The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal has published a decision which provides some further clarity as to how a Plan of Subdivision is interpreted to determine the boundaries between the common property and the lots. The decision illustrates the difficulties faced by owners corporations and their members in determining liability for unreasonable flows of water into a lot. Continue reading
COMMENTARY
Revised residential noise regulations
The Environment Protection (Residential Noise) Regulations 2018 came into force on 13 October 2018 and replace the previous regulations made in 2008. Continue reading
Non-compliant cladding update
In this article: Cladding Taskforce audit findings released and new Cladding Rectification Agreements enable property owners and owners corporations to access low-cost finance for cladding rectification Continue reading
Penalties for OCs where they fail to give copies of Building Act Notices and Orders to lot owners
A range of amendments to the Building Act 1993 came into force during 2017, including changes to service of notices and orders that will be of interest to owners corporations. Continue reading
Dispute Resolution procedures in the Owners Corporations Act
The Supreme Court considered the meaning of dispute resolution procedures set out in Part 10 the Owners Corporations Act 2006 and the implications of not following those procedures prior to filing proceedings in the Tribunal in Shearman v Owners Corporation No 1 417405Y [2016] VSC 551. Continue reading
Correcting errors on the plan of subdivision to change the boundary between two private lots
ASA Nominees Pty Ltd v Owners Corporation PS 513436B and Adamopoulos [2016] VSC 562 arose from a surveyors error which occurred when lots in the plan of subdivision were re-subdivided. An amended plan was registered which showed the boundary between two lots as located 3 metres to the west of the wall that was intended to form the boundary. Continue reading
Special Rules – they might be made by the owners corporation but are they valid?
An owners corporation has the power to make special rules under s138 of the Owners Corporation Act through a special resolution. Special rules are required to be lodged with the Registrar of Titles (s142 of the Act) and can therefore be found on the Register by prospective purchasers.
Importantly, making rules by special resolution and placing those rules on the Register does not mean those rules are necessarily valid. Continue reading
Can an owners corporation pursue a remedy for defects on common property?
The question of how an owners corporation might obtain a remedy for defects on common property is a complex one and, to a certain extent, is dependent upon the contracts executed as between the developer and builder, and between the developer and the purchasers of the lots. However, some general observations can be made. Continue reading
Review of OC Act
The State government has announced a review of four pieces of legislation relating to property, including the Owners Corporations Act.
Short stay accommodation
The Independent Panel on short-stay accommodation’ has published its final report. The Panel made recommendations that:
- OCs be able to serve a ‘notice to rectify breach’ on the person offering the accommodation (whether the owner of the property, the lessee or agent) regarding breach of OC rules by short-stay occupants; and
- VCAT be able to make an order on the breach notice that the apartment is not allowed to be used for short-term stays for a period of time, or until it is sold.
Owners Corporations Law 
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