected may be greater and complex for  community handling.

On the other hand, strata may generate other types of waste such as biological and chemical waste (which we discussed last month), that need an effort of a trained personnel to combat. Good planning entails hazard mitigation and source reduction, especially in high density strata.

Through good waste management plans, the strata manager and the councils can:

  • Minimise time wastage during collection and dumping
  • Integrate efficient waste management decisions
  • Work hand-in-hand with responsible stakeholders’ such as recycling plants and disposal facilities
  • Boost the tenants’ resilience
  • Minimise the rates of detraction among the tenants

However, this is not always the case in NSW. The burden of waste collection heavily depends on the efforts of the whole building, and as a result, there is confusion about the most effective way of managing strata waste.

Strata waste does not only come in large quantity but also different types. Due to factors such as urbanisation and population increases.

In NSW, high-density strata suffer from a handful of residents that do not understand the benefits of environmental stewardship. Therefore, the overproduced wastes are rendered unmanageable.

One of the barriers for efficient waste collection and removal in Sydney is inadequate recycling facilities in unit blocks. On the other hand, apartments generally have insufficient waste collection and storage facilities for the volume of waste produced.

Since community living is a shared responsibility, in a strata property, one person’s trash becomes everyone’s problem. As apartment and strata living becomes more common, waste disposal has become more of an issue!

Nobody enjoys having, seeing, or smelling rubbish near their living spaces, which means that all residents should follow the proper protocol when it comes to rubbish disposal. We often see conflicts arise between tenants because of improper waste disposal, so it’s crucial that strata management has clear and efficient waste management systems in place.

All owners and occupiers of a lot must follow a set of rules when it comes to garbage disposal:

If you DO have shared receptacles for waste:

You must ensure your waste is securely wrapped, drained, separated and prepared in accordance with the applicable waste and recycling guidelines. You are responsible for cleaning up any waste or spillage that may occur when you are transferring your rubbish to the shared receptacles.

If you do NOT have shared receptacles for waste:

You must maintain rubbish receptacles within your lot, ensuring it is securely wrapped, drained, separated and prepared in accordance with the applicable waste and recycling guidelines. After this, you must place your bins in the designated rubbish collection area no more than 12 hours before rubbish collection time, and promptly return it to your property after collection.

What happens to waste left in common areas?

Owners and occupiers may not dispose of their waste on common property unless they have the prior written approval of the owners corporation.

If the waste includes perishable goods, the owners corporation may dispose of this without any notice. For all other items, they remove the goods after issuing a disposal notice which includes a description of the goods, the date and time the notice was issued, the date and time the goods will be moved from the common property, and contact details of a member of the strata committee.

The owners corporation is allowed to either move the offending goods to another area, throw them away, or sell them (and put the proceeds of the sale into the administrative fund).

If the offender is known, they are responsible for the cost. If the offender is not known, the cost falls back on the owners corporation.

The importance of recycling:

The big issue for recyclers is the high level of contamination in recyclable bins, which greatly diminishes the recyclable value of the materials and increases the amount of processing required.

If anything, which is not recyclable is spotted or sorted, the rubbish is charged out as general waste, which is an increased cost to owners.

Owners and occupants alike should become increasingly wary of what they put in their recycling bins to avoid increased costs and practice more sustainable waste management.

Owners corporations should encourage residents to recycle as much as possible. Educate them on ways to recycle, upcycle items. For example, donate things in good working order to charities, or sell or give them away on Facebook Marketplace or Gumtree.

Donation partnerships are also a good idea.

Organisations such as Clothing Away offer a great (and often affordable) alternative to the standard recycling options in a scheme.

Clothing Away supplies free textile collection and recycling bins on site in apartment waste rooms for the convenient collection of clothing and household textiles.

GRACE PERIOD FOR PROPERTY SECTOR REFORMS EXTENDED

Posted on by Lindsey

The grace period for penalties under the new Property and Stock Agents Act regulations have been extended until 1 April 2021. 

This is a six-month extension. 

We want to ensure that all our members are across the extension and highlight what it means for those in the industry, and what penalties still apply. 

The extension is in response to the economic impacts of COVID-19 on the property sector and was issued in good faith to vary NSW Fair Trading’s enforcement intentions for new regulatory obligations under the Property and Stock Agents Act 2002, which started on 23 March 2020.

Fair Trading will move to more active enforcement of compliance with the new regulatory obligations from 2 April 2021 onwards and revise its advice to the industry accordingly.

The new regulatory obligations on real estate and property agents that this statement addresses are found in the following laws and policies, which all commenced on 23 March 2020:

  • Property, Stock and Business Agents Amendment (Property Industry Reform) Act 2018
  • Property, Stock and Business Agents Amendment Regulation 2019
  • Property and Stock Agents (Qualifications) Order 2019
  • Schedule 2.12 of the Fair Trading Legislation Amendment (Reform) Act 2018
  • Schedules 1.6, 1.8 and 1.9 of the Better Regulation Legislation Amendment Act 2019
  • Secretary’s Supervision Guidelines issued under section 32 of the Act
  • Secretary’s Continuing Professional Development requirements issued under section 20 of the Act

Some of the key changes for agents introduced by these laws and policies include:

  • restrictions on the functions that can be performed by assistant agents, class 2
  • licensees and class 1 licensees who are not nominated as a licensee in charge
  • separate trust accounts to be maintained to hold rental and sales money
  • new Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements
  • comprehensive operational procedures to be maintained by the principal licensee.

During this time, Fair Trading’s compliance response will be not to penalise agents who have been identified as non-compliant with new regulatory obligations.

However, Fair Trading will expect non-compliant agents to be able to demonstrate that they have taken active steps towards full compliance within a reasonable time and to be compliant after the grace period expires (1 April 2021).

Possible Enforcement Actions: 

For the duration of the grace period, Fair Trading retains the option to take active enforcement action against existing regulatory obligations that did not change on 23 March 2020. 

This is especially important where non-compliance poses a higher risk of consumer detriment, including but not limited to:

  • unlicensed trading (sections 8, 9 and 10 of the Act)
  • fraud and false accounts of money received (sections 211 and 212 of the Act)
  • misrepresentations generally (section 52 of the Act)
  • underquoting (Part 5, Division 3 of the Act)
  • failure to arrange for annual audit of the agency’s trust accounts (section 111 of Act)
  • failure to hold professional indemnity insurance (section 22 of Act).

If you’d like more information, details of the real estate and property services industry reforms are available on the Fair Trading website at www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au 

R u ok?

Posted on by Lindsey

Today is R U Okay?Day.

R U OK?Day is a national day for all Australians to ask someone in their life how they are doing and what to say if someone says they are not okay.

SCA (NSW), recognises that 2020 has been a challenging year for everyone and we want to convey that these circumstances have made it even more important for us to stay connected and, for those who are able, be willing to support those around us. 

We highly recommend that our members take the time to ask someone in their life how they’re doing and prepare themselves for the possibility of a somber response. 

R U OK? Reminds us that it is OK to have deeper conversations about mental health and reflects the importance of being pensive, being attentive and being supportive to those around us. 

The message for R U OK?Day 2020 is ‘There’s more to say after R U OK?’ 

You don’t have to be an expert to keep the conversation going when someone says they’re not OK!

Read more in our blog story. 

You can learn what to say at www.ruok.org.au/how-to-ask 

By knowing what to say you can help someone feel supported and access appropriate help long before they’re in crisis, which can make a really positive difference to their life.

However, asking R U OK? Is only the first step, and when someone is not ok, the subsequent conversation about mental health can be difficult, but necessary in supporting those in need. 

By taking the time to listen to others, and validate their feelings, people experiencing mental illness can feel more empowered. While COVID-19 will have an impact, for some of the people, naming defined reasons for their feelings can be difficult. 

Sometimes people struggle over everyday things or feel on top of the world one day, and desperately sad the next – those feelings are perfectly normal, but if they become overwhelming, professional help should be sought. 

The team at R U OK? offer the following suggestions for managing emotional conversations about mental health: 

How can I prepare myself for a strong emotional reaction?

  • Recognise their reaction might be in response to a range of circumstances, some of which you might not know about.
  • Allow the person to fully express their emotions (i.e. let off steam) and show them you’re interested by actively listening to all they say. 
  • Deal with the emotions first, you can discuss the issues more rationally once emotions have been addressed. 
  • Being an active listener is one of the best things you can do for someone when they are distressed. 
  • Manage your own emotions by staying calm and not taking things personally.

How do I deal with sadness? 

  • Sad or tragic incidents are often difficult to deal with because we empathise with the person and feel helpless as we cannot take away their sadness or pain. 
  • Use lots of empathetic phrases, such as “It sounds like you’re juggling a few things at the moment” or “I understand this must be challenging for you right now”. 
  • Make sure you’re comfortable with any silence in the conversation. 
  • Know that silence gives them permission to keep talking and tell you more. 
  • Encourage them to access support. 
  • If someone begins to cry, sit quietly and allow them to cry. Lowering your eyes can minimise their discomfort. You could add, “I’m going to sit here with you and when you’re ready we can keep talking”. 
  • If you anticipate this response, it can help to have tissues handy.

How do I deal with anger? 

  • If someone is visibly hostile you can respond with: “I can see that this has upset you. Why don’t you start at the beginning and tell me what I need to know…” 
  • Allow them to identify all the factors they feel are contributing to their anger. 
  • You might encourage them by adding “Right, I understand that (….) is a problem. What else is causing you concern?” 
  • Be patient and prepared to listen to them talk about everything that’s adding to their frustration. 
  • To keep the conversation on track and to reassure them you’re interested in all they have to say, try reflecting back what they have said. You could say, “So the thing that’s really upsetting you is (….) Is that right?” 
  • If they feel they have been wronged or treated unfairly you are unlikely to persuade them otherwise in this conversation. It’s more constructive to listen to all they have to say and provide resources or connect them with formal channels where their specific complaints can be heard.

How do I deal with anxiety? 

  • Speak in short, clear sentences while still showing concern and care. 
  • If you anticipate an anxious response, use your preparation time to think about how you will say what you need to in a clear way. 
  • Stay calm. This is best displayed through deep, slow breathing, a lower tone of voice and evenly paced speech.

By using these tips, you can help someone feel supported when confronted with challenges in life. 

R U OK? Also lists some great ideas for supporting R U OK?Day while physical distancing here

The OBC’s new powers launch today

Posted on by Lindsey

Today marks a historic step forward in a decade long battle for advocates vying for stricter and more enforceable building/construction legislation across New South Wales.
 
David Chandler’s new powers are in full swing as of this morning, and we’re excited as the industry is set to shift, bettering consumers statewide. The NSW building regulator now has powers to withhold occupation certificates for apartment and other buildings that are not up to standard, denying developers the ability to settle their projects.
 
David Chandler OAM and the Office of the Building Commissioner, along with the investigative and enforcement squad of officers and staff will send a clear message to builders in NSW thinking about taking a single shortcut.
 
Commissioner Chandler has enough experience and common sense to make sure that his new team will not allow itself to be another arm of bureaucracy and just another layer of red tape – instead, enacting real change in the industry.
 
The ability of the regulator to prevent settlement (the point of profit for developers), is unprecedented and beckons a major change in Australia’s commercial development industry.
 
These powers will also work towards ensuring there’s a crackdown on sub-standard building materials, such as flammable cladding, asbestos products and cheap imported electrical wiring, all of which remained problematic in the building sector.
 
Today, Commissioner Chandler OAM serves notice to dodgy builders and certifiers that have no place in the building, construction, and strata sectors in NSW.
 
SCA (NSW) are incredibly pleased that we will have a leading system of design and building regulations that will deliver well-constructed buildings into the future.
 
As we head towards the end of 2020, we look forward to the fruition of game changing initiatives that we’ve been proud to be a part of with David Chandler and the OBC.

New Legislation, New Powers and Renewed Confidence, David Chandler and the OBC

Posted on by Lindsey

We head into the end of the year continuing our advocacy for better construction standards across the state. We have been reframing our work on government and industry initiatives to better influence the strata agenda in NSW and assist in the delivery of improved consumer confidence across the state.

Part of this transformation has been the strong relationship and mutual collaboration with the Office of the Building Commissioner and David Chandler.

Strata Community Association (NSW) and the Office of the Building Commissioner have been working closely on government projects to help foster and re-establish consumer confidence for the building/construction industry in New South Wales.

David Chandler was recently interviewed by 60 Minutes in a segment called ‘Buyer Beware’ which addresses the systemic failings of the building/construction industry and shines a very positive light on the OBC, heralded as bringing NSW into the future of construction standards.

The piece can be found here.

The construction reforms that the NSW Government have introduced this year and David Chandler’s regulatory muscle push NSW ahead of other states in beefing up regulation of an industry notorious for past failings.

This is a huge step forward and redefining crossroad for strata and the construction industry.

As you know, we intend to champion the significant achievements to our industry and forge a new era for Strata building upon our desire to assist in the delivery of defined and measurable improvement in consumer confidence to support Strata Owners in NSW.

We have high expectations of success for the OBC and we’re confident we will soon start to see positive and measurable differences in consumer confidence and purchasing experience.

As such, we have sought a defined and measurable improvement in consumer confidence and have called on the Office of the Building Commissioner to deliver a 50% increase in consumer confidence by 2025!

 

Your Obligations with Hazardous Waste

Posted on by Lindsey

Home isolation and lockdown laws over the last few months have sparked a home renovation boom!

But while the dangers of DIY home maintenance have been well publicised, very little has been written about how to store the leftover paints, thinners, batteries, cleaners, aerosols oils and other flammable household waste left after we finish our to-do list.

Under most strata titles, the owners corporation usually has a set of by-laws that prohibit the storage of any hazardous material – which includes things like:

  • Asbestos
  • Computer materials
  • Gas cylinders
  • Certain garden chemicals –

in apartments, storage cages or garages.

However, hazardous substances such as:

  • Solvent-based paints
  • Pesticides
  • Car batteries
  • Motor oils
  • Ammonia-based cleaners
  • Petrol or kerosene
  • Mobile phone batteries and
  • Inkjet printer cartridges 

are stored more often than you might think and can be just as deadly.

Although common and seemingly innocuous, many of these products contain harmful elements which can be dangerous to dispose of, including hazardous or flammable liquids or components, making them unsuitable for normal rubbish disposal.  It is also illegal to tip them down the sink, toilet, or gutters, or to bury them in the ground.

Unfortunately, what seems like a harmless product being stored, can be potentially life-threatening meaning the disposal of hazardous goods is vital!

When seeking to dispose of these type of items it pays to check first with your local council to see if the materials are actually accepted at their listed depot or if not, when they are due to stage their next chemical clean-up day.

Remember:

Many local companies and councils may accept recycled materials, and it is worth the time discussing:

  • Swap programs
  • Recycling options
  • Drop-offs
  • Collections.

Further:

Effective risk management is also not just the responsibility of individual lots owners and tenants.

Each owners corporation also has a collective responsibility for the safe storage of all hazardous material used in common areas such as gas for communal barbecues or chemicals for the swimming pool.

 

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Hygiene Reminder – Your Role in a Healthier Strata Community

Posted on by Lindsey

 

As more states are experiencing increased COVID-19 cases, and as we watch, read and listen to news reports about Victoria and the myriad of cases internationally, we’re reminded that proper hygiene and common courtesy is a proven and effective tool in mitigating the spread of coronaviruses.

Cleaning is an essential part of disinfection because dirt and grime can inactivate many disinfectants. Cleaning reduces the amount of dirt and so allows the disinfectant to work. Removal of germs such as the virus that causes COVID-19 requires thorough cleaning followed by disinfection.

The length of time the virus that causes COVID-19 can survive on inanimate surfaces varies depending on factors such as the amount of contaminated body fluid (e.g. respiratory droplets) or soiling present, and environmental temperature and humidity.

Coronaviruses can survive on surfaces for many hours or more but are readily inactivated by cleaning and disinfection.

It is good practice to routinely clean surfaces as follows:

  • clean frequently touched surfaces with detergent solution
  • clean general surfaces and fittings when visibly soiled and immediately after any spillage.

All strata owners have a duty of care to ensure their property is a safe environment that doesn’t pose a potential risk to the health and safety of neighbours and anyone who visits.

This duty of care extends to contractors or employees to ensure safe workplaces for people carrying out essential maintenance.

With many people still working from home, the need for essential services at properties such as sanitising and disinfectant cleaning, garbage disposal services and plumbing has never been more important.

Now is definitely the time to keep up with frequent high-grade cleaning services in common areas and high-touch surfaces.

Cleaning and policy changes in your building may include:

Delivery of parcels to your unit

You may be required to instruct the courier to leave the parcel at the front of your apartment door, not in the lobby area. You will need to arrange how they get access to your floor, etc.

Visitors and visitors parking

To manage the risk of exposure to other residents, the Committee may recommend restriction on the number of social visitors in line with government protocols, but certainly the visitor’s carparks will be restricted for use by essential services like Doctors and Medical Services as a priority, etc.

Rubbish/waste

You may be asked not to use the chute or rubbish room and to double bag the rubbish from your bin. Alternate collection methods may need to be

implemented while you are house bound.

Mail

The Committee may require you to make alternate arrangements for the delivery of mail.

Shared facilities

The Committee may determine new access times (hours of operation and closure) of shared community facilities, such as pools and gyms, or shut them completely.

Shared laundry facilities

Restricted use and/or closure of facilities may extend to communal laundries if residents do not adhere to the Government guidelines. Residents should be encouraged to take protective measures, such as wearing gloves, washing their hands, not touching their face and disinfecting all surfaces of the machines they use. Maintain social distancing. Recommend use of the hot water setting and use of laundry detergents that contain a bleach compound. To ensure delicate items aren’t damaged, use delicate bags, etc.

Meetings & communication

The Committee may implement new meeting and communication protocols to minimise the potential spread of the virus and enable decisions of the Committee to continue to be made by an alternate means, such as via teleconference, online meetings, ballots, etc.

Building maintenance & services

The Committee may determine to increase or reduce services to the building to minimise risks to residents, such as changes to cleaning regimes and waste collection; for example, if all residents are staying home and the rubbish generated increases. Committees may also consider employing security guards if there is a power failure and the entry/exit security systems stops working or garage doors, etc.

The above is not exhaustive, however. Everyone needs to exercise vigilance and maintain good hygiene practices – not just the strata community. 

Hand hygiene is the single most important way to prevent the spread of infection:

  • soap and water can be used for hand hygiene at any time and should be used when hands are visibly soiled
  • alcohol-based hand rub (sanitiser) can be used if soap and water are not readily accessible, except when hands are visibly soiled.
  • cleaning hands regularly also helps to reduce environmental contamination.
  • Wash your hands before and after eating, and after going to the toilet

Sneeze/cough etiquette and respiratory hygiene is the best defence against respiratory viruses:

  • cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and dispose of tissue immediately.
  • or cough/sneeze into the bend of your elbow.
  • wash your hands or use alcohol-based hand sanitiser.

Speak with the strata managing agent or strata committee if you are concerned about hygiene.

 

Balcony Gardens – What you need to know

Posted on by Lindsey

 

We recently received the following question about whether it was safe to have hanging plants on a balcony in a strata-titled property. As a subset to this, we also considered balcony gardens and what’s necessary to ensure they’re safe, legal and appealing.

Over the past decade the number of families living in strata titled property has more than doubled, an analysis of census data shows.

And experts say this trend will accelerate, meaning more and more families will be living their lives in strata titled properties.

Balconies have fast become the new Aussie backyard!

With a little imagination, a concrete jungle can be easily transformed into a lush and versatile green space.

Let’s look at what to consider when contemplating a balcony garden of your own.

Are there restrictions on balcony gardens, are they allowed?

In some cases, there are restrictions, but generally balcony gardens are allowed.

Firstly, you will need to refer to you scheme to determine if there are any by-laws (rules) regarding plants on balconies.

  • Do plants need to be under a certain height?
  • Are there restrictions on types of plants I can keep?
  • Can they hang over the edge?
  • Are you allowed planter boxes – and if so are there colour and design restrictions?
  • What about requirements for watering?
  • Or, are they banned all together?

Secondly, you need to consider you neighbours. Particularly if what you’re planning on growing gives off a distinct odor, disrupts the peace or incites allergies. Be conscious of your neighbours.

Once you’ve determined the allowances for your balcony, it’s time to start planning.

Making the most of small spaces:

Firstly, think about where to put your plants.

Will your plants like moist and shady or sunny and dry conditions?

In Sydney, north-facing windows and balconies will get the most sun in winter. East-facing areas enjoy gentle morning sun, and west-facing positions get the harsher afternoon sun.

Balconies are typically hotter, drier and windier than the conditions found on the ground level. Balconies and rooftop gardens have their own unique microclimates and plants that thrive on the ground level may do the opposite once elevated.

You’ll need to take into account your apartment’s aspect, sunlight levels and the volume of wind it receives.

Most balcony gardens fail because the gardener doesn’t anticipate the high-rise challenges of wind, light and access. Recognising them and meeting them head-on are what make a great balcony garden achievable.

Make your choices matter:

  • Choose pots that won’t blow over but are not too heavy for your balcony structure.
  • Consider where the water will go. Are the pots self-watering, or will they need to sit on saucers, so the water won’t destroy the balcony floor?
  • Are they the right sized pots for the plants you choose? The roots of plants are usually the width of the plant, so choose pots big enough for the roots to grow, but not too big. Too big is known as ‘over-potting’ – and can cause a loose and unstable root ball.
  • Terracotta pots and hanging baskets may need sealing or lining with black plastic to help prevent water loss. Ceramic and plastic, including self-watering pots, are good choices. Do not use hanging baskets on a windy balcony!
  • Consider a vertical garden too if you’re allowed to. These are ideal for growing herbs in sunny spot, or lush ferns and “indoor” plants on a shady wall.

Do you know your balcony’s structural load capacity?

It’s important to ensure your building can withstand the weight of the materials you plan to use. If you like the look of oversized planters, try lightweight alternatives such as polyresin fiberglass, which will give you the look and feel of concrete at half the weight.

What to plant?

These wind-resistant plants grow on exposed sunny or partly shaded balconies. Where available, select variegated or coloured leaf forms to add variety. For added interest include foliage contrasts from succulents, ornamental grasses or liriope.

  • Agave (Agave attenuata)
  • Coastal rosemary (Westringia fruticosa)
  • Coral plant (Russelia equisetiformis)
  • Cumquat (Citrus japonica)
  • Indian hawthorn (Raphiolepis indica)
  • Japanese pittosporum (Pittosporum tobira)
  • Looking-glass plant (Coprosma repens)
  • Dwarf oleander (Nerium oleander)

Tall or feature plants:

If you want a tree or a tall shrub for shade, privacy or to make a bold statement, make sure you’ve got room both to house a tall plant and the large pot it will require, and to get it there in the first place.

Most trees need pots that hold at least 75 litres of potting mix and need an area that’s three metres high and wide to accommodate their height and spread.

  • Agonis (Agonis flexuosa ‘After Dark’)
  • Aralia (Schefflera elegantissima)
  • Camellia (Camellia sasanqua)
  • China doll (Radermachera sinica)
  • Frangipani (Plumeria rubrum)
  • Screw pine (Pandanus tectorius)
  • Weeping maple (Acer palmatum) (sheltered only)

Plant Care:

Growing plants in pots is a little different to growing in garden beds.

Potting mix

Always choose a good quality potting mix. Unfortunately, cheap potting mixes are generally not worth it.  You’ll need to mix in fertilisers, soil conditioners, minerals, water crystals and perlite to bring the mix up to the right standard that the potted plants will need to survive, so you may as well pay the extra and buy a high-quality mix right from the start.  Also consider filling the bottom of the pots with polystyrene chips to keep the weight down.

Mulch

As pots can dry out quickly, it’s always worthwhile topping the soil with mulch to keep the roots cooler and the soil moisture.

Watering

Succulents don’t need a lot of water, but most other plants will need watering at least once or twice a week in cooler months, and maybe daily on hot or windy days.

Don’t let them sit in saucers of deep water either, as this can cause the roots to rot, as well as attract mosquitoes.

Feeding

When planting, ensure you mix a handful of controlled release plant food granules into the soil.  There are different mixes available for different types of plants, or you can buy an all-purpose one.

It’s also a good idea to water with a soluble fertiliser a couple of times a year, as they do need nutrition to keep growing and flowering.  Flowering and fruiting plants need a fertiliser high in potassium, whereas leafy plants need a fertiliser higher in nitrogen.

Trimming

Always trim off dead and diseased leaves and remove spent flowers.  It’s also a good idea to prune back straggly branches of shrubs to encourage bushier growth.

Quick Tips For Balcony Plants:

  • Have pots elevated on bricks or pot feet. This allows potting mix to drain and also lets you keep an eye out for unwanted roots.
  • Make sure all include drainage holes in their bases. If run-off and drips are a problem, catch water in a tray under the pot but empty it frequently. If a pot doesn’t have adequate drainage, use it as a cover pot for one that does.
  • Use top-quality potting mix that meets the Australian Standard. Cover the soil surface with a mulch of pebbles (particularly in windy situations).
  • When you buy a plant, make sure it has a well-developed root system but isn’t pot bound.
  • Water plants well to get them established and check them daily for dryness, particularly after a bout of windy weather.
  • Select plants that can be pruned and shaped to allow you to control their size and shape. Best choices usually have small leaves and twiggy growth.
  • Apply fertiliser in the growing and flowering season but reduce its use when plant growth slows. Either use a slow-release fertiliser pellet to give nutrients over three or four months, or regularly liquid feed.
  • Just because you’re off the ground, it doesn’t mean your garden will be pest free. Pests find their way to plants and can also be introduced with new plant material. Control pest outbreaks by hand or use low-toxicity sprays.
  • Cut your losses. If a plant isn’t performing, remove it and try something else.