UnitBuddy journal
Guides for better strata decisions.
Clear, useful reading for owners corporations and the people who run them.
113 guides
Guides
10 Myths About Strata Living in Australia
Ten beliefs that still circulate in Australian apartment buildings, and what the strata plan and the levy notice actually say. Written for owners and committees.
15 August 2026 · 13 min read
Repairs & Maintenance
Repainting a strata building: what the scaffold finds, who approves it, and who pays
A repaint is when someone gets close enough to every square metre of the facade to price what they find. This article uses verified tribunal cases, quoted project figures, and the rules in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland on who approves the work, who pays, and why a building within a kilometre of surf sits on a shorter coating cycle.
30 July 2026 · 19 min read
Disputes
Strata Dispute Costs Australia 2026: NCAT, VCAT, QCAT and Every State
The filing fee is only the beginning. This state-by-state guide explains where strata disputes go, what applications cost in 2026, when lawyers can appear and when you could be ordered to pay the other side's costs.
30 July 2026 · 23 min read
Disputes
Using AI for Strata Disputes: NCAT, VCAT and the Risk of Fake Law
Australians are using ChatGPT and other AI tools to prepare tribunal cases. The help is cheap and immediate, but invented authorities, altered evidence, privacy breaches and bloated submissions can damage a sound strata claim.
30 July 2026 · 19 min read
Finance & Levies
Admin Fund vs Sinking Fund: What Each One Pays For, State by State
Every Australian strata scheme runs two funds: one for the bills that arrive every year, one for the big works that arrive every decade. Most levy problems trace back to money sitting in the wrong one. Here is what belongs in each fund, how to sort the grey areas, and what the funds are called in every state and territory.
29 July 2026 · 15 min read
Repairs & Maintenance
Condensation, Mould and the $3,000 Deep Clean: Is It the Building, or the Way It's Being Lived In?
Mould appears through the apartment, condensation runs down the closed balcony doors, and someone quotes $3,000 for a deep clean. Before anyone pays, one question needs answering: is the moisture coming from the building, or from how the apartment is being lived in? The answer decides who is responsible, and whether the clean will last a month or a decade.
29 July 2026 · 16 min read
Disputes
By-Law Breaches in Strata: The Process, Who Pays, Who Decides, and What Evidence You Need (State by State)
A practical walkthrough of the by-law breach process in every Australian jurisdiction. Who issues the notice, what evidence you need, who pays for enforcement, and how far the process can go before it reaches a tribunal.
10 July 2026 · 20 min read
Guides
The New Owner's Guide to Strata
Every term, every concept, every trap a new apartment owner needs to know. How levies work, who fixes what, what the committee does, what to watch out for, and when to get help.
8 July 2026 · 16 min read
Finance & Levies
How to Reduce Strata Levies: A Committee's Practical Guide for Australian Apartment Buildings
How to reduce strata levies without short-changing your building. A practical guide covering insurance, management fees, energy, maintenance contracts, waste, capital works planning and income generation. Realistic savings ranges for each lever, and the political effort required.
30 June 2026 · 17 min read
Laws & By-Laws
What Happens If Structural Defects Appear After Completion? A State-by-State Guide for Australian Apartment Owners
What happens if structural defects appear after completion? Your apartment building has been flagged. Who pays, how long do you have to act, and what does your state's law actually say? A state by state guide with practical next steps.
30 June 2026 · 14 min read
Finance & Levies
What Is a Healthy Capital Works Fund? How to Tell If Your Building Has Enough Saved
What is a healthy capital works fund? Most owners never ask until a special levy lands. Here is how to check your building's fund, what the numbers actually mean, and how to spot underfunding before it becomes a problem.
30 June 2026 · 16 min read
Governance
When the Developer Still Controls Your Committee, What Can You Actually Do?
A developer who owns most of the lots can outvote every independent owner at every meeting. Australian strata laws have rules about this, but they vary by state and most owners never learn they exist until it is too late.
25 June 2026 · 14 min read
Repairs & Maintenance
Fire Inspections: Why NSW Strata AFSS Reports Don’t Always Match
Conflicting fire inspection reports are common in NSW strata buildings. This explains why AFSS results change, what AS 1851 means, and how committees can keep better records.
24 June 2026 · 13 min read
Governance
How to Get a Motion on the Strata Agenda or Push for a General Meeting
Owners do not have to wait politely for a committee to raise every issue. This guide explains how to turn a complaint into a workable motion, get it onto the agenda, and know when a general meeting is worth pushing for.
11 June 2026 · 18 min read
Finance & Levies
Special Levies in Strata: What Owners Can Do Before, During and After the Vote
A special levy is not just another quarterly bill. It usually means the building has run out of ordinary money for a specific problem. Here is how owners should read the papers, question the numbers, vote, and protect themselves afterward.
11 June 2026 · 18 min read
Finance & Levies
Unit Entitlements Explained: Why Your Strata Levies May Be Higher Than Your Neighbour's
Two owners can live in the same building and pay very different levies. Unit entitlements, lot liabilities and contribution schedules explain why. This guide shows how the numbers affect levies, voting and owner disputes.
11 June 2026 · 16 min read
Finance & Levies
What Happens If You Can't Pay Your Strata Levies?
Falling behind on strata levies can cost more than the original bill. This owner-focused guide explains voting rights, interest, payment plans, debt recovery, and the practical steps to take before the problem escalates.
11 June 2026 · 16 min read
Insurance
The Strata Insurance Landscape in Australia (2026): Providers, Prices and Sentiment
A clear map of the Australian strata insurance landscape: who the major underwriting agencies are (CHU, Strata Community Insurance, Flex, QUS, Longitude), what cover actually costs in 2026, an honest read on sentiment, and how your owners corporation can secure a competitive, well-matched policy.
10 June 2026 · 18 min read
Laws & By-Laws
Common Property Trees: Who Decides and Who Pays?
A tree on common property raises two questions every scheme eventually faces: who has the authority to act, and who carries the cost. The answers differ by state but rest on the same few principles.
1 June 2026 · 14 min read
Laws & By-Laws
NSW's 1 April 2026 Strata Changes: New Standard Forms and Embedded-Network Rules Explained
NSW's 1 April 2026 strata changes explained: new standard forms, the 10-year capital works plan, surveyor-certified IMS and embedded-network rules.
31 May 2026 · 15 min read
Insurance
Why Your Strata Insurance Keeps Rising in 2026
Strata premiums are up 30-50% while the building-defects crisis deepens. Here's why your renewal keeps climbing in 2026, and what your committee can do about it.
31 May 2026 · 13 min read
Repairs & Maintenance
Stormwater Pits and Roof Drainage: The Silent Capital Risk Lurking Below
A blocked driveway grate, a leaf-choked roof outlet, or a dead sump pump can turn a routine storm into a $30,000 to $200,000 basement-flood claim in an apartment building. The drainage system in a mid-rise strata scheme is out of sight, under-budgeted, and rarely tested. This is the pre-winter program, the capital items missing from most 10-year plans, and the maintenance evidence that turns a contested insurance claim into a paid one.
24 May 2026 · 12 min read
Repairs & Maintenance
Garage Doors and Boom Gates: The Small-Component Failure That Quietly Costs Strata Buildings the Most After Flexi Hoses
After flexi hoses, the second-largest small-component cost line in Australian apartment buildings is the garage door, boom gate and access-gate system at the entry. Each component costs under $10,000 to replace, but the consequences of failure (vehicle strikes, after-hours lockouts, snapped boom arms, dead readers) routinely produce five-figure annual spend. This is the failure-mode breakdown, the cost bands, and the six-component maintenance program that gets the cost down.
22 May 2026 · 11 min read
Repairs & Maintenance
Common-Area Lighting Retrofits: The LED and Sensor Payback Most Strata Buildings Underestimate
Common-area lights in a mid-rise apartment building burn through 80,000 to 150,000 kWh a year, and most of that load is a basement carpark lit at full output around the clock. A scoped LED and sensor retrofit typically pays back in 18 months to 3 years, halves the electricity line on the budget, and cuts the recurring lamp-replacement labour bill. This is what gets retrofitted, the worked payback math, the rebate landscape, and the specification traps that decide whether the job lasts five years or fifteen.
21 May 2026 · 10 min read
Finance & Levies
Making Money From Your Building: Roof Leases, Signage, EV Charging and the Other Revenue Levers Strata Buildings Miss
Roof space, roadside walls, basement power, parking bays, parcel lockers, function rooms — most strata buildings own income-producing assets that aren't earning. What each is worth in Australian capital cities, how the contracts work, and the traps that turn a good deal into a 15-year headache.
19 May 2026 · 12 min read
Repairs & Maintenance
Garbage Chutes in Apartment Buildings: Jams, Fires, Smells and the Notices That Actually Work
A garbage chute is the most-used piece of mechanical infrastructure in a residential building, and the least understood. Here is what causes the jams and fires that take chutes out of service, the cleaning and inspection program that prevents most of it, and copy-ready notices for red and yellow bin chutes that residents will actually read.
18 May 2026 · 10 min read
Repairs & Maintenance
Wet Wipes Are Costing Your Building Thousands a Year (And the Insurance Bill Is the Smaller Half)
A flushed wet wipe is the most expensive habit in modern apartment plumbing. Sewer-ejector pumps, macerators and stack lines all fail because of them. Here is what a single blockage actually costs, why "flushable" claims are misleading, and the building-wide response that works.
16 May 2026 · 9 min read
Disputes & Living
How to Actually Deal With a Noisy Neighbour in an Apartment Building
Before by-laws, before tribunals, before mediation: the resident-to-resident sequence that resolves most apartment noise disputes in a fortnight. What to say at the door, what to put in writing, when to escalate, and what evidence actually moves the needle.
15 May 2026 · 9 min read
Repairs & Maintenance
What an Apartment Building Actually Costs to Run: Plumbing, Pumps, Lifts, Gates and the Rest
Most levy debates happen without anyone in the room being able to list, in dollars, what the building actually spends on the boring stuff. This is the working catalogue: plumbing, booster pumps, lifts, gates, fire systems, switchboards, intercoms, common-area HVAC. Typical cost bands, what drives them, and the contracts behind them.
13 May 2026 · 11 min read
Repairs & Maintenance
Bathroom Waterproofing in Strata: Leaks, Falling Tiles and the State-by-State Rules for 2026
Waterproofing is the single biggest defect in Australian apartment buildings: 42 per cent of serious defects in NSW Class 2 stock and the largest line in most strata insurers' claims books. This is the practical state-by-state guide to what happens when your shower leaks, tiles fall off, or you want to renovate a wet area.
12 May 2026 · 14 min read
Repairs & Maintenance
Flexi Hoses: The $27,500 Apartment Claim Almost Everyone Could Prevent
An $8 piece of plumbing causes around one in five Australian water damage claims. Insurers are increasingly declining claims for hoses that show wear and tear. This is the lot vs common property responsibility, the maintenance program a committee should run, and why the cost ends up on the building's premium regardless of who burst the hose.
12 May 2026 · 11 min read
Laws & By-Laws
The Victorian Owners Corporations Act Review: What's in the Report Sitting With Government
The Victorian Government published its response to the Owners Corporations Act review in June 2026. A hardship and voting bill is before Parliament, manager education regulations commence on 25 November 2026, and the full Act rewrite is still not law. This is what has landed, what has not, and what committees should do now.
12 May 2026 · 16 min read
Buying & Selling
Collective Sales in Victoria: Why the 100% Unanimous Threshold Is About to Change
Victoria still requires 100% unanimous consent to sell a whole strata complex. The June 2026 government response supported a lower threshold only in principle. No amending bill has changed the number. This is what that means for owners in older Melbourne blocks, what to do if a developer approaches you, and why NSW’s 75% model is a comparison — not Victorian law.
11 May 2026 · 13 min read
Repairs & Maintenance
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.
10 May 2026 · 11 min read
Guides
Strata Living: A Plain-English Guide to Apartment Life in Australia for 2026
How apartment buildings actually work day to day in Australia: fobs, parcels, parking, balconies, bins, neighbours, lifts, lithium batteries and the legal lines hiding behind ordinary building life. State-by-state, written for residents and committees, not strata managers.
10 May 2026 · 16 min read
Laws & By-Laws
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.
10 May 2026 · 9 min read
Disputes & Living
Parcel Lockers, Food Deliveries and Package Theft in Apartment Buildings
Australian apartment buildings now move tens of millions of parcels a year through lobbies built for letters. Courier access, lockers, refrigerated bays, CCTV, theft claims, and the fixes committees can actually afford.
9 May 2026 · 13 min read
Disputes & Living
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.
9 May 2026 · 13 min read
Disputes & Living
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.
8 May 2026 · 12 min read
Disputes & Living
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.
8 May 2026 · 14 min read
Disputes & Living
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.
7 May 2026 · 13 min read
Sustainability & Technology
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.
7 May 2026 · 13 min read
Disputes & Living
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.
6 May 2026 · 13 min read
Disputes & Living
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.
6 May 2026 · 13 min read
Repairs & Maintenance
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.
5 May 2026 · 14 min read
Finance & Levies
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.
5 May 2026 · 11 min read
Guides
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.
5 May 2026 · 14 min read
Guides
Buying & Selling Strata Apartments in Australia: The Complete 2026 Guide
Everything Australian buyers, sellers, and investors need to know about strata apartments: strata reports, Section 184 certificates, capital works fund balances, defect history, and what to ask before settling. Across all 8 jurisdictions.
5 May 2026 · 14 min read
Repairs & Maintenance
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.
5 May 2026 · 13 min read
Finance & Levies
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.
5 May 2026 · 11 min read
Guides
Strata Committee Governance in Australia: A Plain-English Guide for 2026
How strata committees actually work in Australia: powers, limits, meetings, voting, removing members, and what the 2026 reforms have changed. State-by-state, written for committee members and owners, not strata managers.
5 May 2026 · 13 min read
Guides
Strata Disputes & Enforcement in Australia: A Complete Guide for Owners and Committees (2026)
How strata disputes actually get resolved in Australia: water leaks, defects, noise, mould, smoking, by-law breaches, and tribunal applications. State-by-state, written for the people whose problem it is, not the people paid to manage it.
5 May 2026 · 14 min read
Guides
Strata Finance & Levies in Australia: The Complete Committee Guide (2026)
Everything Australian strata committees and owners need to understand about levies, capital works funds, insurance, hidden fees, and the financial decisions that shape building life. State-by-state, plain English.
5 May 2026 · 14 min read
Guides
Sustainable Strata Buildings: The Complete Guide for Australian Apartments (2026)
Solar, EV charging, FOGO, embedded networks, lithium-ion safety, smart building tech: what works in Australian strata buildings, what's worth the levy hit, and what's mandated by 2026 reforms. State-by-state.
5 May 2026 · 17 min read
Guides
The 2026 NSW Strata Reform Hub: Every Date, Every Obligation, Every Building Affected
The complete reference for the 2026 NSW strata reforms: every commencement date, every committee obligation, every owner right that has changed, and what's still coming. Updated as the reforms roll out.
5 May 2026 · 17 min read
Insurance
What Does Strata Insurance Cover? A Plain-English Guide for Australian Apartment Owners (2026)
What does strata insurance cover? Everything from building structure and common property to original fixtures, public liability and office bearer cover. What's included, what's not, and how rules differ across all 8 states and territories.
5 May 2026 · 12 min read
Insurance
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.
5 May 2026 · 10 min read
Insurance
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.
5 May 2026 · 11 min read
Sustainability & Technology
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.
4 May 2026 · 32 min read
Laws & By-Laws
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.
3 May 2026 · 16 min read
Governance
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.
3 May 2026 · 17 min read
Finance & Levies
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.
30 April 2026 · 16 min read
Governance
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.
30 April 2026 · 17 min read
Governance
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.
30 April 2026 · 18 min read
Governance
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.
30 April 2026 · 17 min read
Laws & By-Laws
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.
30 April 2026 · 16 min read
Repairs & Maintenance
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.
29 April 2026 · 14 min read
Governance
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.
27 April 2026 · 13 min read
Buying & Selling
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.
24 April 2026 · 15 min read
Governance
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.
21 April 2026 · 14 min read
Buying & Selling
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.
18 April 2026 · 14 min read
Governance
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.
16 April 2026 · 9 min read
Governance
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.
16 April 2026 · 7 min read
Finance & Levies
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.
13 April 2026 · 11 min read
Laws & By-Laws
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.
13 April 2026 · 9 min read
Disputes
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.
10 April 2026 · 9 min read
Repairs & Maintenance
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.
8 April 2026 · 9 min read
Finance & Levies
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.
7 April 2026 · 9 min read
Disputes
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.
4 April 2026 · 8 min read
Governance
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.
4 April 2026 · 7 min read
Governance
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.
2 April 2026 · 8 min read
Repairs & Maintenance
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.
1 April 2026 · 9 min read
Sustainability & Technology
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.
26 March 2026 · 8 min read
Governance
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.
22 March 2026 · 9 min read
Buying & Selling
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.
18 March 2026 · 8 min read
Laws & By-Laws
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.
13 March 2026 · 9 min read
Repairs & Maintenance
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.
11 March 2026 · 8 min read
Insurance
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.
4 March 2026 · 9 min read
Finance & Levies
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.
4 March 2026 · 7 min read
Finance & Levies
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.
4 March 2026 · 8 min read
Laws & By-Laws
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.
19 February 2026 · 6 min read
Finance & Levies
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.
18 February 2026 · 6 min read
Buying & Selling
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.
17 February 2026 · 6 min read
Laws & By-Laws
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.
16 February 2026 · 6 min read
Disputes & Living
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.
15 February 2026 · 5 min read
Disputes & Living
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.
14 February 2026 · 6 min read
Sustainability & Technology
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.
12 February 2026 · 6 min read
Sustainability & Technology
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.
11 February 2026 · 6 min read
Sustainability & Technology
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.
9 February 2026 · 6 min read
Disputes & Rights
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.
7 February 2026 · 6 min read
Repairs & Maintenance
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.
5 February 2026 · 6 min read
Repairs & Maintenance
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.
3 February 2026 · 5 min read
Repairs & Maintenance
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.
1 February 2026 · 5 min read
Insurance
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.
30 January 2026 · 5 min read
Insurance
What Strata Insurance Actually Covers (And What It Doesn't): A State-by-State Breakdown
What does strata insurance cover in your state? This state-by-state breakdown shows how mandatory building insurance rules differ across NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA, TAS, ACT and NT.
27 January 2026 · 5 min read
Insurance
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.
24 January 2026 · 5 min read
Governance
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, how they differ from voting papers and company nominees, what the 2025 reforms changed, and how to protect your building from proxy farming.
22 January 2026 · 12 min read
Governance
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.
19 January 2026 · 6 min read
Governance
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.
16 January 2026 · 6 min read
Governance
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.
14 January 2026 · 6 min read
Guides
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.
11 January 2026 · 5 min read
Finance & Levies
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.
8 January 2026 · 5 min read
Finance & Levies
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.
6 January 2026 · 4 min read