November 2024
Menu
The timeline below summarises relevant legislative and industry changes affecting strata stakeholders in the Tasmania. It includes helpful links and further reading to help you understand TAS legislative changes.
November 2024
The Bureau of Meteorology is urging communities to get ready and prepare for the peak time for Australia’s severe weather season spanning October to April. With an elevated likelihood of the La Niña phenomenon, Australia is predicted to experience a hot and wetter-than-usual outlook for summer, particularly in Tasmania, potentially triggering a higher risk of river flooding and storms.
The extreme weather already experienced in 2024 has impacted over 29 local government areas, causing massive power outages and flood damage. In response, the Australian and Tasmanian governments are jointly making efforts to support individuals and households most severely affected by ongoing storms and flooding.
The Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) was introduced to help assist local communities and councils to empower recovery operations.
The activation of the DRFA has led to the availability of several jointly-funded grants, such as the Emergency Assistance Grants tailored for Tasmanians affected by floods or those cut off due to related road closures. These grants ensure these individuals receive essential supplies such as food and water.
Furthermore, the DRFA has facilitated the establishment of the Emergency Food Grant Fund. Designed to provide financial relief, this grant offers $350 to households that have experienced power outages for at least 72 hours.
Preparing for severe weather involves careful planning and clear communication and can help reduce the impact. In addition to these measures, all lot owners are encouraged to have household emergency kits and an emergency plan.
To learn more about the recommended advice on preparing and navigating potential extreme weather through the TAS SES website.
November 2024
As our communities become closer and more interconnected, so does our reliance on electrically powered devices. One area of innovation that has seen remarkable growth is electric micro-mobility. Light electric vehicles (LEVs) such as e-bikes, e-scooters, e-skateboards, and self-balancing scooters have become more common in some daily transport routines. However, the lithium-ion batteries powering these devices pose growing fire safety concerns.
Charging e-bike or e-scooter batteries can lead to overheating and, in rare cases, fire hazards. It is crucial to use chargers provided by the manufacturer and avoid charging devices overnight or unattended. Low-quality chargers, faulty batteries, or inappropriate charging practices may significantly increase the risk.
In the face of the heightened focus on the hazards associated with these devices, all residents within body corporates need to practice safe usage within their communities. Here are some proactive steps to help minimise fire risks:
Learn more about how to promote lithium-ion battery safety on your property through by the TAS Fire Protection website below.
November 2024
The Energy Saver Loan Scheme serves as a pathway for Tasmanian households to attain sustainable products and systems. Through this program, eligible applicants can access 0% interest loans, ranging from $500 to $10,000, facilitating the purchase and installation of energy-efficient upgrades.
• Eligible strata schemes must be in Tasmania and have approval from the body corporate.
• They can be the applicant’s main home or a property leased out by landlords.
• The scheme is open to Tasmanians for their main residences, landlords with residential tenants, small businesses and community organisations consuming less than 150MWh of electricity annually.
Eligible applicants can access a 0% interest loan from $500 to $10,000 to buy and install the following approved energy-efficient upgrades and products.
• EV charging.
• Double glazing upgrades.
• Insulation upgrades.
• Solar battery systems.
• Solar hot water systems.
• Electric heat pump, heating, cooling, and hot water systems.
• Induction and ceramic electric stovetops.
• Energy-efficient appliances (fridges/freezers, clothes dryers, clothes washers, dishwashers).
Take advantage of these offers to help bolster property value, reduce energy usage, and ultimately achieve long-term utility cost savings. Learn more about this initiative through the Tasmanian government website below.
August 2024
To help ease the cost of living pressures, the Commonwealth Government is extending and expanding the Energy Bill Relief Fund (EBRF) by allocating $3.5 billion toward providing electricity bill rebates to Australian households for the 2024-25 financial year. This is an upswing from the $1.5 billion offered in the previous 2023-24 program.
Under this scheme, all eligible Tasmanian households may be entitled to a $250 rebate, which the state government will deliver via retailers. These payments would take the form of deductions on your electricity bill under the EBRF and will be evenly distributed into quarterly instalments throughout 2024-25.
For those households where the strata or landlord provides electricity bills, the rebate may be available through an application to the respective state or territory government. The following census dates will determine eligibility for each payment:
This rebate is a unique opportunity for landlords, property managers, and body corporates who typically receive electricity bills from providers servicing multiple properties (an embedded network provider). To be eligible, residential customers must hold one of the following concessions:
Schemes that received an Energy Relief payment in the past 2023-24 round would automatically have the rebate applied. However, residents who only recently became eligible and were not part of this scheme in the previous year would need to apply in person, online or via post.
Keen to understand how the expanded Energy Bill Relief Fund could benefit you or your business? Read more to learn more about this initiative and access factsheets and Q&As below.
August 2024
The Tasmanian Liberal government had proposed a plan introducing three main changes to the rental sector under their 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future. If re-elected, these plans could help introduce new pet ownership rights for tenants and offer incentives for landlords. Here’s a closer look at the plans in discussion:
The Tasmanian Liberals aim to make it a right for renters to keep pets. Landlords will require special permission from the TASCAT to refuse a pet. This tenant-friendly law could be implemented within 100 days post-election.
The government are planning to expand the Private Rental Incentive Scheme, potentially benefiting 200 more homes, up to 500 households. The initiative helps encourage affordable rents, offering landlords guaranteed income for two years.
Property owners could enjoy extended tax breaks for building new rentals or switching from short-term to long-term rentals. This plan aims to stimulate the long-term rental market, with estimated costs of $3.875 million annually for two years.
Do you want a deeper understanding of how these proposed plans could impact your rental situation? Click the link below to learn more.
August 2024
Effective waste disposal is essential for maintaining cleanliness and hygiene in strata communities. With the growing number of residents in strata schemes, proper waste management etiquette has become increasingly important.
Residents in the Northern Territory can use their local councils’ services and resources to learn how to manage garbage disposal within their property. By following best practices and utilising available resources, strata communities can contribute to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future. Below is an overview of best practice tips for management waste disposal in a body corporate:
Proper waste disposal etiquette and participation in local waste programs are vital for maintaining a clean and healthy environment in strata communities. Click the link below to learn how to recycle and dispose of common household items in the Northern Territory.
August 2024
As the digital world grows and evolves, so does the threat of cybercrime. As body corporate residents, safeguarding our digital footprint is essential in maintaining the security and integrity of our shared online spaces.
With the Australian government unveiling its 2023-2030 Cyber Security Strategy, a new era of digital protection is on the horizon, aiming to place Australia at the forefront of global cyber security by 2030.
This initiative aims to enhance our nation’s cyber security, manage cyber risks, and better support citizens and businesses in navigating the complex cyber environment. However, within this broader narrative, the crucial role of multi-factor authentication (MFA) for body corporate residents comes into sharp focus.
MFA provides an effective tool to help protect against unwarranted access by implementing multiple verification methods, adding an essential layer to your digital defence.
MFA apps, such as Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator, generate temporary codes, also known as tokens or one-time passwords (OTPs), that you use as the second step in the authentication process. When you log into an online account, you enter the code provided by the MFA app to verify your identity. It adds an extra layer of protection to your online accounts. Even if someone obtains your password, they still need a second form of identification to access your data.
In body corporate communities, where shared network environments are common, the need for robust personal digital security mechanisms is more important than ever. Here’s how MFA can be used to protect the information of residents within a body corporate:
The process and capability to set up an MFA depends on the software or service provider the body corporate uses. Read more about how to set up MFA and why the Australian Government endorses MFA as a secure measure to protect your online identity.
May 2024
Changing unit entitlements is a fundamental decision requiring a unanimous meeting resolution to alter or reallocate the shared ownership of the property.
Unit entitlements are an important aspect that determines an owner’s legal rights and responsibilities. It represents the proportion of ownership within a body corporate property, such as common spaces like barbecue areas, swimming pools or shared facilities.
Unit or lot entitlements are calculated based on the lot’s estimated market value. Generally, owners with larger lots may hold higher levies, voting rights and common area ownership.
A range of factors, such as the age, condition, common property facilities, design, onsite contractor services, insurance costs, financial status, the size of your lot, or any major changes to the property, can influence the allocation of shared body corporate ownership.
Historically, unit entitlements were calculated by developers during the initial construction of the property. However, these estimates may become inaccurate from when it was registered due to significant changes with the property or market landscape over time. An independent property valuer can help obtain up-to-date assessments to improve the accuracy and credibility of unit entitlement valuation reports.
A valuer estimates these entitlements based on the ‘improved capital value’ of the development. Larger units or those with superior amenities typically have a larger unit entitlement. These entitlements are significant for voting on special resolutions and can affect the contributions of levies and fees. Furthermore, an undervalued unit can decrease voting rights, and an overvalued unit can lead to overpaying levies and fees. Therefore, obtaining an accurate unit valuation can help maintain a fair and balanced distribution of rights and responsibilities within a body corporate.
Meeting resolutions play an essential role in making crucial decisions within a body corporate. One such critical decision is altering or reallocating unit entitlements, which may impact an owner’s rights and responsibilities.
Changing unit entitlements can be passed by:
• A unanimous body corporate meeting resolution with no votes cast against the motion.
• An order of the Recorder of Titles under Part 9 of the Act.
• Requested by the impacted lot owners, given the total unit entitlements of the lots subject to the change are unaltered, and the consent of any registered mortgagees and lessees of the lot has been received.
Click the link below to learn more about the legislation around changing unit entitlements within your body corporate, click the link below.
Head office
Level 27, 66-68 Goulburn Street, Sydney, NSW 2000
Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm