Cautionary tale for all SCA (NSW) Strata Manager members
The SCA (NSW) Board has recently learned that NSW Fair Trading cancelled the Strata Managing Agent’s Licence of a past SCA (NSW) member, Ms Pia Anna Cunningham effective 5 April 2016 for a period of 10 years. This decision is now in the public arena and noted on the Fair Trading website.
Fair Trading found Ms Cunningham not to be a fit and proper person to hold a Strata Managing Agent’s Licence and disqualified her from holding such a licence. She was also disqualified from being involved in the direction, management or conduct of the business of a licensee for a period of 10 years from 5 April 2016.
This cancellation and disqualification are very serious matters and not surprisingly, our statutory regulatory body imposed an equally serious penalty.
In addition to this, the SCA (NSW) Board has removed Ms Cunningham of the SCA (NSW) 2014 Highly Commended ‘Young Strata Manager of the Year’ and the SCA (NSW) 2015 ‘Young Strata Manager of the Year’ award.
On behalf of SCA (NSW), the Board endorses the imposition of these penalties.
It saddens me greatly to see the career of a past member brought to such an inglorious end, but, more so, it disappoints me to think about the flow on effect it may have on the public image of strata managers generally.
It is timely to remind members of the important role strata managers have in our communities and of the corresponding obligations we have in our day to day activities.
Broadly speaking, strata managers’ duties are to advise, manage, and be a guide for our client’s important strata property affairs. We must do this without fear or favour always in accordance with all the relevant legislation. This includes looking after our clients’ monies, often quite large amounts, and reporting to our clients. Clients expect us to do things the right way, all the time.
Trust is an essential ingredient of business relationships with our clients, and, in my experience when trust is lost in a relationship, loss of business usually follows soon after.
When one of our members breaches their duties to a client, it reflects on our whole industry and we need to be vigilant in preserving the trust our clients place in us. We must be seen to be walking the walk as well as talking the talk in all our dealings with clients and with each other.
In due course I expect this matter will attract media attention. I urge every member to acknowledge the gravity of this situation and endeavour to do all we can to keep the relationships with our clients viable and mutually rewarding.
Greg Haywood
SCA (NSW) President