Disputes often arise when people live close together. Problems with a strata corporation can arise, for example, if the requirements of the Act are not followed, if the common property is not maintained or there are complaints about how meetings are run. In most cases, problems can be resolved within the corporation, and often a community mediation service can assist to sort out problems.
The strata corporation can intervene where a dispute between unit holders involves a breach of the articles, for example where a unit holder continues to play loud music late at night. The strata corporation may write to the unit holder and point out that there has been a breach of the articles and that, under the Strata Titles Act 1988 (SA), the unit holder is bound by the articles (see also Penalties for breaching the articles). In other disputes not involving a breach of the articles, the strata corporation may also try to intervene (usually through its management committee or strata manager) to sort out the problem.
Application to the Magistrates Court
If no resolution can be worked out, then an application may be made to the Magistrates Court as a minor civil action [s 48A] to decide the matter.
An applicant should use a Form 2- Originating Application, with a supporting affidavit.
If the matter is particularly complex or significant [s 41A(5)], a unit holder can seek the permission of the District Court to commence proceedings there [s41A(3)]. Alternatively, the District Court could agree to transfer proceedings begun in the Magistrates Court to the District Court [s 41A(4)].
An application can be made to the court by [s 41AA]:
The court can deal with disputes where [s 41A(1)]:
The strata corporation may appoint a member of the corporation to represent it in any proceedings [s 41A(8)], or it may be represented by its strata manager.
The court may [s 41A(9)]:
Any person who fails to comply with an order of the court is guilty of an offence with a maximum penalty of $2 000 [s 41A(13)].
Appointment of an administrator
If substantial problems arise, the corporation, a creditor of the corporation, a unit holder, or someone with a registered interest in a unit (for example, a mortgagee) can apply to the Magistrates Court or Supreme Court to have an administrator appointed to take over the affairs of the corporation [s 37]. Any application to court would only be in extreme circumstances, and the court would be reluctant to appoint an administrator unless incompetence or illegality were clearly shown. An administrator has wide powers and can do anything for which a special or unanimous resolution is usually required [s 37(2)]. The legal costs relating to the appointment of an administrator and remuneration of the administrator are payable from the funds of the strata corporation [s 37(4)].
Evicting a tenant
If a tenant of a unit uses the unit for an illegal purpose or causes a nuisance or interferes with the reasonable peace, comfort or privacy of occupiers of the other units, then the affected person or persons can apply to the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal SACAT to terminate the tenancy. Legal advice should be sought in this situation.
Uniting Communities Mediation Service
Community mediation, run by Uniting Communities Mediation Service, can assist in the settlement of neighbourhood and other community disputes. Eligible people may access the service, which is means tested. Mediation is a voluntary process where trained mediators work with people in conflict to help them to resolve their differences. The role of the mediator is to listen, ask questions and find out the facts, not to blame anyone or take sides. With all the information, the mediator helps people to put together an agreement which is not legally binding, but is made in good faith. The advantages of mediation as a way to resolve disputes are:
Mediation services intervene in disputes at the request of at least one of the parties. If an approach is made to a service, the service can write to invite the other side to come to a mediation session to discuss the problem. Because attendance is voluntary from both sides, any party may withdraw from the resolution process at any time.