Dear Auntie
I’m on the strata committee and we have an owner wanting a copy of the roll, including everyone’s contact details. I’m horrified they would even ask, let alone get their hands on it. Both the committee and the strata manager think this is a gross invasion of privacy and there’s no way we are going to approve this. But one other owner (they are a bit woke) thinks we should at least ask you about it, as you are some kind of expert seemingly. So we’re right to refuse, aren’t we?
Regards, Gunther
Dear Gunther
No. You’re wrong.
Auntie has lost count of the number of times she has heard this scenario and the ‘privacy’ issue thrown around. Well, at the risk of sounding harsh, Auntie has news for you: there’s no application of privacy laws in this instance. The roll is not subject to those considerations. If you don’t believe me (I have no idea why you wouldn’t, but anyway), then perhaps read this adjudicator’s order (and many others like it) which set out the situation in relation to access to the roll and the ‘privacy’ issue. Moreover, why on earth are you making decisions based upon privacy concerns when I presume you are not a privacy expert or have training in that area? Contact the Office of the Information Commissioner if you want expert information on the subject.
Auntie is also concerned and disappointed that your strata manager is going along with this charade. Frankly your manager should know better – it isn’t as though this is the first time this issue has ever come up. Perhaps your manager and the committee should watch this great webinar by my dear friends Chris Irons and Frank Higginson, for further clarification.
Strata life is all about transparency and openness, because everyone needs to know what is going on so that they can make decisions. And that means the potential for an owner to be able to speak to other owners, using the roll to do that. It’s a strata fact of life. You need to get used to it.
Do you have a question for Strata Solve’s Agony Aunt? You can ask it here. While Auntie deeply cares about your strata queries, she regrets she cannot give legal advice or answer every single question, as she is a busy woman.