Services

An individual Trust Account is opened with Westpac for each Strata Scheme/Community Association/Company Title.

All information held in these trust accounts is downloaded daily from Westpac bank ensuring that our system is kept up to date. Each Individual Trust Account operates on a fee free structure except for the statutory charges that apply to all bank accounts.

We pay invoices on behalf of the Owners Corporation and pay the disbursements and expenses.

We reconcile accounts including balance sheet, statement of income and expenditure and levy status report whilst providing accounts and records for audit if required.

Snowy Strata Services will prepare and attend to the following meetings held throughout the year:

• Distribute notices of Annual General Meetings (AGM)
• Act as chairperson at AGM and other meetings
• Distribute minutes of AGM
• Distribute notices of Extraordinary General Meetings
• Distribute minutes of Extraordinary General Meetings
• Distribute notices of Executive Committee Meetings
• Distribute minutes of Executive Committee Meetings
• Arrange venues for meetings suitable for the Owners Corporation

Levies when due may be paid directly into your buildings Trust Account. The due date is shown on the front of the Levy Notice. Various payment options are offered including those listed below:

• Payment via Internet or Phone from your nominated account
• The Deft Payment System – available through Australia Post
• Mailing your payment to Deft Payment System for processing

Snowy Strata Services, pursue owners in arrears on behalf of the Owners Corporation in the following nature:

Step 1 Should levies fall into arrears then a reminder letter will be issued by Snowy Strata Services to advise owners of their arrears situation. The owner will be charged an administration fee payable to Snowy Strata Services.

Step 2 If we do not receive a reply to this first letter from the owner and the account continues to be in arrears then a 2nd letter will be sent advising the owners they have 14 days to pay before further action is taken. There is a further administration fee charged to the owner for this letter.

Step 3 If no response is received from the second letter then with the manager of your plan's consent this owner will then receive a Mercantile Letter from a debt collection company.

Step 4 Should the Owner in arrears make no response or payment, the Strata Manager and Owners Corporation will be requested if legal action is required. Should legal action be required, we will forward the case to our Solicitors to proceed with legal action. It is important to note, all costs incurred are charged to the Owner in arrears. Initially, this means that the Strata Plan will pay all costs associated, but all monies paid will be recovered when settlement of arrears is received.

Snowy Strata Services provides each buildings Treasurer a Cheque Summary Notice each month. The Purpose of the Cheque Summary is to provide the treasurer with a detailed list of all payments that have been drawn on Schemes Trust Account.

Snowy Strata Services in conjunction with qualified accountants will prepare and lodge all Quarterly BAS and Annual Tax returns for your Strata Scheme/Community Association./Company Title.

Snowy Strata Services provides its buildings comprehensive and audited reports which are presented to all owners at their Annual General Meeting. Included in these reports is a prepared budget for the following twelve months for both funds. These funds are managed by us on a daily basis.

Under Section 85 of the Strata Schemes Act, 1996, a valuation of a building that is required to be insured must be obtained at least once every 5 years. Snowy Strata Services recommendation to all Executive Committee’s is to have their Strata Scheme re-valued for insurance purposes every 2-3 years.

We are able to provide qualified building valuations at a client discount through JVPS.

Should you require urgent maintenance work after normal office hours Snowy Strata Services have an emergency number that will give owners access to qualified trades people who will attend to your problem in the shortest period of time, avoiding any inconvenience to the Owner and the Strata Scheme.

Snowy Strata Services will, under the instruction of the Owners Corporation, prepare and service a notice to an owner or tenant of a lot if it is satisfied that the owner or tenant is in breach of a by-law.

Snowy Strata Services works closely with a competent group of trades people to repair all damaged works in the shortest period of time and to avoid any inconvenience to the Owners Corporation. Snowy Strata Services will then follow up on any works that may be classed as an Insurance claim.

In the case of any major work needing to be rectified due to a catastrophe, Snowy Strata Services will work in conjunction with the Insurance Agency, an appointed assessor, prospective trades people, engineers, architects, and the Executive Committee to rectify damage to the Strata Schemes.

We also obtain quotes for renewals in accordance with the requirements of the Financial Services Reform Act.

Snowy Strata Services will maintain the strata roll and minute book; attend to all correspondence; record and retain and store records of all notices and correspondence as per statutory requirements; issue minutes to all owners and executive committee; maintain common seal; maintain records for strata purchase inspections.

We provide phone and email contact to answer queries from the Executive Committee about by-laws, common property issues and insurance claims; complaints; owner enquiries; real estate agent enquiries.

Snowy Strata Services will arrange building inspections and reports where required and have qualified insured tradespeople attend to routine repairs and general maintenance. We shall obtain quotations for repair, maintenance and replacement of common property and liaise with tradespeople or arrange contracts pursuant to the Home Building Act 1989.

Snowy Strata Services understands how important it is to setup each development correctly prior to the registration of the strata scheme. This is one of the reasons we offer a free consultation service for all new developments. We will work closely with you to undertake the following:

• Preparation of budgets
• Consulting on proposed By-Laws, prior to registration of the strata scheme
• Obtain quotations for cleaning / gardening / other services
• Obtain building insurance quotations

Upon registration of your strata scheme, Snowy Strata Services will undertake the following:

• Supply all books and records required for the ongoing management
• Obtain building insurance quotations
• Open bank accounts
• Obtain building insurance quotations
• Undertaking all statutory requirements (ABN / GST registration)
• Hold the Inaugural & First Annual General Meeting

We can issue section 109 certificates within 24 hours after registration of the strata scheme (subject to statutory fee).

Please contact Andrew Saint on: 0408 408023