As more Australians seek autonomy and cost savings in managing their apartment buildings and townhouse complexes, self-managed strata schemes are gaining traction. While this approach offers significant benefits including lower costs and greater control it also presents complex challenges that require careful planning and, increasingly, creative hybrid solutions. 

A professional strata manager is not just an administrator. They act as an advisor, coordinator, and compliance partner providing systems and expertise that help a scheme run smoothly. While the owners corporation / body corporate / strata company (the name varies by state) is always the final decision-maker, a professional manager gives the committee the tools and advice to make informed choices, ensuring the scheme is both legally compliant and well-maintained.

If you’re buying or selling an apartment, townhouse or villa in a strata scheme, chances are you’ll hear the term “Section 184 certificate” (aka a Strata Information Certificate) early in the process. It’s one of the most important documents in any strata property transaction, yet it’s also one of the most misunderstood.

This article explains what a Section 184 certificate is, why it’s important, what information it must contain, and how it fits into the broader Australia-wide framework of strata disclosure certificates.

If you’re a strata treasurer or committee member in a self-managed scheme, you probably handle payments to regular contractors like cleaners, gardeners, or maintenance trades. But what happens when one of them suddenly sends an invoice with different bank account details?

If you own, live in, or manage a strata or community-title property in NSW whether it’s an apartment, townhouse, villa, or community-land scheme it’s worth understanding the law changes that have happened and what is in store for 2026. These reforms are designed to make strata living fairer, safer, and more transparent for everyone involved.

Meetings are where the most important decisions about your building are made from approving budgets and levies, to tackling repairs, upgrades, and by-laws. Yet for many owners, these meetings can feel daunting. Who gets to speak? When can you ask a question? And what if the chairperson tells you to keep quiet?

NSW Parliament introduced major reforms to strengthen transparency and accountability in strata management. These changes directly benefit lot owners by ensuring your strata manager operates with full disclosure and in your owners corporation's best interests.

In strata and community schemes, meetings are where decisions get made but not all meetings are created equal. Two of the most common are committee meetings and general meetings. They sound similar, but they serve different purposes, involve different people, and follow different rules. 

Strata and community title living is an increasingly popular choice across Australia, offering shared amenities, maintained common areas, and a built-in sense of community. However, behind the scenes of every well-run strata or community scheme lies a framework of clearly defined roles and responsibilities. Understanding who does what is essential for smooth operation, effective decision-making, and harmonious living. 

Strata Renewal in NSW: How Owners Corporations Can Navigate Collective Sales and Major Redevelopments….

Strata management is a fast-moving, people-focused profession where no two days look the same. Between committee meetings, owner emails, compliance deadlines, phone calls, and maintenance issues, even the best software systems can only go so far. True efficiency comes down to how individual managers organise themselves how they plan, prioritise, and protect their time.

We’ve hacked them into to a simple, practical checklist to help strata managers stay organised, focused, and efficient every day ensure clients are looked after.

Changing managers can feel like a big task, but it doesn’t need to be stressful. With good planning and cooperation, the transition can be smooth and beneficial for the community.

A realistic budget is more than just numbers on a page. It keeps your property maintained, ensures legal compliance, and prevents nasty surprises…..

If you’ve ever wondered what strata managers actually do all day (apart from politely declining to unblock your kitchen sink), buckle up. The truth is, being a strata manager is part admin, part diplomat, part financial controller, part psychologist and part professional cat-herder. It’s not glamorous, but it’s never boring.

Choosing the right strata managing agent can make or break the smooth running of a strata scheme. A good agent takes the stress out of compliance, meetings, levies, and maintenance….

Running a self-managed scheme is a great way to save on management fees and stay directly involved in how your building is run. But with that independence comes responsibility especially when it comes to keeping proper records. 

Good record-keeping isn’t just a legal requirement under strata and community scheme laws in every Australian state and territory it’s also your best defence against disputes, confusion, and headaches down the track. 

Here’s a simple guide for small, self-managed schemes. 

Ready to make sense of how strata committees work? Whether you’re thinking about getting involved or just want to know who’s handling your building’s decisions, here’s what you need to know in a simple format.