Strata law reform has become an interstate sport to rival any national sporting league. Each state and territory compete, holding enquiries, roundtables, and issuing endless white papers and press releases. They proudly claim their ideas to be the latest and greatest. The rules of the game require them to largely ignore independent research, and critical evaluation of the lessons of each other’s previous attempts.
Wasting Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars of Experts' Time
New conflict of interest disclosure standards are coming into effect for NSW strata management companies on February 3, 2025, impacting how they operate and interact with suppliers. This toolkit explores the 7 key areas managers must now disclose, going beyond insurance commissions to ensure transparency and ethical practices.
The United States of Strata Australia - Part 6
Strata has gone from political afterthought to political goldmine — but not for the reasons you'd hope. Disasters, deaths and displacement forced politicians to notice. Now they're embracing strata as the answer to the housing crisis while passing laws that make it harder to afford. Something doesn't add up.
Strata Management Revenue Model Faces Dual Threat
This article explores the potential risks of overly close relationships between strata lawyers and managers. It examines how these relationships can influence strata decision-making and compromise the interests of owners.
NSW owners corporations have mastered the art of deferring repairs and underfunding capital works - but the road ends here. NSW Fair Trading's new enforcement powers mean schemes can no longer kick the can. Ignore your maintenance obligations at your peril. The regulator is watching, and they're ready to act. Regulators in other states are watching too.
Something is wrong in the state of New South Wales
NSW Fair Trading Commissions Research Into Strata Management Agreements
Netstrata's financial dealings, as revealed in the McGrathNicol report, highlight the ethical dilemma of choosing between what's technically right and what's truly right. This case serves as a defining moment for the strata management industry—will it take meaningful corrective action, or continue down the easier path?
New conflict of interest disclosure standards are coming into effect for NSW strata management companies on February 3, 2025, impacting how they operate and interact with suppliers. This article explores the 7 key areas managers must now disclose, going beyond insurance commissions to ensure transparency and ethical practices.
NSW Fair Trading isn't watching from the sidelines anymore. New powers let them demand documents, inspect buildings, issue compliance notices, and force professional management on dysfunctional schemes. For strata owners and committees, this isn't just regulatory theatre—it's a fundamental shift from passive oversight to active enforcement that changes everything.
Australian strata schemes face defects, governance failures, and underfunded repairs—but they're not alone. This month, international experts gather at IFMOP 2026 to share solutions from New Zealand, South Africa, Japan, and India. Their research on legal reform, liability, aging buildings, and redevelopment offers lessons Australia urgently needs.
Beyond NSW: The Nationwide Strata Management Transparency Crisis Exposed
From Mascot Towers to Mandatory Compliance: The Game-Changing Reform That Could Save Strata Buildings
From Commodity to Rocket Science: Restructuring Your Strata Management Business for Maximum Profitability
Requiring by-laws for lot owner renovations affecting common property adds unnecessary complexity and costs. Standardized strata regulations and approval registers could offer a more efficient and transparent solution.
Three high-rise disasters. Three countries. Three completely different reform responses. While Florida hammered condo owners with structural inspections and reserve studies, and England went after developers with billion-dollar cladding bills, NSW took the most holistic approach - touching every stage of your building's lifecycle. Here's what comparative research reveals about building safety reform.
I've been honoured to be selected to present a paper at the 8th International Research Forum on Multi-Owned Properties in January 2026. Here's an abstract for my paper.
This toolkit has been prepared to help strata management agencies navigate regulation changes and comply with the laws and new standards.
Is your building one of the 50% with serious defects? NSW's construction crisis has turned the dream of apartment ownership into a nightmare for thousands. But sweeping new reforms are finally shifting responsibility back where it belongs. Discover how the Building Commissioner's new powers and industry changes could protect your building—or help fix it. Read more in this week's The Strata Professional.
A new law in New South Wales, Australia is set to increase regulations around insurance commissions for strata managers. This includes stricter disclosure requirements, increased penalties for non-compliance, and a mandate for obtaining multiple insurance quotes. While aiming to improve transparency, the law is criticised for adding complexity without effectively addressing conflicts of interest within the strata management industry.
Striking the Balance Between Compassion and Collection. Debt collection for strata managers is a tightrope walk. Balancing financial responsibility with resident hardship is key. Discover effective strategies like SMS reminders (avoiding late fees) and explore collection tools like Mailchimp.
This article discusses emerging trends impacting the strata management industry globally. It identifies key challenges such as building disrepair, aging infrastructure, and regulatory complexities.
Is the end nigh for the traditional strata management model? NSW's new laws are set to disrupt the industry.
The cancellation of Whitney Wang's strata management license and a 10-year ban is a significant development in the strata management industry. While the specific reasons for this action are not yet public, it has been reported that numerous statutory breaches were involved. This decision sets a new precedent for disciplinary actions against strata managers, potentially leading to increased complaints and scrutiny of the profession. Additionally, it may renew calls for stricter regulation of strata management in states and territories without existing licensing regimes. Ultimately, this case highlights the need for continued improvement and professionalism within the strata management industry.
Unacceptable Solutions is a 7-part mini-series that explains the cladding crisis to owners and professionals and points the way forward to safer buildings and restoring property values written and presented by Michael Teys.
Watch or listen as we evaluate the conflicting policies, new laws and the ethics of cladding, and also name the three standout government regulatory responses that hold great hope for the future.
Watch or listen as we challenge the assertion that cladding with anything under 30% Polyethylene (PE) content is okay so you can determine for yourself - Are things that burn a little bit ok?
The Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020 (NSW) has created a new way for owners corporations in New South Wales to seek compensation for building defects. This includes defect cases relating to water ingress, faulty fire safety systems and combustible cladding.
