Latest news.

May 11

Collective Sales in Victoria: Why the 100% Unanimous Threshold Is About to Change

Victoria currently requires 100% unanimous consent to sell a whole strata complex, uniquely strict in Australia. The Owners Corporations Act review panel has signalled this will likely drop, possibly to NSW's 75% threshold. This is what that means for owners in older Melbourne blocks, what to do if you are approached by a developer, and why the dissenting-owner protections built into NSW's model matter.

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UnitBuddy Team

May 10

Queensland's 1 January 2027 Smoke Alarm Deadline: What Bodies Corporate and Lot Owners Need to Do

From 1 January 2027, every Queensland home (including every apartment) must have interconnected photoelectric smoke alarms compliant with AS 3786-2014. Most public guidance has been written for houses. This is the apartment-specific guide: what's a lot responsibility, what's body corporate responsibility, and how to use s158 of the BCCM Act to procure collectively.

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UnitBuddy Team

May 10

Visitor Parking in Australian Strata: A State-by-State Guide

Visitor parking looks simple until residents start using the bays, short-stay guests rotate through the building, or the committee tries to enforce rules it does not actually have. This state-by-state guide explains the practical position across Australia.

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UnitBuddy Team

May 9

Parcel Lockers, Food Deliveries and Package Theft in Apartment Buildings

Australian apartment buildings now move tens of millions of parcels a year through lobbies designed for letters. This is the practical guide to courier access, parcel locker systems, refrigerated lockers, CCTV, theft response and the building-design fixes that actually work.

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UnitBuddy Team

May 9

Shared Amenities in Strata: The Real Cost of Pools, Gyms, Rooftops and Guest Suites

Pools, gyms, rooftops, cinema rooms and guest suites lift resale value and daily life, and they are the most regulated, most insured and most expensive parts of an apartment building. This is the standards, the levy maths, the booking design and the liability picture committees actually have to manage.

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UnitBuddy Team

May 8

Illegal Dumping and Bulky Waste in Apartment Buildings

Mattresses, e-waste and renovation debris are a recurring strata cost. The fix is rarely a sign on the bin room door. It is a working bulky-waste system tied to council pickups, EPA rules, move-out timing and a small amount of evidence.

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UnitBuddy Team

May 8

Moving Into a Strata Apartment: Lift Bookings, Damage Bonds and the 2025 NSW Reforms

Move-in day is the operational stress test for an apartment building. Lift damage is the single largest cost driver, bonds now have a reasonableness standard in NSW, and most strata insurance policies will not pay for damage caused during a move. This is what owners, tenants, committees and removalists need to know in 2026.

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UnitBuddy Team

May 7

Common Property Storage in Strata: Bikes, Prams, Mobility Scooters and the Hard Line on Fire Egress

A pram in a corridor is not a tidiness problem. It is a fire egress, accessibility and insurance problem with rules behind it: the National Construction Code, AS 1668.1, AS 1851 and a growing pile of FRNSW lithium battery data. This is what committees should actually enforce, and how.

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UnitBuddy Team

May 7

Digital Keys, Fobs and Intercom Access: Who Controls Entry to an Apartment Building?

Access control has become a strata governance question, not a facilities one. Fobs, mobile credentials, intercom apps and audit logs decide who can enter the building, how quickly access can be removed, and what data the owners corporation is legally responsible for. This is the practical position for Australian schemes.

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UnitBuddy Team

May 6

Balcony Rules in Strata: BBQs, Plants, Privacy Screens, Laundry and the Waterproofing Trap

Balconies feel private but sit on top of the building's most expensive surface (the waterproofing membrane) and the most complaint-prone interface between lots. This is the lot vs common property line, the codes that actually apply, and what committees should write into balcony rules.

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UnitBuddy Team

May 6

When Neighbours Treat Common Property Like Their Own: Informal Use, Exclusive-Use By-Laws and How to Unwind a Tolerated Habit

A planter in the corridor. A storage cabinet by the fire stair. A car that always parks in the same visitor bay. A sign on a shared wall. Common property creep is a slow-motion governance problem with a defined legal pathway (temporary use, minor renovation, exclusive-use by-law) and a long history of tribunal orders for committees that get the steps wrong.

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UnitBuddy Team

May 5

Accessibility in Strata: Ramps, Lifts, Disability Modifications and Ageing Residents

Accessibility is becoming an ordinary strata governance issue as residents age in place and disability modifications move from rare requests to a regular committee workflow. This is the legal framework, the cost ranges, the state-by-state approval pathways, and the process a committee should follow before saying yes or no.

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UnitBuddy Team

May 5

Heat, Ventilation and Summer Readiness in Australian Strata Buildings

Split-system approvals, condensate disputes, plant rooms running too hot, lifts that fail in heatwaves, and the welfare protocols every committee should have ready before December. A practical guide to summer in an Australian apartment building.

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UnitBuddy Team

May 5

After the PEC Report: What a Post-Commission Strata Industry Actually Looks Like in NSW

The NSW Productivity and Equality Commission's March 2026 final report estimates a ban on strata manager commissions could deliver $300 million in net benefits over 15 years. This is what the four options actually mean, what's already happening voluntarily, and what committees should do while the legislation is drafted.

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UnitBuddy Team

May 5

Sinking Fund vs Capital Works Fund: How Strata Terminology Differs Across Australia

The long-term reserve fund that pays for major building works has a different name in every Australian state: sinking fund, capital works fund, reserve fund, maintenance plan fund. The mechanics are identical. Here is what each one means, why the labels differ, and why what your fund is called matters less than what's actually in it.

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UnitBuddy Team

May 5

Australian Strata Terminology: A State-by-State Reference

Strata, body corporate, owners corporation, strata company: the same legal idea wears a different name in every Australian state. A complete reference for reading scheme documents, certificates, and legislation from any jurisdiction without getting lost in the language.

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UnitBuddy Team

May 5

What Does Strata Insurance Cover? A Plain-English Guide for Australian Apartment Owners (2026)

What is and isn't covered by your building's strata insurance policy, where the gaps are, and how the rules differ across all 8 Australian jurisdictions. Written for owners, not strata managers.

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UnitBuddy Team

May 5

What Is Strata Insurance? A Beginner's Guide for Australian Apartment Owners (2026)

A clear, jargon-free explanation of what strata insurance is, who pays for it, what it does, and what you need to know as an Australian apartment owner: written for first-time buyers and anyone confused by the terminology.

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UnitBuddy Team

May 5

What Strata Insurance Do I Need? A 2026 Guide for Australian Apartment Owners

Strata insurance, contents insurance, landlord insurance: what's actually required and what you should hold as an apartment owner in Australia. State-by-state, plain English, with the gap most owners miss.

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UnitBuddy Team

May 4

How to Set Up Internet for a Strata Building So the CCTV Can Be Accessed: A Deep Dive

Putting cameras up is the easy part. The hard part is everything around them: getting an internet connection that's actually owned by the owners corporation, making the footage viewable from somewhere other than the basement, doing it without exposing the building to ransomware botnets, and making sure the whole thing complies with eight different surveillance laws plus the federal Privacy Act.

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UnitBuddy Team

May 3

Changing Floor Coverings in Strata: A State-by-State Guide for 2026

Carpet swaps are usually fine. Timber, vinyl planks, tiles and engineered floors are not. This is the practical state-by-state guide to what owners need before lifting a single floorboard in an Australian apartment.

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UnitBuddy Team

May 3

What Strata Committees Should Watch in the Next 12 Months: A State-by-State List for May 2026 to May 2027

NSW reforms are still rolling out, Queensland has a hard smoke alarm deadline, Victoria is digesting its Owners Corporations Act review, and WA is finishing its 10-year plan transition. Here is the practical committee checklist for every Australian state and territory.

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UnitBuddy Team

Apr 30

How to Benchmark Your Strata Levies: A Committee's Methodology

Most strata levy benchmarks you'll find online are vendor marketing or industry surveys behind paywalls. This is a different approach: a methodology your committee can apply to your own building's data to work out whether levies are realistic, low, or high, without relying on a single industry-wide number that probably doesn't fit your scheme anyway.

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UnitBuddy Team

Apr 30

How to Read a Strata Management Proposal: A Committee's Guide

When your committee receives a strata management proposal, whether at first appointment, at renewal, or while comparing options, the schedule structure is doing more work than the headline price. This is a constructive guide to reading what's actually being proposed, comparing two proposals on a like-for-like basis, and asking the right questions before signing.

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UnitBuddy Team

Apr 30

The 2026 NSW Strata Reform Timeline: Every Date That Affects Your Building

NSW is rolling out the most significant strata reforms in a decade across five distinct stages from July 2025 through late 2026. This is the single-page reference: every date, every obligation, what committees must do, and what owners should know. Updated as commencement dates are confirmed.

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UnitBuddy Team

Apr 30

Self-Managed Strata in Australia: A Complete 2026 Guide

Self-management is legal in every Australian state, but it is not right for every building. This is an honest, state-by-state guide to what self-managed strata actually means, the work that transfers to owners, when it makes sense, and when it does not.

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UnitBuddy Team

Apr 30

Strata Committee Software: How to Choose in 2026

A 2026 buyer's guide for committee members evaluating strata software, not for strata managers. Covers the four categories of platform, the twelve features that actually matter for a committee, pricing model traps, red flags, and a decision framework that admits which buildings UnitBuddy is the wrong choice for.

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UnitBuddy Team

Apr 29

Water Leaks From Above: Who Pays and How to Force a Repair

Water leaks are now the single largest category of NCAT strata cases, with applications growing 45% in five years. This is how to identify who's actually responsible, what 'strict liability' means for your owners corporation, and what to do when the OC won't act.

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UnitBuddy Team

Apr 27

Are Strata Managers Properly Qualified? A 2026 State-by-State Guide

Strata managers handle money, insurance, records, meetings and maintenance instructions, but qualification rules vary sharply across Australia. Before appointing a manager in 2026, committees should know what is mandatory and what is merely a sales claim.

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UnitBuddy Team

Apr 24

Section 184 Certificates Are Changing: What Buyers and Sellers Need to Know From April 2026

From 1 April 2026, NSW Section 184 certificates must disclose embedded networks, compliance orders and meeting history. The single most important document in apartment due diligence has just become significantly more powerful: read it slowly and use it well.

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UnitBuddy Team

Apr 21

After Four Corners: How to Audit Your Strata Manager for Hidden Commissions

The 2024 ABC Four Corners investigation exposed a strata management industry rife with undisclosed commissions, kickbacks and conflicts of interest. This is how to audit your own building's arrangements, and what to do about what you find.

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UnitBuddy Team

Apr 18

When a Developer Wants to Buy the Whole Building: Collective Sales Explained

Older apartment blocks are attracting collective sale interest, but a committee cannot simply decide to sell the building. This is how strata renewal works, where the 75% and 80% thresholds matter, and what owners should ask before signing anything.

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UnitBuddy Team

Apr 16

How to Change Strata Managers Without Wrecking Your Building

October 2025 reforms gave NCAT new power to vary or end management agreements. But changing managers is still one of the most disruptive transitions a building can go through. This is how to do it without losing records, breaching contracts, or fracturing the committee.

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UnitBuddy Team

Apr 16

Mandatory Strata Committee Training in NSW: What We Know So Far

Mandatory strata committee training is part of NSW's next reform wave. The final details are still being released, but committees should start planning now for budgets, onboarding, and member expectations.

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UnitBuddy Team

Apr 13

The 10-Year Capital Works Plan: How to Read One and Spot the Red Flags

From 1 April 2026, NSW schemes must move to the standard form when preparing, revising, or replacing their 10-year capital works plan. This is how to read one properly, what a healthy plan looks like, and the warning signs that tell you a building is heading for a special levy crisis.

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UnitBuddy Team

Apr 13

The Short-Term Rental Crackdown: New Rules in WA, NSW, VIC and QLD for 2026

Short-term rental regulation has tightened significantly across Australia. WA's registration scheme commenced in January 2026; NSW's 180-day cap continues; VIC is reviewing further restrictions. This is the state-by-state picture and what it means for committees and owners.

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UnitBuddy Team

Apr 10

Surveillance Cameras and Smart Doorbells in Strata: What's Allowed and What's Not

Smart doorbells, indoor cameras, and ring-style devices are now in millions of Australian apartments, and they are generating a growing volume of strata disputes. The overlap between privacy law, surveillance law and strata law now matters in ordinary apartment disputes.

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UnitBuddy Team

Apr 8

E-Bikes, E-Scooters and Lithium-Ion Batteries: The New Fire Risk for Strata Buildings

From 1 February 2026, NSW enforces strict product-safety requirements on e-mobility devices and batteries. This is what strata committees, owners and tenants need to know about the fire risk reshaping apartment living.

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UnitBuddy Team

Apr 7

Embedded Networks Explained: Why You're Paying Above-Market Rates for Electricity, Gas and Hot Water

More than 49,000 NSW households are locked into embedded utility networks that bypass the standard retail market, usually paying significantly more than they would otherwise. From April 2026, this must be disclosed on every Section 184 certificate. This is what owners need to know.

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UnitBuddy Team

Apr 4

Smoking on Balconies in Strata: How NCAT and Tribunals Are Banning It Across Australia

Recent NCAT and QCAT decisions have ordered residents to stop smoking on balconies, ruled that drift smoke is a hazard, and given owners corporations new tools to enforce smoke-free by-laws. This is the legal position across Australia in 2026.

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UnitBuddy Team

Apr 4

What UnitBuddy Helps a Strata Committee Actually Do

Committee work is mostly unpaid, time-poor and judged in hindsight. UnitBuddy gives committees a clearer record of money, maintenance, compliance and owner questions before decisions become arguments.

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UnitBuddy Team

Apr 2

NSW Strata Hub Annual Reporting: What Owners Corporations Need to File

Every NSW strata scheme, including most two-lot schemes, must report key information through Strata Hub each year within three months of the AGM. Here is what committees should prepare before the deadline bites.

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UnitBuddy Team

Apr 1

Mould in Your Apartment: Your Legal Rights When the Owners Corporation Won't Act

Mould is one of the most common and most damaging strata problems in Australia. Recent NCAT and VCAT decisions have ordered owners corporations to pay for repairs, alternative accommodation, and consequential losses. This is what your rights actually are.

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UnitBuddy Team

Mar 26

FOGO and Apartment Bin Rooms: Preparing Strata Buildings for Food Waste Reform

Food organics collection is moving from council trial to ordinary building operations. Apartment committees need to think about bin rooms, contamination, smell, pests, signage and resident habits before FOGO arrives at the loading dock.

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UnitBuddy Team

Mar 22

Building Managers and Caretakers: How to Audit the Person Running Your Building

A building manager can make a strata building feel well run or quietly expensive. With NSW reforms tightening duties and disclosures, committees should audit the role, the contract, the records and the conflicts before renewal.

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UnitBuddy Team

Mar 18

New Developer Handover Rules: What 2026 Buyers Should Check at the First AGM

From 1 April 2026, NSW developers of new multi-storey schemes face stronger handover requirements for initial maintenance schedules and levy estimates. For new apartment owners, the first AGM is where those promises need to be tested.

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UnitBuddy Team

Mar 13

Apartment Renovations in Strata: What Needs Approval in 2026

Kitchen refresh, bathroom works, timber floors, air conditioning, walls, waterproofing: renovation approvals in strata depend on the type of work, not how simple it feels to the owner. This is the 2026 guide before you book trades.

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UnitBuddy Team

Mar 11

NSW Fire Safety Rules Changed in 2026: What Strata Committees Must Check Now

From 13 February 2026, NSW apartment buildings must maintain essential fire safety systems under AS 1851 unless a performance solution applies. This is the practical committee checklist before the Annual Fire Safety Statement becomes a problem.

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UnitBuddy Team

Mar 4

The Hidden Fees in Your Strata Contract: Understanding Schedule B, C, D, E & F

Your strata management fee is just the beginning. Learn how Schedule B through F charges in Australian strata contracts can double your real costs, and what to do about it.

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UnitBuddy Team

Mar 4

Schedule B Fees: The Silent Budget Killer in Australian Strata

How 'additional service' charges quietly drain your building's funds, and seven things your committee can do to take back control.

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UnitBuddy Team

Mar 4

Insurance Commissions & Disbursements: The Fees Your Strata Manager Hopes You Won't Question

A deep dive into Schedule C and Schedule D: the commission structures and disbursement charges that can inflate your real strata management costs by tens of thousands of dollars.

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UnitBuddy Team

Feb 19

Pets in Strata: The Legal Landscape After Recent Tribunal Rulings Across Australia

Blanket pet bans in strata are dead. But that doesn't mean it's a free-for-all. This is the current legal position on keeping pets in Australian apartments, state by state, and what it means for owners, tenants and committees.

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UnitBuddy Team

Feb 18

How a Building's Sinking Fund (Capital Works Fund) Affects Your Apartment's Resale Value

Your apartment's value isn't just about location and floor plan. It's deeply connected to your building's financial health. The capital works fund directly affects what buyers will pay for your property.

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UnitBuddy Team

Feb 17

How to Read a Strata Report Before You Buy

A strata report should slow you down, not scare you off. The job is to separate ordinary building issues from risks that could change the price, the loan approval or your first few years of ownership.

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UnitBuddy Team

Feb 16

Short-Term Rentals Like Airbnb in Strata: What Your By-Laws Say and What's Changing

Airbnb and short-term letting in strata buildings is one of the most divisive issues in Australian apartment living. From mandatory registration to new levies and strata banning powers, this is the full picture for 2026.

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UnitBuddy Team

Feb 15

How to Raise a Strata Dispute Without Making Enemies of Your Neighbours

Strata disputes are inevitable, but how you handle them determines whether you resolve the issue or create a years-long feud. A practical guide to raising disputes effectively while preserving your relationships.

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UnitBuddy Team

Feb 14

Noise Complaints in Apartments: What Strata Can and Can't Enforce

Noise is the number one cause of strata disputes in Australia. Understanding what's enforceable, what isn't, and how to resolve issues before they escalate can save you years of frustration.

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UnitBuddy Team

Feb 12

Smart Technology in Strata Buildings: What Is Worth Paying For

Smart-building upgrades only make sense when they remove a real problem: poor access control, water leaks, wasted energy, weak records or maintenance delays. The sales pitch matters less than the job the system will do.

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UnitBuddy Team

Feb 11

Solar Panels on Strata Buildings: How to Get It Approved and Who Benefits

Solar energy can slash common area electricity costs and boost property values, but getting approval in a strata building involves navigating by-laws, shared benefits and installation logistics. This is how to make it happen.

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UnitBuddy Team

Feb 9

Installing EV Charging in Your Apartment Building: How to Get Strata Approval

EV ownership is surging but apartment dwellers face unique challenges. From sustainability infrastructure laws to load management and government grants, this guide explains how to get EV charging approved in strata.

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UnitBuddy Team

Feb 7

How to Force a Strata Scheme to Fix a Defect When They Keep Ignoring You

Your strata committee won't act on a serious defect. This is how to escalate, from formal notices to Fair Trading complaints to tribunal orders, with the new 2025 enforcement powers on your side.

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UnitBuddy Team

Feb 5

Building Defects After Settlement: Your Legal Rights as a New Apartment Owner

Discovered defects in your new apartment? From waterproofing failures to structural cracks, this is what the law says about your rights, who's liable, and the critical time limits you need to know.

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UnitBuddy Team

Feb 3

Who Is Responsible for Repairs in a Strata Building? Common Lot vs. Common Property Explained

When something breaks in your apartment, who pays? The answer depends on whether it's common property or part of your lot, and the boundary isn't always where you think it is.

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UnitBuddy Team

Feb 1

Combustible Cladding in Australian Apartments: Where Things Stand in 2026

Years after the cladding crisis began, thousands of Australian buildings still have combustible cladding. This is the current state of rectification programs, insurance implications, and what owners need to know.

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UnitBuddy Team

Jan 30

Contents vs. Strata Insurance: What Apartment Owners Must Have in 2026

Your strata scheme's insurance doesn't cover everything you think it does. A clear breakdown of what the building policy covers, what you need to insure yourself, and the costly gap in between.

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UnitBuddy Team

Jan 27

What Strata Insurance Actually Covers (And What It Doesn't): A State-by-State Breakdown

Strata insurance is mandatory, but what it covers varies between states and policies. From common property to fixtures and fittings, this is what's included, and the gaps that could cost you thousands.

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UnitBuddy Team

Jan 24

Why Strata Insurance Premiums Have Skyrocketed: And What You Can Do About It

Strata insurance premiums have been the single biggest driver of levy increases. With premiums up 40-80% for many buildings since 2022, we explain the forces at play and the practical steps committees can take to fight back.

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UnitBuddy Team

Jan 22

Proxy Voting in Strata Meetings: How It Works and How It's Abused

Proxy voting is essential for strata democracy, but it's also one of the most commonly abused mechanisms. Learn how proxies work, what the 2025 reforms changed, and how to protect your building from proxy farming.

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UnitBuddy Team

Jan 19

How to Prepare for a Strata AGM

The AGM is where owners approve levies, elect the committee, question the budget and decide whether major work actually happens. The useful work starts before the meeting opens.

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UnitBuddy Team

Jan 16

How to Remove a Strata Committee Member: Your Rights as an Owner

Dealing with a problematic committee member? The 2025 NSW reforms made it easier to remove officers. These are the practical options, from ordinary resolutions to NCAT applications.

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UnitBuddy Team

Jan 14

What Strata Committee Members Can (and Can't) Do: A Plain-English Guide for 2026

Strata committees hold significant power over your building, but that power has limits. With the 2025 NSW reforms now in force and mandatory training coming in 2026, this guide explains what your committee can and can't do.

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UnitBuddy Team

Jan 11

Interactive Tools for Strata Owners: See Where Your Money Goes

Explore UnitBuddy's suite of interactive tools, from levy forecasters to maintenance trackers, designed to help apartment owners understand their building's finances and make informed decisions.

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UnitBuddy Team

Jan 8

The Rising Costs of Strata Living: What Australian Owners Need to Know in 2026

Strata levies have surged by 20-30% across many Australian buildings in the last two years alone. We break down the key cost drivers, from insurance to construction inflation, and what owners and committees can do about it.

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UnitBuddy Team

Jan 6

How to Read Your Strata Levy Notice

A levy notice is more than another quarterly bill. It shows how the building pays for daily operations, long-term repairs, insurance pressure and the choices owners have made at previous meetings.

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UnitBuddy Team