It has been almost a month since the owners corporation at the Greenwich Park apartments voted to install electric vehicle charging stations, but they are no closer to making it happen than they were at the meeting.
Because fewer than 50 per cent of the 204 unit owners attended the meeting where the decision was made, the Unit Titles (Management) Act prevents the executive committee from moving ahead without giving those who did not show up the chance to object.
"Strata bodies are run by a relatively low number of interested parties," owners corporation member Tim McKinnon said.
"I'd be surprised if most larger stratas don't end up with reduced quorums."
The requirement for 50 per cent of unit holders to vote on decisions - and the 28-day waiting period if they did not - was highly criticised in the Legislative Assembly's recent inquiry into strata management in the ACT.
Apartment owners told the inquiry executive committees were run by volunteers, often retirees, and the majority of apartment owners were uninterested in attending meetings and casting votes.
The inquiry returned 33 recommendations, 10 of which the ACT government agreed to, including increased information for owners corporations, and new disclosure requirements.
Another 13 recommendations were agreed to in principle.
Last week, the first of those changes was put before the Assembly last week.
Member for Ginninderra Tara Cheyne introduced the Housing and Consumer Affairs Legislation Amendment Bill, which would bring the quorum requirement to just 25 per cent of eligible voters, and remove the 28-day waiting period.
A 30-minute waiting period at the start of any meetings with a reduced quorum would also be removed if the bill was passed.
Owners who disagree with the decisions will still be able to take the matter to ACAT, without having to gather a petition of other owners.
"While this is an unassuming bill on its surface, it certainly has some significant reforms contained within it," Ms Cheyne said.
"Lowering this threshold requirement will address stakeholder concerns and feedback raised in the inquiry about the difficulties owners corporations experience in meeting the standard quorum requirement."
Another bill with further changes would follow, Ms Cheyne told the Assembly.
Mr McKinnon said the proposed changes were "all quite sensible".
"The previous method was totally ineffective," he said.
"The new provisions will make the whole meeting process more elegant, more efficient and better - and likely faster."
Strata lawyer Susan Proctor agreed the changes were sensible, but said the introduction of a strata commissioner should remain the top priority for the ACT.
"The most important one within the suite of recommendations is about establishing a strata commissioner and an officer of the commission where there's a group of people or at least one person that understands the importance of strata, and how simplification is necessary," Ms Proctor said.
Chief executive of Vantage Strata Rupert Cullen said the changes would be positive both for strata managers and owners corporations, who often lost momentum to make the agreed changes in the 28-day holding period.
"These changes are reflections of what's happening on the ground. They're practical adjustments or applications of the legislation to better reflect what is actually happening day-to-day, which is good, meaningful and that's why it will have a positive effect, not only on our business, but I think just on the industry more broadly."
Mr Cullen said he hoped the changes would encourage more owners to attend the meetings, "perversely" making the reduced quorum redundant.
"What we want is more people turning up to annual general meetings and voting and making the decisions with a quorum," he said.
"But in the absence of a quorum, just being able to get on and do the important things that need to be done is a really practical and important step forward."
The bill would also make changes to tenancy laws by preventing tenants from getting a rent reduction if their gas appliances are changed to electric, and clarifying who is responsible for connecting internet to rental properties.
The Retirement Villages Act would also be amended under the bill to remove the requirement for an internal disputes committee.
