Quote:
Originally Posted by Matlock
We usually don't even go to strata meetings, it's all about the old folks bitching and moaning with each other. What a unproductive waste of time.
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Maybe you should do something to MAKE it productive, rather than just sitting in the background?
Quote:
Originally Posted by midnight_r
Strata= worst thing that haPPENED TO multi housing...
Rules and regulations are riddiculous,fines are unjustified and its 100% BS
...i hate i pay 200$/mo. for Maint.
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Ummm... you do understand, that those rules and regulations have to be voted on and passed by a majority of owners and/or their proxies? They can't be just arbitrarily instituted? Obviously not everyone who owns there finds them ridiculous.
Part of the reason for those rules is to maintain the overall look of the property and thus maintain your property values. Without them, your neighbor could decide to paint his whole unit a bright purple with orange trim, create a flower garden out of old bathroom fixtures (someone in our complex did this once), let his garbage pile up outside (there seems to be one owner that does this every few months around here... a couple are repeat offenders)... all things that then lower YOUR property value.
And those maintenance fees have to cover a lot of expenses: landscaping, snow removal, driveway line painting, building maintenance (things like annual gutter cleaning, basic repairs to exterior parts like siding, vents, decks, flashings, etc.), annual fire alarm/sprinkler inspections and repairs, outdoor lighting, the electricity for outdoor lighting, insurance... in some areas, it also goes for garbage/recycling collection... all those things that keep the place looking good that just get taken care of without your having to worry about it.
After every AGM, as an owner you should receive a full statement of where your maintenance fees are going... try taking a look at it sometime.
And as above: if you don't like how things are handled, JOIN the strata council and DO something about it.