Sky News host James Macpherson says the poor quality of strata apartment buildings is “killing owners”. His comments come as a new report from the New South Wales government, which looked at 600 new or strata buildings, and found 53 per cent of them had serious or major defects within six years of being built. […]
Australia: NSW Fair Trading to review Netstrata
After their media investigation @LintonBesser and @NinahKopel from @ABCNews published an article High-profile strata company Netstrata caught charging excessive fees and taking kickbacks reporting on their business practices relating to insurance premiums, commissions, and brokerage, fire services, plumbing and building maintenance. Read the article…………………………….
Australia: Isn’t it funny … how everyone is strata splaining managers?
Since the 2024 Strata Insurance Crisis broke 4 weeks ago strata managers are getting a lot of attention at the moment [good and bad] and that’s fine. But it seems to have prompted a lot of strata experts, pundits, activists, ambulance chasers, vested interests, opportunists and boffins out of the woodwork with their 20% to […]
Australia: ‘Completely blindsided’: new owners of strata properties shocked by special levies
About three months after Jake* and his partner bought their apartment in Sydney, they faced an unexpected bill of more than $100,000. It was a special levy for major repairs needed to fix problems with the building’s waterproofing, but it was not flagged in the strata report or the previous year’s annual meeting minutes that […]
Australia: ACIL report exposes strata insurance regulatory gaps
The Australian Consumers Insurance Lobby (ACIL) has published an in-depth report revealing the gaps in the strata insurance sector…..The report noted uncertainty among respondents about which regulatory body is responsible for overseeing the sector. This confusion underscores the pressing need for clearer governance and regulatory frameworks. Read the article…………………………….
Australia: Strata manager sacked after avoiding jail time over elaborate $58k rental scam
A man who avoided jail time after defrauding Australians out of $58,000 in an elaborate rental scam has been sacked from his job as a strata manager. Last month, news.com.au reported that Sydney-based Scott Jeffries pleaded guilty to 22 counts of fraud after pretending to run rental inspections at properties he did not own, and […]
Australia: Fire Safety Advice as Lithium Battery Fires Spike in Units
The message from Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) regarding the rise of lithium-ion battery-related fires across NSW is ‘be alert, cautious and proactive’. It’s important that strata managers, strata committees and strata residents understand the fire risks related with lithium-ion batteries and to be prepared if things go wrong. Read the article…………………………….
Australia: Strata reforms send bills soaring from just $5000 to $60,000
Warren* was staggered to learn last year he had to contribute $80,000 for waterproofing and concrete spalling repairs to his apartment building in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. It was an enormous shock, particularly because owners had to pay within six weeks for the work that included fixing the degrading concrete. Read the article…………………………….
Australia: Strata practices report unleashes torrent of criticism
Allegations that a major NSW strata management firm has been charging excessive fees for insurance services without full disclosure of the arrangements have touched a nerve and triggered a torrent of criticism directed at practices within the sector. Read the article…………………………….
Australia: Strata lawyers back Trowbridge-recommended reforms
The Australian College of Strata Lawyers says it supports the introduction of reforms recommended by consultant John Trowbridge in his review of practices in the sector. The college, in response to ABC reporting on apartment owners paying excessive insurance fees through arrangements with Netstrata and associated entities, says it supports Mr Trowbridge’s reform proposals, including […]
Australia: High-profile strata company Netstrata caught charging excessive fees and taking kickbacks
One of the country’s most high-profile strata management firms has been using its wholly owned insurance arm to charge apartment owners insurance brokerage fees as high as three times the typical rate. The company, Netstrata, has also been taking kickbacks from contractors and suppliers it hires using the strata funds of more than 1,000 buildings, […]
Australia: ACCC ‘continuing to engage’ on strata issues
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission says it is examining lobby group information that highlights poor conduct by some strata managers in arranging insurance. The Australian Consumers Insurance Lobby (ACIL) has presented its concerns to the consumer commission and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, giving examples that it says should be reviewed and asking […]
Australia: ‘Unbelievably cruel’: Mascot Towers residents continue to pay fees for units they can’t live in
For hundreds of unit owners from Sydney’s doomed Mascot Towers, this year marks their fourth Christmas paying fees for homes too unsafe to live in. In June 2019 residents of the towers were ordered to evacuate due to cracking in the walls. Read the article………………………….
Australia: How stratas are derailing unit owners’ bid to lower bills
Unmotivated owners and strata policies are preventing more apartment blocks from moving to renewable energy. ReNewCo founder and CEO Matthew Summerville has recently installed solar to a block of units in Clovelly and said that unit owners have more options than they realise. Read the article…………………………….
Australia: Five ways strata owners can stem the tide of rising insurance
Climate change is driving insurance premiums higher – in strata properties premiums are set to rise nationally by 15-20 per cent from the start of FY24, according to Honan Insurance Group, driven by “claims costs inflation, rising building valuations, and insurers raising rates after periods of losses”. Read the article……………………………….
Australia: Strata association produces insurance disclosure guide
Strata Community Association (SCA) has produced a best practice guide that aims to improve disclosure in areas such as commissions, conflicts of interest and the allocation of remuneration. The release of the guide comes after recommendations made by consultant John Trowbridge in the first phase of an independent review of strata insurance practices and draws […]
Australia: Serious defects found in more than 50% of NSW strata buildings
More than half of NSW strata buildings have serious defects, with an estimated $79 million being spent by owners’ corporations to rectify the issues, a survey has found. The joint initiative between Strata Community Association (SCA) NSW and the Office of the Building Commissioner found 53% of buildings had serious defects between 2016-2022, up from […]
Australia: Victorian government cracks down on bizarre three-storey rule after 77 apartment owners ruined
The Victorian government is considering a major change to the process of building apartment blocks after multiple homeowners were stung by a blind spot in the law. Read the article…………………………………
Australia: NSW Government grant program will assist buildings become EV ready
The NSW Government is investing $10 million to assist NSW strata apartments by co-funding the assessment and installation of electric vehicle infrastructure upgrades. Find out more about the Electric Vehicle Ready Buildings (EVRB) grants in this webinar with the program. Read the article……………………………..
Australia: Everything that’s wrong with NSW’s Common Property Memorandum
In 2015, the NSW strata law changes introduced a short-form way of trying to clarify who’s responsible for different parts of a strata building: the strata corporation or strata owners. But, like so many tempting shortcuts, it’s poorly considered and done, it doesn’t work, it’s very messy, and, it should be abolished……..Read the article……………………………….
Australia: Backroom deals in strata insurance and how they’re costing you
There are a lot of moving parts when it comes to strata insurance, and a lot of the movement is hidden from the people who pay for it. It all comes down to the complex dealings between strata managers and the insurance industry – dealings that often involve undisclosed commissions and payments. Read the article………………………………..
Australia: Fees for pet owners to be banned amid overhaul of strata laws (NSW)
The Minns government will seek to overhaul strata laws to close a loophole that has stymied Sydney apartment redevelopments while also making it easier for people who own pets to live in unit blocks. Read the article……………………………
Australia: Strata Companies facing calls to offer hardship arrangements
Skyrocketing Strata fees are sending a growing number of homeowners….. bankrupt Watch the video report……………………………….
Australia: Strata managers struggling with verbal abuse and long hours
Strata managers are increasingly facing difficult working conditions, with nearly two-thirds facing verbal abuse from both owners and tenants on top of long hours. Read the article………………………..
Australia: The one thing you need to know before you buy in Queensland
Laura Bos, general manager of the Queensland wing of Strata Community Association (SCAQ), the strata managers’ and service providers’ professional body, says the Queensland government needs to live up to a promise made to fix the state’s seriously out-of-date body corporate laws. Read the article………………………..
Australia: (Op/Ed) Is it worth paying the volunteers on your apartment committee?
Some argue for paying a little more in your levies to have trained office-bearers, rather than untrained amateurs making big-buck decisions. Read the article………………………..
Australia: Apartment owners face strata fee increases of 20 per cent as costs soar
Strata levies paid by apartment owners are up by 15 to 20 per cent on average over the past year as the costs of insurance, utilities and repairs and maintenance outstrip even the rapid rise in general inflation. Read the article………………………..
Australia: The ‘extra obstacle’ for owners clashing with body corporates over building defects (NSW)
The number of people applying for strata scheme mediation has surged by 45 per cent in five years as owners clash with owners corporations over building defects and repairs. Read the article………………………..
Australia: Apartment owners face strata fee increases of 20 per cent as costs soar
Strata levies paid by apartment owners are up by 15 to 20 per cent on average over the past year as the costs of insurance, utilities and repairs and maintenance outstrip even the rapid rise in general inflation. Read the article………………………..
Australia: Queensland government proposing changes to strata laws
The Queensland government is proposing a reduction in the number of unit owners needed to agree on a sale of the entire complex. Watch the news report………………………..
Australia: Frustrated neighbours, debt and $1m budgets: High stakes for volunteer strata committees
Understanding “incredibly complex” legislation and maintenance has been a huge learning curve, and trying to get owners to understand costs or participate in subcommittees has been a major hurdle, O’Connell said. Read the article………………………..
Australia: Apartment and townhouse owners report strata fees rising by up to 45 per cent over past year
Australia’s growing population of apartment and townhouse owners say their strata fees have substantially increased in the past year Read the article………………………..
Australia: Thinking about joining your strata committee? Here’s why you should take the leap
With the increasing popularity of apartment living and the desire to be close to amenities, as many as 1 in 5 Australians now reside in properties under a strata title. Nationally, there are 340,601 strata schemes, with 2,869,845 lots, resulting in an average of 8.4 lots per strata scheme, according to data in the June […]
Australia: ‘Dob in a developer’ scheme extended as builders forced to fix defects
Builders and developers have been told to fix shonky work across 33 properties by NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler, as the government announces an extension to the building dispute resolution scheme. Read the article………………………..
Australia: Can you charge an EV in a strata complex? It’s complicated
Strata residences such as apartment buildings and unit dwellings, ill-equipped to deal with a mass uptake of electric vehicle charging, could slow the country’s progress in transitioning to green tech. Read the article………………………..
Australia: Strata explained: Your most pressing strata questions answered
From short-term rental policies to guidelines for electric vehicle charging stations, Stephen Brell, president of the Strata Community Association answers all your burning strata questions. Read the article………………………..
Australia/Singapore: Governing cities: Exploring the laws of multi-family dwellings
Multi-family dwellings are an inevitable part of cities around the world. With so many living in close proximity to one another, conflicts are unavoidable. It is therefore important to ensure that such conflicts are efficiently resolved, and multi-family dwellings are governed properly. In the context of Singapore, applying for a high-rise public housing flat is […]
Australia: New Condition Reports Required for Strata Buildings Dispute Resolution
Building and Energy has observed a trend by strata companies regarding the inclusion of what is considered to be building maintenance items within a defect list, when making a complaint to the Building Commissioner. Read the article………………………..
Australia: ‘It’s immoral’: Family without home for seven months after black mould nightmare
A leaky washing machine in an upstairs apartment has led to seven months of hell for a Melbourne couple who are now effectively homeless with concerns about their young children’s health. Read the article………………………..
Australia: Couple on brink of losing home amid one of the country’s messiest body corporate wars
A Gold Coast couple is on the brink of losing their home after one of Australia’s messiest body corporate wars. Nick and Soula Hronis thought they had all the required approvals in place to build a balcony on their apartment at the Malibu unit complex at Mermaid Waters. Read the article………………………..
Australia: Strata managers struggling under insurance policy squeeze
Astronomic increases in insurance premiums, declining insurance industry competition in the local market and risk hyper-aversion are putting strata managers in a tight spot, according to the president of the industry’s peak organisation. Read the article………………………..
Australia: Now is the perfect time to fix broken strata system
One significant step forward the new government could take would be to support the Owners Corporation Network, which represents strata owners, with substantial guaranteed finances for the next four years, as it does with the Tenants’ Union. Read the article………………………..
Australia: Homeowners forced to fork out hundreds of dollars extra a year as strata fees soar by 40 per cent
Homeowners whose properties belong to a strata scheme are feeling the pinch as the cost of living crisis causes quarterly levies to soar, forcing dozens out of their homes. Read the article………………………..
Australia: Strata Trends 2023
The good news is Australia’s 61 years-old strata industry is flourishing. In fact, it has doubled in 20 years. The last two decades of growth has been cumulative rather than cyclical, with each release of lots into the market adding to the industry’s dwelling stock. Read the article………………………..
Australia: Pressure Builds to Reform Strata Title Laws
Developers in Queensland are urging changes to the state’s “antiquated” strata title rules as part of measures to solve the housing shortage. Read the article………………………..
Australia: Room with a feud: Apartment dwellers seek to ban neighbours from smoking on balconies
A couple who successfully sued their neighbours to stop them smoking on their apartment balcony say the NSW government should bring in a statewide ban. Brenton Pittman and Lynette Cartwright from Kingscliff in northern NSW won in the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal after complaining of persistent tobacco smoke drift from the apartment immediately below […]
Australia: Commissioner’s plan to purge lawyers from costly fights over dodgy buildings (NSW)
Owners’ corporations can now dob in defective buildings up to six years old and receive help from the government to resolve the dispute outside the courts under an initiative set up by the state’s inaugural Building Commissioner. Read the article………………………..
Australia: Consultation to inform education requirements for strata managers (NSW)
Strata management industry representatives and stakeholders are encouraged to have their say on proposed changes to educational requirements for those working in Western Australia’s strata management industry. Released today by Landgate, the consultation paper was developed in collaboration with the Strata Community Association (WA), REIWA and the Property Council. It outlines a new proposed model […]
Australia: Strata management target of cyber attack
An Australia-wide strata management firm has been targeted by a ransomware attack. The attack compromised the operating systems and phone lines of SSKB. Watch the news report……………………….
Australia: Calls for Queensland to end 25-year locked-in property management contracts amid rising body corporate costs
Rising tensions between Queensland homeowners and property managers over locked-in management rights contracts lasting up to 25 years will be raised at the state government’s housing summit today amid concerns of rising body corporate fees. Read the article………………………..