Changing Your Manager
Appointing a manager is a big step for
unit owners.
You need a manager that has your interests
at heart, is qualified and trustworthy.
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We recommend you discuss
any concerns with your manager perhaps via an informal meeting between
concerned owners and the manager. If you still wish to change your manager
the following steps may help.
Step 1: Do you have a binding
contract taking your group through to the next Annual General Meeting?
If yes then see Step 4.
If no or the manager has seriously breached their contract, go to Step 2.
If your Annual General
Meeting is due shortly proceed to Step 5.
Discuss your concerns
with fellow owners before the annual meeting. Seek information on
other management services. See our comparison of fees and services
list.
Step
2: Obtain a list of all owners, addresses and phone numbers (the
local Council can help). Ask your manager or fellow owners to organise
an extraordinary general meeting of all owners to discuss management.
If your manager is unhelpful use Step
3. See legal ruling on requirement to handover unit owner list.
If your manager organises the meeting see Step 5.
Step 3:
This is how owners can call a meeting under the Strata Titles Act 1988:
(Meeting Notice pdf)
a) The Secretary
of the Corporation or ay 2 members of the Management Committee (if
you have one) calls and arranges a meeting of owners OR
b) One fifth of
the owners sign a meeting notice which is sent to all owners
The meeting notice must
be posted at least 14 days before the meeting. The agenda needs to include
management as an issue for discussion and proposed resolutions (such
as the appointment of a new manager) can be included on the agenda.
A proxy form needs to be included with the notice just in case some
owners cannot attend. You might include a cover letter explaining the
reason for the meeting. We at UnitCare can supply you with Meeting Notice
and Proxy proformas. (Meeting Notice pdf)
Step
4: If you have a contract and wish to break it, we suggest you
seek advice on the consequences. You will need a copy of the contract.
If you have genuine cause for dissatisfaction and discussions with
the manager are fruitless, then if the Manager is a member of the Real
Estate Institute of South Australia, it can help with negotiations.
You can ring their Advisory Service on (08) 8366-4345. The Office
of Business & Consumer Affairs (8204 9777) can be of help. The
matter can be taken to the Magistrates Court should the manager prove
unreasonable and unwilling to hand over the Corporation's records and
funds. apply
to the Courts
Step 5:
At your Annual General Meeting have your current manager finish last
years business (correspondence, accounts etc.) and appoint your Officers
(Presiding, Secretary and Treasurer) and consider a Management Committee
if appropriate. Once this business is finished an owner or proxy for
an owner needs to move that the current manager not be reappointed.
If a mjority present in person or by proxy agree then the meeting can
either:
- adjourn the meeting
for up to 14 days, contact your preferred manager, and then consider
your options OR
- move and pass
the appointment of your new manager, adjourn the meeting, and
then contact your new manager, who will get your files and handle
things from there. The rest of the Corporation's business may
be completed by the management committee or a general meeting
with the new manager.
Hint: Appointing a keen Management
Committee can be useful in tackling day to day issues and in keeping
communication channels well and truly open with your new manager.
General
Meeting Notice to Change Manager (inc Proxy Form)
Meeting.Notice
(click here for printed form)