It is totally reasonable that I should be able to renovate my bathroom and then lease out the unit, which is what I would like to do. I have an agent ready to advertise. It has now been nearly 4 months of delays. What on earth can I do? – Elizabeth, NSW

Question: I am an owner of 20 years of a unit in a block in Sydney ( of about 30 + units). I live about 80 kms away and have rented the unit over many years. I am now undertaking to do a full bathroom renovation as it is very old and needing updating.

The chairman of the strata committee is a lady who used to rent my unit for some years . About 10 years ago, my accountant and estate agent advised me that the rent should increase as it had been the same low rent for a long time ( and she was admittedly a good tenant ). When she was told that the rent was going up, she contacted me and abused me and was very hostile. She subsequently moved out of my unit; got married around this time and she and her husband purchased another unit in the same block.

Now that I am trying to have a bathroom renovation done, I find that at every turn the strata committee is delaying, thwarting and blocking the work. My builder has submitted plans, insurances, costings, timeline of work etc to the Strata Manager and the committee. The committee has complained about a lot of little things e.g. the builder parking in front of my garage ( which I’ve given him access to use ); the water being turned off for a period of time one day for the plumber to do his work ( despite the builder assuring them he would notify all residents in writing and did so ).

The Strata Manager is a good person who is on my side and is totally frustrated, as I am , by the strata committee’s behaviour in this situation. At every turn, she ( the Strata Manager for the company who manage the block ) has tried to speak with the committee ( which consists of this lady I referred to / my ex-tenant and another two residents ) but they delay their responses OR simply do not answer her calls for days on end.

Meanwhile, all the work has now ceased as the ‘letters of demand’ are being placed under the door for the builder. My builder is absolutely ropable about this. He has renovated hundreds of units in Sydney over many years and has an excellent reputation. At the same time, I am unable to lease out my unit. I’m quite sure that my ex-tenant is doing all this to satisfy some dysfunctional belief/ thought of hers. I am trying hard to stay calm and rational about everything, but it’s very hard.

It is totally reasonable that I should be able to renovate my bathroom and then lease out the unit, which is what I would like to do. I have an agent ready to advertise. It has now been nearly 4 months of delays. What on earth can I do?

– Elizabeth, NSW

Answer: Hi Elizabeth,

We recommend you ask the strata manager to put the motions on the next general meeting agenda.

Any owner can ask for motions to be put on a general meeting agenda. Just ensure that you provide all relevant information that’s needed before you submit it.