for everything you need to know about strata...

strataman gesturing
"While you'll find lots of useful information contained in the pages of this website it represents only a small selection of the massive amount available out there in cyberspace....in fact there's so much out there it can be a bit overwhelming.  On this page I've included some handy links to most of the important sites which will, hopefully, point you in the right direction for your searches.  It's by no means an exhaustive list but they should provide you with most of what you need.  Good luck!"

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HELPFUL STRATA INFORMATION WEBSITES


NSW CONSUMER, TRADER and TENANCY TRIBUNAL (CTTT)
Many people know the CTTT as a division of the NSW Department of Commerce but trying to find the tribunal's website from the Dept of Commerce website is quite a challenge - even if you decide to use the search facility.  After stumbling around the plethora of menus and options available on the main home page with no luck I gave up in frustration.  Even my favourite - the sitemap link - failed to deliver this time.

The quickest way to go to the tribunal's website is either via the links on this website or simply type cttt into google and you'll notice the website link appears at the top of the list - beautiful, easy and quick.

Once at the CTTT website you'll see it's much easier to find what you're looking for.  The menus are pretty clear and there don't appear to be many dead ends.  Considering you're probably visiting the CTTT site due to some unresolved dispute, the main areas of interest will mostly be under the Applications, Dispute Resolution and Divisions main menu tabs.  You'll only need the other sections if you happen to go further into the CTTT dispute resolution process.  These 3 are a great start and, overall, the website is pretty straightforward.

TIP - just remember to choose the appropriate division based on your type of scheme such as the Strata & Community Schemes division or the Commercial division or the Retirement Villages division and so on
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NSW LAND & PROPERTY INFORMATION (LPI)
The NSW Land & Property Information department (LPI), known previously as the NSW Department of Lands, has had the Land and Property Information Search Division incorporated into it making it an even larger source of information than ever before.  Their new website offers links to everything (including the latest social media buttons), is in the popular 'blog' format and tries hard to make a big amount of information as easily accessible as possible.  But, even with all the changes, finding what you're looking for can be a task in its self if you don't know where you should be looking.

A really quick way I use to find something is to go straight to the Sitemap link at the very bottom of every page and scan through that.  You can then link to any section on the site from there.  I personally find this the easiest way to find and go straight to something - but you, of course, might be different.  However, be prepared to come across things you probably didn't even know existed by searching the site this way.

One of the more useful 'Strata specific' topics I could find on this site (thanks to the sitemap) was in Plan Forms section.  Here, you'll see all sorts of forms for both Strata schemes and Community Schemes.  That seemed to be the only useful reference to Strata & Community on the site.  Let me know if you discover anything else really worthwhile.

For more Strata specific topics, you may find it much better to go straight to the Registrar General's Directions site - which is mentioned below - and start your search there.  The LPI site appears to be there primarily for the not-so-strata-specific topics - of which there are many.

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NSW LPI - ONLINE INFORMATION
This division of the NSW Land & Property Information department allows the general public access to a wide variety of information covering all sorts of land and property dealings - strata & community included.  Access to this information, using this facility, is either free or attracts a nominal fee which varies depending on the type of information you need.  You actually need to go to the LPI Online Shop to use this service.

NOTE - some people have reported receiving various sorts of security risk type messages from their browsers when accessing this site.  If you get one of these messages your browser will probably ask you to confirm that you wish to continue on to the site.  You can as this site is completely safe....

Some of the searches available include:

  • Registered Strata plans
  • Registered Community plans
  • Number of lots created in a scheme
  • Titles (including Common & Association Property Titles)
  • Prior Titles
  • Registered By-laws (which can be found on the Common & Association Property Title)
  • Any registered dealings affecting a Strata Scheme
  • Land values
  • ...and much more

All the fees are clearly spelled out (with most being around $12) in the About Us section under Our Prices.  Just make sure you understand what it is you are searching for.  The terminology used here can be a bit confusing to us strata-oriented folk so make sure to use the LPI Customer Service Centre on 1300 052 637 if you're not sure.

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NSW LPI - REGISTRAR GENERAL'S DIRECTIONS
This division of the NSW Land & Property Information department is quite an intriguing one and comes up with some pleasant surprises.

The main index on the home page (across the top) shows 6 sections with one for Strata Schemes and another for Community Schemes and they both deal with a lot of the main areas discussed on this website.  Concentrate mainly on these 2.

While a lot of the information seems to be aimed primarily at those considering developing strata and community schemes, it still provides some really excellent explanations of most of the main topics for those looking for answers.  There are also many of the official forms you will need in the running of a strata/community scheme so don't dismiss this valuable resource too early.

To save you hunting around for them yourself, here are the links to take you directly to the main form sections: Plan Forms, Strata Schemes - Approved Forms and Community Schemes - Approved Forms.

The terminology used on this site can be a little confusing and it can also get a tad overwhelming but once you become familiar with it - and the strange locations that some things appear under - it all becomes worthwhile.  Just grab a cup of coffee (or tea) and take your time.

Have a good look at the pull-down menus in the leftside main navigation menu for the 2 main areas - i.e. Strata Schemes & Community Schemes - to see what I mean....it's most definitely worth a look and is a surprisingly terrific reference resource.  You'll learn heaps if you dig up some of the real gems scattered around this site.

TIP - Don't forget to go to the Sitemap link at the bottom of every page to see all the other things covered by this comprehensive site.
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NSW OFFICE of FAIR TRADING (OFT)
The website of the NSW Office of Fair Trading (a division of the NSW Department of Commerce) covers many areas including a comprehensive section on all things Strata Title.  Go directly to the Strata Schemes section to find all sorts of forms, fact sheets, publications and legislative documents to look at, read in detail and download (if you wish) - and all for free too!  Neighbourhoods and Community Associations has a section of its own as well.  There's not a whole lot of information here but click on the Living in a community or neighbourhood scheme link and you'll get access to an excellent reference booklet.

Involved in a dispute of some sort?  Well, there are a number of helpful links covering the various areas of dispute resolution in the Strata Schemes section.  Included are detailed procedures lists, forms, contact points and so on.  Just go to Resolving Issues - Strata Schemes section.  Definitely worth a look.  Oh, make sure you don't miss the 2 extra information tabs that suddenly appear under the Resolving Issues - Strata Schemes menu tab.

Another section NOT to overlook is the About Us section.  This section should have been named About This Site as, yes, there's the usual 'about us' blurb BUT there's also quite a few very useful links in the section's left-hand navigational menu.

Especially look at the sections under the Our Services tab on Resolving Issues and Forms.  The sections on Online services and Legislation have SOME Strata info (but not a lot) while some 'gems' can be uncovered in the Publications section (but click on the Download & Print Publications to get the good stuff).

Just remember that this site covers EVERTHING to do with Fair Trading in Australia and while all these areas contain something worthwhile pertaining to Strata Schemes, there IS a lot of other topics too.

This site gets a MUST VISIT rating for those serious about getting good, detailed, up-to-date information on Strata Title in NSW.  Make sure you focus on the main Strata areas and you'll uncover pretty much all you need to know.

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OWNERS CORPORATION NETWORK (OCN)
The OCN is quite an interesting entity due to its heavy 'owner' representation and, as such, could prove to be quite helpful to all strata and community dwellers.  However, membership to the OCN - required to access some parts of the site and to provide voting rights to the member - is not free and, at the time of writing (August 2011), ranged from $A50 for an "individual" annual membership to $A250 for a "large scheme" Owners Corporation annual membership.

The membership period runs from July 1st to June 30th each year for everyone regardless of when you start.  A number of conditions also apply to these memberships so make sure you have a look at Membership section on the site for more details.

Here's a quick outline of the current membership types:

  • Owners Corporation (Large) - for Schemes with more than 100 lots
  • Owners Corporation (Small) - for Schemes with up to 100 lots
  • Individual - For individual Lot Owners of residential strata property

The site's About Us page outlines the purpose of the network and some of what they say is reproduced here:

"The Owners Corporation Network (OCN) is an organisation of owners helping owners – people who have experience in strata living; who have confronted many of its inherent problems; and who have evolved strategies for dealing with the problems that the rapid growth in apartment and townhouse living inevitably brings. Our expertise is based not only on knowledge and experience, but on empathy – we understand the emotional impact of strata issues, as well as the legal, social and financial implications of living under a different set of rules from those that apply to free-standing homes"

If you're looking for somewhere that pulls together a huge number of informative articles (from various media sources) covering everything from 'Acoustics to Washing' then look no further.  The main navigation menu on the left side list lots and lots of topics that most strata dwellers will face at some time or other.  It's essentially a collection of articles covering the topics listed and some of it makes compelling reading.  Each topic generally has more than one article but some are restricted to 'members only'.

TIP - Sifting through the topics - and then the articles - one by one can be both time consuming and frustrating so make sure you utilise the Search button in the top right corner of the site.  I tested it on a couple of things (like Pets, Bylaws and Levies) and it grabbed all articles that contained those terms.  Therefore, to make life a little easier, workout what it is your researching and search away.  I noticed that doing it this way actually pulled more articles than going directly to the subject (if it was listed there).

NOTE:  If your search query comes up empty (and it's a common topic) then you'll probably find it's one of those restricted topics where membership is required or you may have to try a few variations of the word.  For example - typing in floorboards brings back no results but flooring does...

My Overall Opinion - good for digging up information on just about anything to do with Strata and most definitely worth bookmarking the site.  Note currently being a member makes it difficult for me to vouch for the other 'restricted' parts of the site - like the forum.

As some of the articles can get pretty old, pretty fast, always check the date so you know how current the information is.  Some information can remain applicable after many years but, even so, it's always good to know what you're reading.  You may even consider subscribing to the RSS feed so that when a new article is posted you'll automatically get it.  Just make sure you subscribe to the RSS button on the Home page if you wish to get all articles posted.

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REAL ESTATE INSTITUTE of NSW (REINSW)
The Real Estate Institute of NSW site has a lot of interesting and worthwhile sections and articles on all sorts of topics (including strata) BUT.....in a lot of instances you're required to be a member to gain access those sections or articles.

There are a quite number of varying membership types available which seem to be aimed primarily at those working IN the industry in some sort of official capacity and the required fees reflect this.  So, the bottom-line is: they can be a bit pricey for the average person in the street unless you feel you would really benefit from the information they offer.

For more detailed information on the benefits, types and costs of membership have a look at Member Benefits & Services and Membership Categories & Fees.

While you can try and find some free items, it can get a little frustrating diving from section to section only to find you will be asked to log in before gaining access.  SOme of the areas will allow guests' so you'll be asked to leave your details to gain access here.  However, if there's lots of stuff that interests you it may be worthwhile joining up.  Only you can decide.

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REAL ESTATE INSTITUTE of AUSTRALIA (REIA)
The Real Estate Institute of Australia site has a lot of Australia-wide generic information freely available.  Most of it though is not Strata specific at all but still may give you what you're looking for.  The quickest way to see what's there is to checkout the sitemap page which lists everything on the site.  The sitemap link is at the bottom of every page in the very far right corner.

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STRATA COMMUNITY AUSTRALIA (NSW)
- formerly the NSW Institute of Strata Title Management (ISTM)
This official body is a professional organisation representing the Strata Title industry in New South Wales.  It was previously known as the NSW Institute of Strata Management and could be the fore-runner of a nationalised strata system.  Now wouldn't that be a step in the right direction...

Its mission statement (which seems to have remained the same) states:

"As the peak industry body in New South Wales, the [Institute of Strata Title Management Ltd], is committed to maintain the highest professional and ethical standards in the operation of strata & community title properties for the benefit of the people living and working in them"

The SCA's website holds a vast amount of information that may prove useful in certain circumstances.  Interestingly, I have noticed that lots of data sheets and fact sheets still have the old ISTM logo and references.  I expect it will be some time before the changeover is finalised.  In some instances they may not even bother altering the information.

This is just something I felt you should know about to avoid any confusion when reading the various bits of information on the site - some with the SCA logo and others with the ISTM logo.

While there is a heavy slant towards Strata Training, which is primarily aimed at those working IN the industry, it does contain other information (and training) that may prove useful to owners, tenants, students and Executive Committee members.

To access the site's restricted information (and some services) you need to be a Member and, currently, there seem to be TWO main types of Membership - one is a membership for the individual (known as an Associate Membership) while the other is a Corporate Membership for strata managers and strata industry suppliers.

Detailed eligibility requirements for each of these memberships can be found on the SCA's Membership Categories page and the benefits of being a member are on the Benefits page.

COSTS - It's not free to be a member of the SCA and working out the cost for each of these memberships is not completely straight-forward due to the variety of categories, chapters, conditions and other options available.  As an individual, you will be looking at $155 per year PLUS an inital joining fee of $100 (as of 2012).  The prices escalate pretty quickly from that point for the Corporate Memberships - as is to be expected.

The SCA has kindly provided a PDF (which you can download) that details the pricing options for almost all the categories but those of you wanting to join might like to give the SCA a call to find out exactly what it will set you back for the type of membership you are looking for.  This advice is especially relevant for those Executive Committee members out there.

Here's the link for that PDF: SCA Membership Application.  It contains sections on:

  • How Do I Become a Member?
  • How Do I Qualify to be a Member?
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Membership Prices
  • Membership Application Form
  • Payment Details

The Hub - The ISTM launched the Knowledge Hub service during 2009 and it appears the SCA has decided to continue offering this service.  However, it's not free and comes with a relatively modest yearly charge (about $150 as of Sep 2011).  I think you can still get a 50% discount on your first year's access to the Knowledg Hub - but don't hold me to that.

Essentially this service allows you to ask 5 email questions (per year) on anything to do with Strata.  Questions beyond the 5 limit attract an hourly fee.  You'll find the Knowledge Hub section under the Consumer Info tab on the SCA website's Home page.  There's even a PDF link at the bottom of the page so you can download a Membership kit and Application form.

2012 Update - I still haven't experienced this service first hand yet so, if anyone tries it please let me know your thoughts.
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Other useful information resources

FACT SHEETS & BOOKLETS  (for NSW)

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NSW LEGISLATION

Strata Title Terms and Jargon

strataman says
"Sometimes the websites to a few of the legal documents listed above don't always seem to be working so, if you ARE having trouble getting through, please be patient and try again later on during the day.   Please also be aware that some of the documents (due to their size) can take just a little while to load especially if your connection is not all that fast."

STRATA MANAGEMENT

Looking for a GOOD Strata Manager?  Then you might find it worthwhile giving the company below a call.  All Strata Managers are definitely NOT the same - contrary to popular 'misguided' opinion.

In every industry you get the good ones...and the not-so-good ones...and the downright terrible ones.   O'Connors is in the GOOD category.   Give them a call or drop them an email to discuss your scheme.   Alternatively click on the Experience the O'Connors Difference link at the bottom of this page to visit their website.

O'CONNORS STRATA & PROPERTY SPECIALISTS PTY LTD
Level 1,  24 Ross Street   Parramatta NSW 2150
Tel: (02) 9683 1811  Fax: (02) 9630 4279


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DISCLAIMER:  All information on this website is of a general nature and is intended as a guide only.  Readers should check all information obtained from this website for accuracy from other sources and seek professional legal advice before taking any action based on any information obtained from this website.  Information on this website should not be substituted for proper legal advice.  The owners of this website will not be held responsible for any action taken as a consequence of same.

EXTERNAL SOURCES:  The owners of this website do not make any warranty or representations regarding the information, products, services provided by or qualifications of any external sources listed on this website.  Readers should make their own appropriate enquiries regarding accuracy, qualifications, licences, etc.  The owners of this website will not be responsible or liable in any way for any representations made by any external sources listed on this website.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  This website deals with strata matters in NSW, Australia only.  Legislation varies in different states and territories and in other countries.  For information pertaining to places outside of NSW, Australia please refer to the appropriate legislation for your region.


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