What happens to your financial and health if you become incapacitated for any reason (such as a car crash or other accident)? What if you are overseas, or away from home, and cannot sign a document which needs urgent attention? What happens when you become elderly and just can’t keep up with the demands of your finances, and everything is just too complicated? Who is able to help you when you can’t help yourself? Who is able to assist you and make decisions on your behalf? May we take this opportunity to draw your attention to the existence of a… Continue Reading
Have you lost track of old bank accounts, shares, superannuation or life insurance policies? Have you moved address and cannot recall whether you notified a company or firm who may be holding money on your behalf such as your lawyer, real estate agent or accountant? If you answered yes to either of these questions, you may have unclaimed money. There are two websites where you can search for unclaimed money free of charge. These websites are: Australian Securities & Investments Commission – This website will search for general unclaimed money (such as lost shares, bank accounts and life insurance policies… Continue Reading
Retail Shop Lease Changes
Are you a landlord or a tenant under a Retail Shop Lease? There have been some changes to the law that you need to be aware of. After a comprehensive process beginning in 2011, the latest amendments to the Retail Shop Leases Act 1994 (“the Act”) have been passed into law. A short summary of the changes is as follows: Disclosure Obligations Landlords must now give any tenant who exercises its option a lessor disclosure statement within 7 days of a tenant exercising their option. If the landlord fails to comply with this obligation, the tenant will have the right… Continue Reading
From Saturday 12 November 2016, unfair contract term protections will extend to ‘small businesses’ under a new law. The new law established under the Treasury Legislation Amendment (Small Business and Unfair Contract Terms) Act 2015 (Cth) aims to protect small businesses with contracts that contain unfair terms entered into or renewed on or after 12 November 2016, or terms of existing contracts that are varied on or after this date. Why do I need to know this? If you have a ‘small business’, the new regime will apply to your contracts that contain unfair terms (and are found to be… Continue Reading
Viridian High Court Decision
On 12 October 2016, the High Court of Australia handed down its decision in the matter of the decision of Ainsworth & Ors v Albrecht & Ors (also known as the Viridian case). This is a case with very significant implications in relation to how bodies corporate make decisions. We have previously published articles on the lower court decisions of this case. The case concerns the body corporate’s decision to reject a proposal by the lot owner to expand an elevated deck area, and receive an exclusive use right to the corresponding ground area under the deck expansion. The case… Continue Reading
Elephants on the Ceiling?
Noise issues in high density living The issue of footsteps on the ceiling (and noise generally) in strata titled buildings is a vexing issue for many committees and owners. Given the increased propensity towards high density living in our cities, this is an issue that isn’t going away. Even the sturdiest and newest buildings will probably permit some sound transference between lots in certain circumstances; that is a feature of strata living that prospective residents ignore at their peril. However, the issue can generally be managed through the use of appropriate materials and construction techniques. Hard floors Hard floors are… Continue Reading
A question which is often asked when parties enter into a commercial lease is whether the lease should be registered on title to the property. This article summarises the advantages and disadvantages associated with registration of leases. Key Takeaways Registering a commercial lease is not mandatory in Queensland, and an unregistered lease may still be valid between the landlord and tenant. Registration records the tenant’s interest on the property title and provides stronger protection if the property is sold, transferred or affected by another registered interest. Registration is particularly important for leases exceeding three years because shorter leases receive certain… Continue Reading
“Get Off My Water!”
With over 400 kilometres of constructed canal frontage on the Gold Coast and an ever increasing number of recreational water users, the potential exists for conflict between waterfront property owners and people using the adjacent waterways. Any waterfront property owners or regular water users reading this could probably relate a relevant story. The writer has personally observed an upset waterfront property owner throwing rocks at a kayak fisherman, fishing in the adjacent canal, encouraging him in an enthusiastic fashion to “get off his water”. So who owns the water? Like most things, this is a subjective question. However, the starting… Continue Reading
Newsletter – March 2016
Welcome to the March 2016 ABKJ newsletter. In this issue… Do you disagree with your property valuation? Reasonableness Of Body Corporate Decisions “The Long Road” Charity Event – 20 March 2016 ABKJ On Social Media Do you disagree with your property valuation? On 2 March 2016 the Valuer-General commenced issuing statutory land valuation notices for all land in Queensland. The effective date of the valuations will be 30 June 2016 and they will be the basis for determining your rates and any land tax. If you do not agree with the valuation, it is vital that you lodge an objection… Continue Reading
Last year, we published an article about tips for making reasonable Body Corporate decisions. The leading case in the area was the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) decision of Re Body Corporate for Viridian; Kjerulf Ainsworth & Ors v Martin Albrecht & Anor [2014] QCATA 294. However, the lot owner in that matter appealed the QCAT decision to the Supreme Court (Albrecht v Ainsworth & Ors [2015] QCA 220 (Viridian)) and the Supreme Court recently handed down its appeal decision. The appeal reversed the earlier QCAT decision and clarified the law in this area. Bodies Corporate and Committees make… Continue Reading
