Australia Strata News
- Australia: Housing wars: Strata owners vs owners corporations October 11, 2024THERE ARE ROUGHLY 3 million strata townhouses and apartments in Australia. The focus on highrise developments to address the housing crisis has seen a 7 per cent increase in the number of strata properties over the last two years. In Victoria, the government redevelopment plan for inner Melbourne proposes that 84 per cent of new dwellings will be highrises of ten storeys or more. Read the article…………………………….
- Australia: As high-rise developments boom, overhaul of strata committees of management long overdue October 10, 2024Owners corporations manage and administer communal property for apartments and other dwellings. Recently certain high-profile owners corporations have come under media scrutiny. Dubious and unethical business practices have been exposed. These include kickbacks to contractors, phantom charges, inflated fees relative to the extent of work done, and near-invisible accountability. Over 2,000 people from across Australia responded to an ABC investigation into the strata industry. Read the article…………………………….
- Australia: Miserable Old Bastard On Strata Can And Will Make A Complaint About Absolutely Anything October 3, 2024Residents of a modest red-brick apartment block on Rue des Perdus in our town’s bohemian French Quarter are amused to the point of frustration after being served yet another passive-aggressive email from the local Strata committee’s self-appointed compliance officer, old bastard Doug Barclay. Read the article…………………………….
- Urgent call for strata regulation reform in South Australia: Homeowners face massive repairs and legal battles amid rising apartment issues September 28, 2024Major reform is needed to South Australia’s strata regulations to ensure buildings are well maintained, saving owners from taking massive loans for repairs and prospective buyers from purchasing derelict apartments, amid a spike in strata disputes. Stakeholders in the housing industry said improvements were urgently needed as high-rise apartment blocks spring up across Adelaide in response to housing shortages. Read the article…………………………….
- Australia: NSW flags further strata crackdown September 23, 2024The NSW government says there is “more to come” on strata reforms after last week passing legislation to improve disclosure and toughen penalties. The legislation was introduced before Four Corners put the spotlight on the strata sector. The program followed an ABC report earlier in the year focused on NSW company Netstrata. Read the article…………………………….
- Australia: Tough New Strata Laws Pass Parliament (NSW) September 20, 2024Strata managing agents face tough new laws that crack down on secret kickbacks through greater transparency and higher penalties for agents doing the wrong thing. Strata laws put owners’ corporations in charge of making key decisions on the buildings and common property of townhouses and apartments, usually with the assistance of a strata managing agent. Read the article…………………………….
- Australia: Lawyers, consumer advocates press for strata action September 16, 2024Consumer groups are pushing for a national inquiry into the strata management sector and a lawyers’ group has called for tougher state-level regulation following last week’s Four Corners program. The Australian Consumers Insurance Lobby, Choice, Financial Rights Legal Centre and the Owners Corporation Network of Australia are among nine groups pressing Treasurer Jim Chalmers to launch a review led by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission or Productivity Commission. Read the article…………………………….
Australia Strata News Archives
Australia Strata Articles
- Australia: Important News – New Laws for Pet Owners in NSW October 9, 2024Changes to pet laws – do you need to update your pets by-law? As of July 1, 2024, the NSW Government introduced new regulations for cat and dog ownership. All cats and dogs residing in your strata building (and across NSW) must now be microchipped. The recent changes to pet ownership regulations in NSW will impact residents living in strata schemes and NSW communities. Read the article…………………………….
- Australia: What is an Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Do I Have to Attend? September 8, 2024A Strata Meeting, more specifically an Annual General Meeting (AGM) is a key event for any strata property, held once a year to discuss important matters regarding the management of the strata company. The AGM provides owners with the opportunity to review the financial performance of the strata company, make decisions about upcoming budgets, vote on major repairs, and elect the council of the strata company. Attendance at the AGM is not mandatory, but it is highly recommended for owners ...
- Australia: Safe Work Prosecutes Strata Manager, OC & Lot Owner September 6, 2024In August of this year the criminal jurisdiction of the District Court of New South Wales handed down the last of a series of decisions in relation to the penalties to be imposed on a strata scheme, strata manager and lot owner respectively, arising from a death which had occurred following a damaged gate in an industrial strata scheme falling on a person. Read the article…………………………….
- Australia: Postponing Your AGM? 3 Considerations To Handle New Motions August 27, 2024Strata committees are often faced with the challenge of new motions submitted by owners, and determining whether to add them to the AGM agenda, or hold off on the Annual General Meeting (AGM) to accommodate them. Read the article…………………………….
- Australia: Lot Owners, Tenants and Shared Facilities in Strata July 31, 2024A lot owner has an apartment in a strata scheme with shared facilities with a pool, sauna and gym however the owner does not live in that strata scheme because they have rented their apartment out – can they still use the pool, sauna and gym, deemed as shared facilities? Read the article…………………………….
- Australia: Regulating the Use of E/V Chargers July 29, 2024Recently I was asked two questions about the EV charging of vehicles in schemes. EV charging is becoming a concern for our schemes due to the uptake of electric and hybrid vehicles. The questions were not about how to install an EV charging system but about regulating the use of common property power and whether there is a power to regulate the use of EV chargers in lots in a community title scheme. Read the article…………………………….
- Australia: Postponing Your AGM? 3 Considerations To Handle New Motions July 29, 2024Strata committees are often faced with the challenge of new motions submitted by owners, and determining whether to add them to the AGM agenda, or hold off on the Annual General Meeting (AGM) to accommodate them. Read the article…………………………….
Australia Strata Articles Archives
Australia Strata Laws
Information about strata laws can be found at:
Australia Strata Resources
NSW – Advice for living in, or buying into, a strata community. Government site
Strata Community Association NSW – The peak body for the strata sector in New South Wales. SCA (NSW) represents over 3,000 strata managers, principals and suppliers in the sector.
Western Australia Strata Reforms website Strata.wa.gov.au has launched – offering the community a closer look at the most significant reforms to WA’s strata framework in over 20 years
Office of the Commissioner for Body Corporate and Community Management – QLD provide information and dispute resolution services for those who live, invest or work in community titles schemes in Queensland.
Unit Owners Association QLD The UOAQ has produced a series of discussion papers that seek to provide information and experiences from owners. Alternative models are proposed to rebalance and smoothly transition the strata industry to a fair and competitvely priced strata environment
Strata Community Australia (SCA is the peak association supporting the strata sector, representing over 3,300 member companies and individuals)
Owners Corporation Network A not-for-profit organisation that exists to help strata owners navigate the complexities of strata living, from social and organisational challenges to financial and legal issues.
EV Charging – Information Portal for Strata Owners
- Thu, 10 Oct 2024 00:57:17 +0000: CYCLONE POOL TO INTRODUCE STRATA MITIGATION DISCOUNTS - Smart Strata | Body Corporate Management
Cyclone pool premium pricing will include strata mitigation discounts from next April following feedback obtained during a consultation.<... read more
- Wed, 09 Oct 2024 23:59:12 +0000: COMMUNITY EDUCATION SEMINARS – MACKAY NEXT WEEK! – ARPC CHIEF CLAIMS OFFICER INTRODUCED! - Smart Strata | Body Corporate Management
Australian Reinsurance Pool Corporation Chief Claims Officer introduced with preparations in full swing. We have launched our seminar ser... read more
- Thu, 03 Oct 2024 01:54:43 +0000: BY-LAW ENFORCEMENT - Smart Strata | Body Corporate Management
Body corporate by-laws are an essential element for regulating the use and enjoyment of common areas and lots within strata title complex... read more
- Thu, 03 Oct 2024 01:12:40 +0000: COMMUNITY EDUCATION SEMINARS – GOLD COAST NEXT WEEK! - Smart Strata | Body Corporate Management
Gold Coast Next Week! There’s still time to register for the Gold Coast Strata Education Seminars happening next week. This marks our f... read more
- Thu, 26 Sep 2024 00:19:16 +0000: CAN BODIES CORPORATE IN QUEENSLAND BAN SHORT-TERM LETTING? - Smart Strata | Body Corporate Management
A few years ago, we asked the question: Can all Bodies Corporate in Queensland ban Airbnb? The question was asked in response to the Dist... read more
- Wed, 26 Apr 2023 21:47:31 +0000: Welcome to our New Website - Strata Knowledge
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed nec pellentesque purus. Nunc finibus urna eget est molestie, non dignissim null... read more - Wed, 29 Mar 2023 09:29:57 +0000: Transitioning Governance Responsibilities - Strata Knowledge
Transitioning Governance Responsibilities Download / View PDFread more - Wed, 29 Mar 2023 09:28:26 +0000: Strata Governance Responsibilities - Strata Knowledge
Strata Governance Responsibilities Download / View PDFread more - Wed, 29 Mar 2023 09:24:10 +0000: Passive Fire Protection Systems in Apartments - Strata Knowledge
Passive Fire Protection Systems in Apartments Download / View PDFread more - Wed, 29 Mar 2023 09:20:45 +0000: The Ineffectiveness of Strata Law Reform - Strata Knowledge
The Ineffectiveness of Strata Law Reform Download / View PDFread more
Article and Blog Resources
Queensland: Hynes Legal
New South Wales: Bannermans Lawyers
- Mon, 30 Sep 2024 04:37:30 +0000: By-Law, Damages and Legal Costs Levies Stoush - Strata Archives - Bannermans Lawyers
... read more - Mon, 30 Sep 2024 01:21:08 +0000: What if my works are done without planning approval or don’t comply with the Design and Building Practitioners Legislation? - Strata Archives - Bannermans Lawyers
... read more
GoStrata
- Mon, 07 Oct 2024 19:30:36 +0000: Bye Bye [Strata Commission] Baby - GoStrata Media
... read more - Mon, 07 Oct 2024 19:00:57 +0000: If you're going to be in NSW Strata in 10 Years ... - GoStrata Media
... read more - Sun, 06 Oct 2024 19:30:50 +0000: REI NSW & VIC Want Bad Strata Managers to Get Out - GoStrata Media
... read more - Sun, 06 Oct 2024 19:01:03 +0000: Teys Swings at SCA … but is it a Sucker Punch - GoStrata Media
... read more - Mon, 30 Sep 2024 05:54:53 +0000: ABC News Rolls 3 Strata Heads … So Far - GoStrata Media
... read more
ESM Strata
- Tue, 10 Sep 2024 05:10:52 +0000: Addressing Misconceptions in Strata Management - Exclusive Strata Management
... read more - Sat, 07 Sep 2024 12:32:52 +0000: What is an Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Do I Have to Attend? - Exclusive Strata Management
... read more