Whittles Strata Managers - MGA Group of Companies

Has anyone had any dealings with Whittles Strata Managers? Interested in hearing from you.

hi johnny

yes i have how can i help

regards
alf

Hi Alf

I've experienced nothing but problems with this company. They seem to be really disorganised and continually attempt to put bandaids over their own internal problems. I've also heard that other strata owners have had similar experiences.

Have you had any problems with this company?

Hi,

They manage the Body Corp for my IP here in Darwin. Can't say I've had any serious problems with them, but my Tennant has had a few things to say. For example, the combination to the Security gate was supposed to be changed (the whole street knew it), well it took them weeks to get it done.

They seem happy to take the money, but I don't see much of it being spent to keep the place in order.

Cheers

Hi Johnny
My IP is managed by another Strata Manager but have also found them to be less than interested in keeping fees and costs down. They seem to encourage interaction as it obviously generates a fee everytime. On top of this they also seem to be less than helpful or experienced with regards to the intricacies of owners rights and responsibilities in a strata block. I suppose one should not expect more from them as they often have no limit to which they can run up these fees especially with regard to letters and taking phone calls etc. I don’t think that you would kind many good managers who were not out to increase revenue but please help change my mind anyone!

Hi Dram and HousesOnly
I agree with everything that you've both said. Luckily enough, the SA Government is looking into many of the current problems associated with strata ownership in this State, particularly in regard to strata assistants (I don't want to use the word "managers" because that would only help to strengthen the false impression that they were actually capable of performing that task) and is looking for public comment. Hopefully, our Government can tighten up our laws in this State because a good dose of epsom salts is long overdue.
I'm sorry that I can't provide any details of the Government department or person who's compiling the submissions, as I only found out about the Government's plans whilst watching the tail end of the ABC News and couldn't write down the details. I have contacted the ABC, in this regard and will keep anyone who is interested posted.

Would also like to hear from any other people who have had similar experiences with Whittles, and strata assistants generally.

hi johnny

i can't say that i have had problems with whittles myself.

kind regards
alf

Hi Alf

Do you work for Whittles or are you a strata owner?

If you're a strata owner then how long have you had them assisting your corporation?

hi johnny

no i dont work for whittles and i am a strata owner.

like anything do your own research and ask a few different ones.

I apersonally found whittles helpful on a couple of matters that needed to be fixed.

Have you had a bad experience?

what is your reason for asking?

regards
alf

Further to my original posting dated 16/08/2003.

The South Australian Government is presently looking for responses to their "Discussion Paper on Body Corporate Managers" with the view toward "Possible Regulation of Body Corporate Managers".

According to the "Discussion Paper" - from 1997 to 30 June 2003, the Magistrates Court has heard 219 cases regarding the Strata Titles and Community Titles Acts.

If you're interested in getting a copy of the "Possible Regulation of Body Corporate Managers, Discussion Paper", then please download it from http://www.justice.sa.gov.au/ (follow the link to "News") and either (1) post your responses to the South Australian Attorney-Generals Department, Policy and Legislation Section, G.P.O. Box 464, Adelaide SA 5001. or (2) fax your responses to (08) 8204 1337 or (3) email your responses to the Attorney-General@agd.sa.gov.au.

All inquiries should be directed to Shane Sody on (08) 8207 1851.

I hope that some good will come out of these discussions and that something can be done to either curb the shonky practices of some strata "assistants" or better still - to completely drum them out of the business. This review must be welcomed by all South Australian strata owners and is long overdue.

Yes I have had problems with Whittles. For example, our manager obtained a quote for termite erradication. We didn't approve the work to be done but he went ahead anyway. When we complained he wrote back a very patronising and petty letter stating that we shouldn't expect him to do anything outside of turn up once a year for the AGM. Use another company if you have the choice.

I have Whittles as Body Corp for my unit in Alice Springs. The main problem we had a few years ago was that someone did some dodgy accounting and used up our sinking fund. We now have an extra $40 to fees to top it up again.

Other than that, average overall.

Cheers

"Looking forward to the day when I can tell the boss where to go"

whittle's are in charge of my property in darwin as well. theres an abondoned car in the car park, which they wont get rid of. we ended up coming to an agreement where they will do all the legwork and i would pay for it separetly. i should have just taken off the number plates and pushed the damn thing onto the street.
found them nice enough people but not much in the way of actually doing anything.
cheers
shaun

Lead, Follow or get out of the bloody way

yes i believe WHITTLES do nothing charge you for water we have no garden
charge for power the lights dont work
the path has been damaged by another builder back in june 2007 nothing done
pay sinking money nothing to sink
what a joke
and send bills before anything happen so you are always 3 mths ahead
i rang them up and nothing has happened sent emails and nothing has happened
complete joke

Well, what does your body corporate do for you? They are the ones who instruct your strata managers , seek appropriate advice from 'the experts' and pay their bills.

Your BC must be useless if it expects that the SM who may visit just before AGM to know what is going on if it isn't kept informed. If contractors who have been engaged by the SM on behalf of the BC (and yourself) aren't performing, have the BC send a rocket up the contractor, they have after all paid for the services (with your funds). The same goes for the SM, have them put on notice by the BC, call tenders prior to the next AGM for SM services.

As for paying water rates, there must be some common area in the building eg carpark or a car wash bay, foyers etc where someone may use a hose to wash things down. They can't bill you without having had a bill from the water supplier.

If you aren't happy with the actions of the BC do something about it, be part of the solution don't just complain about it, take on a role within body corporate so that you can have your say and direct how funds are spent (based on the budgets prepared by the SM).