Frequently asked questions
Strata schemes
Some of the frequently asked questions and answers about strata schemes are listed below.
Common property
The major difference between owning a house and owning a unit or apartment (known as a ‘lot’) in a strata scheme, is that the external walls, the floor and roof do not usually belong to the lot owner. These areas are usually common property and generally the responsibility of the owners corporation.
Who is responsible for pruning trees on the property?
If the trees are common property, it is the owners corporation’s responsibility. If the trees are part of your lot – you are responsible, as the owner.
Top of pageI want to use the garden area outside my unit just for myself, can I do this?
Can I do anything I like to my backyard?
I want to park in a section of the driveway that’s common property. Can I get permission to do this?
Send a written request to the secretary or strata managing agent. Permission should then be voted on at a general or executive committee meeting.
Can I do my own repairs to common property?
Only if you have the permission of the owners corporation. If common property needs repair or maintenance, the owners corporation should undertake that work, not an individual owner.
Who is responsible for looking after the wheelie bins?
The owners (or residents) are responsible for putting their own bins out, bringing them in, and keeping them clean. The owners corporation usually owns the bins.
Do I have to insure the contents of my strata unit?
While there is no obligation to do so, it is highly recommended that you take out adequate insurance on the contents of your unit. The insurance that the owners corporation organises covers the structure of the building and any fixtures inside lots (for example, sinks, baths, shower trays).
However other contents such as your furniture, electrical appliances, curtains and carpets would not be covered. Owners can suffer major loss if their personal property is not insured in the event of a fire or through water damage. In addition, contents insurance usually covers your paint finishes on walls and ceilings.
Go to the Common property and the lot page for more information.
Owners corporation and by–laws
The owners corporation is made up of all the owners in the strata scheme. By-laws are made or changed to meet the needs of all owners and to assist with the running of the strata scheme.
What if I do not want to be part of the owner’s corporation. Can I manage my unit myself?
All owners are always members of the owners corporation. They have voting rights and obligations to pay levies and comply with by-laws. Owners cannot ‘resign’ from the owners corporation.
However you are free to manage your unit as you see fit. You can enter into a contract with a managing agent or caretaker to manage your unit, if you wish.
I want to get a dog. Do I need the owners corporation’s permission?
Check your by-laws first. Some schemes allow pets with the permission of the owners corporation – the executive committee can give this approval. Other schemes do not allow pets at all. If your by-law allows for pets then make a written request to the owners corporation and include any information to support your request, for example, information on the type of dog, how you will look after it and so on.
Someone is making a lot of noise and its disturbing my sleep. How do I get them to stop?
The best approach is to try to resolve the problem yourself, so talk to the person first. If that doesn’t work or, if you feel intimidated, you have two choices. You can ask the owners corporation to issue them with a Notice to comply with a by-law then seek a fine if they keep breaching. Or you can apply for mediation through Fair Trading to have a mediator assist you to discuss the issue with them.
Is it a legal requirement to have a noticeboard?
Only if it is required in your by-laws. If the owners corporation does not have a noticeboard it must send all meeting and other notices to each owner directly.
My neighbour’s boyfriend is parking his car in the visitors’ parking space every night, taking up the space. Is he really a visitor?
That is a matter for the owners corporation to decide at a meeting.
The people above me pulled up their carpet without permission of the owners corporation and put down a floating floor which is very noisy, what can I do?
Owners do not require permission to remove their carpet – it is in their lot airspace. However, if a noise problem results, you can talk to them about it or ask the owners corporation to serve them with a Notice to comply with a by-law. If the unit is tenanted, you can usually take action against the owner seeking to have the floor carpeted or covered to reduce noise.
Our by-laws don’t deal with things I think are important. What can I do?
You can draft your own by-law and put it on the agenda for the next general meeting. It requires a special resolution – 75% or more to vote in favour. Once it is passed, the by-law must be registered at the Department of Lands, then it is an enforceable by-law that must be obeyed. You may want to get assistance from your managing agent or a solicitor.
View or download Notice to comply with a by-law in PDF format (size: 57k).
For more information, go to The owners corporation page and the Schedule 1 by–laws section of the Common property and the lot page.
Meetings of the owners corporation
The Strata Schemes Management Act 1996 sets out how meetings are called, who can attend and vote, how they are to be run and how decisions are made.
I am an owner – what meetings do I have to go to?
While it is not compulsory for any lot owner to attend owners corporation meetings, a strata scheme operates better if those concerned take an interest in its affairs. There would usually be several meetings of the owners corporation a year, however the annual meeting, when levies are set for the coming year and the executive committee is elected, is the only meeting required to be held by law. It is helpful if people are willing to make themselves available for election to the executive committee.
I am a tenant – do I have to go to any meetings?
How do I get to have a say in the meetings?
In order to speak and vote at meetings you need to be an owner. Your name needs to be on the Strata Roll and you also need to be up to date with payment of levies.
We discussed repairs to the garages at the last meeting and I thought we had made a decision, but then I got the minutes and it had been left out. What should I do?
Tell the secretary or strata managing agent. The minutes should then be amended. If they are not, the matter should be raised at the next meeting. If it remains unresolved, you can apply for mediation through Fair Trading to settle the matter.
How many meetings should we have a year?
Each year the owners corporation must have one annual general meeting and also one executive committee meeting to appoint office bearers. Other meetings can be held as the need arises.
What can we do about people who refuse to attend meetings?
Encourage owners to get involved in the management of their scheme. However there is no requirement for them to attend and they can choose to stay uninvolved if they wish.
Is there a deadline for providing minutes?
General meeting minutes must be sent out with the notice of the next general meeting if not issued sooner. Executive committee minutes must be placed on the noticeboard, or sent to all owners if there is no noticeboard, within 7 days.
Go to the Meetings of the owners corporation page for more information.
Meeting procedures
When can I use a proxy to have my say?
A proxy is where you authorise someone else to vote on your behalf when you are unable, or choose not to, attend a meeting. Use the prescribed Proxy form in PDF format (size: 48k).
Are there any circumstances when I cannot ask someone to act as a proxy for me?
You will not be able to use a proxy if your name is not on the strata roll or if your levies are not paid in full.
We spend half the meeting talking about a matter that was not even on the agenda and then people voted on it. Is this OK?
Only matters on the agenda can be voted on and resolved. Matters not on the agenda may be discussed, but would need to be put on the agenda for the next meeting for the matter to be voted on.
I asked the secretary to put an issue about parking on the agenda of the general meeting but it was not included. What should I do?
Seek to raise it at the meeting and ask again to put the motion on the agenda for the next meeting. Alternatively lodge an application for mediation through Fair Trading to resolve the matter.
What is the difference between a special resolution and a unanimous resolution?
Both are votes required for certain motions at general meetings (not at executive committee meetings). A special resolution is where there must be at least 75% of owners in favour of the motion, based on unit entitlement. A unanimous resolution is where everyone votes for the motion.
Does the chairperson have the deciding (casting) vote at any meetings?
No, there are no deciding votes at general meetings (includes AGM) or executive committee meetings.
Do we need a quorum to hold a meeting?
Yes. A quorum for a general meeting is 25% of people entitled to vote or owners who hold 25% or more of unit entitlement. A quorum for an executive committee meeting is at least 50% of the executive committee members.
Go to the Meetings of the owners corporation page for more information.
Executive committee
The owners corporation must elect an executive committee which can make many of the day-to-day decisions about running the scheme on its behalf.
How do I get elected to the executive committee?
The executive committee members are elected at the AGM. Your nomination must be submitted before or during the AGM. Any owner can nominate themselves. Owners can also nominate a non-owner as long as they do not nominate themselves as well. Co-owners may be nominated by another co-owner of their lot who is not standing for election, or by an owner of another lot.
Note: Anyone nominated for election to the executive committee must disclose any financial, business or family connections they may have with the original owner or caretaker. After being elected, committee members must also disclose any financial, business or family connections they may develop with the original owner or caretaker.
How do we get someone removed from the executive committee?
The executive committee member can resign, otherwise that person’s position can be terminated by a special resolution (where 75% vote in favour) at a general meeting.
Can I attend an executive committee meeting?
You can attend the meetings if you are an owner (or company nominee) but will need the permission of the executive committee to speak. You will not be able to vote.
Go to the Executive committee of the owners corporation page for more information.
Repairs and maintenance
The owners corporation is responsible for repairs to common property, owners are responsible for repairs within their individual lots.
Where does the money for repairs and maintenance of common property come from?
Levies must be raised to do repairs. A motion is put to a general meeting to raise levies to cover the cost of the work. The amount will be paid by owners based on their unit entitlement.
What if the damage was accidental rather than caused by negligence? Is there a difference in who has responsibility to fix it?
I have filled out a maintenance form to get a repair done which is taking time. What should I do?
Speak to the secretary or the strata managing agent to find out how the matter is progressing. If the repairs are being delayed you can lodge an application for mediation with Fair Trading to try to settle the matter.
Some of my possessions were in the garage and they have been damaged. Who is responsible?
The owner or occupier is responsible for things inside their lot. They may be able to claim on their contents insurance policy.
Levies, administrative and sinking funds
The owners corporation is responsible for setting up an administrative and sinking fund and can raise levies from owners to pay for the expenses of running the strata scheme.
The owners corporation keeps putting up the levies. What can I do?
Levies are decided at general meetings and must be discussed and accepted by a vote of the owners. You can vote against the increase or put up a motion for a different levy amount if you wish. A managing agent may put a motion for an increase in levies on the meeting agenda but cannot impose levies.
Levies are normally only increased if there is a need to do new works or there are additional expenses. Ask why the increase is being made if you are not sure.
If you are concerned about rising costs you could try to negotiate paying in instalments. If you think the levies are really too high, you can lodge an application for mediation with Fair Trading to try to resolve the matter.
I did not get a levy notice so I have not paid anything for ages. Is this a problem?
Your levies must be paid whether or not you receive a notice. Unpaid levies mean you will not be able to vote at meetings. Make sure your current address is on the strata roll so you can receive notices of both levies and meetings. You can pay your levies any time up until a meeting starts, in order to be financial and therefore eligible to vote.
What can we do when people do not pay their levies?
The owners corporation can impose a charge of 10% simple interest for levies not paid within 1 month of their due date. The owners corporation can also take debt recovery action through the local court.
Why do we need to have a sinking fund plan?
All buildings need to be maintained regularly to retain their value and stop minor damage and deterioration becoming major problems. Developing a 10-year sinking fund plan means that future repairs and maintenance are anticipated well in advance. The owners corporation can then agree on the best way to raise levies to cover these future costs.
For more information about levies, administrative and sinking funds, go to the Levies and the administrative and sinking funds section of the Responsibilities of the owners corporation page.
For more information about sinking funds, go to the Sinking funds page.
Strata managing agents
The owners corporation can engage a strata managing agent to work on behalf of all owners to help manage the scheme.
How much influence do we have over the managing agent?
The managing agent is the employee of the owners corporation. They can offer advice and direction, but final authority lies with the owners corporation.
Our strata manager is terrible. He never follows up on our requests for repairs and we think his fees are too high for the work he does. Sometimes we aren't certain he is following the Act exactly.
You should discuss the matter with the agent. You can also hold meetings of the owners corporation to make decisions and the agent will be bound by these. If this does not change things you could terminate the agent’s contract, but check first to see what termination provisions apply. The executive committee can always hold meetings to vote on carrying out the repairs themselves.
We sacked our managing agent – now they will not give us the financial records. What do we do?
Write to the agent. The owners corporation can apply to the Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal for an order for the agent to return the records.
How do we find a good managing agent?
Ask owners from other schemes or contact the Institute of Strata Title Management www.istm.org.au or (02) 9904 849.
We have decided to manage our property ourselves. How do we organise this?
Terminate the agent’s agreement, then hold executive committee and general meetings to make decisions on your management issues. You may need to convene a general meeting to vote in a new executive committee who will then appoint the chairperson, treasurer and secretary at their first executive committee meeting. The executive committee will probably then take over many of the duties that the agent has been doing.
Go to the Managing agents and caretakers page for more information.
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