Help and information
The government's own plain-English guidance for your scheme.
- NSW Government: StrataThe main NSW hub on strata living, committees, repairs, by-laws, AGMs and buying into a scheme.
- Strata committee trainingFree one-hour training that NSW committee members must complete. Check the deadline that applies to you.
- Strata by-lawsHow by-laws are made, changed and enforced in NSW.
Disputes
Where to go when something can't be sorted out at the committee table.
- Strata disputes (NSW Fair Trading)The steps for a strata dispute, including free Fair Trading mediation, which usually comes before NCAT.
- NCAT: Strata schemesHow to apply to the tribunal when mediation fails, what orders it can make, and the fees.
The law itself
The Acts, straight from the official legislation website.
- Strata Schemes Management Act 2015The main NSW strata law: committees, meetings, levies, by-laws and repairs.
- Strata Schemes Development Act 2015How schemes are created, changed, renewed and wound up.
Plans, titles and scheme documents
Where to search or order the scheme plan, title and registered by-laws.
- Strata searchFree search for a scheme's plan number, address, registration date and lots.
- NSW Land Registry Services onlineFind a title reference and order strata plans and title records.
Builders, trades and defects
Check a licence before you hire, and where to take defective work.
- Check a builder or tradesperson licenceMake sure a builder, plumber or electrician is licensed before you hire them.
- Verify a licence (public register)Look up a NSW trade licence and any disciplinary history.
- Building Commission NSW: defect complaintsFree complaint service for building defects, warranty time limits and rectification orders.
Also worth bookmarking
Other official pages committee members end up needing.
- Strata HubThe online portal for your scheme's annual report, capital works planning and finding a strata manager.
- Annual reportingWhat the yearly Strata Hub report needs, when it is due, and the fee.
- Safety rules for common propertyFire safety upkeep and the annual fire safety statement.
Official forms
Where your state has an official or prescribed form, use it. For everything else, use our free forms.
- Strata factsheets, forms and resourcesThe official NSW hub: proxy form, notice to comply, s184 certificate, capital works plan templates and more.
- Proxy appointment formAppoint someone to vote for you at a general meeting.
- Notice to comply with a by-lawThe formal notice to stop breaching a by-law.
- Request for payment plan (Form 1)The prescribed form an owner uses to ask for a levy payment plan.
- Section 184 certificateThe approved certificate for buyers about levies, records and the lot.
- NCAT strata applicationTribunal forms, including the strata and community schemes application.
- NSW statutory declarationThe statutory declaration form for body corporate matters in New South Wales.
Strata managers in New South Wales
Thinking about changing managers? Start with these. Changing manager is usually a decision for a general meeting, and your current agreement sets out the notice period, so check both before you sign anything new.
Finders and registers
- Strata Manager Finder (NSW Government)Free search of NSW strata managing agents, with licence status.
- Verify NSW: property licence checkConfirm a strata managing agent's licence and any disciplinary history.
- SCA Strata DirectoryThe Strata Community Association's national directory of member strata managers and suppliers.
Strata management companies, A to Z
| Company | Areas they list |
|---|---|
| Ace Body Corporate Management | Sydney metro, Central Coast, Albury, Coffs Harbour, Northern Rivers |
| BCS Strata (PICA Group) | Sydney, Central Coast, Newcastle, Illawarra, Tweed Heads |
| Bright & Duggan | Sydney, Newcastle, Port Macquarie and regional NSW |
| Jamesons Strata Management | Sydney, Illawarra, Newcastle, Northern Rivers, Coffs Harbour |
| Netstrata | Sydney, Parramatta, Wollongong, Newcastle |
| Strata Choice | Sydney and across NSW |
| Strata Management Services NSW | Sydney (Alexandria and Cronulla), across NSW |
| Strata Plus | Sydney, Parramatta, Newcastle, Port Stephens, Tweed Heads |
| Strata Title Management | Sydney and regional NSW |
| The Strata Collective | Sydney |
Listed alphabetically. No company paid to be listed and none is recommended over another. Get at least three quotes and ask each one what is included in the base fee.
Local reading
Owner groups, the industry body and law firms that publish free plain-English articles for New South Wales.
- Owners Corporation NetworkIndependent owner advocacy with free learning pages and fact sheets. Strongest in NSW.
- SCA NSW: resources for strata ownersFree owner newsletters and a 'Who's Responsible' guide.
- SCA NSW: strata owner FAQsFree answers on levies, budgets, committee duties, meetings, insurance and repairs.
- Bannermans Lawyers: strata articlesFrequent plain-English NSW strata articles.
- JS Mueller & Co: strata law changesClear explainers on the latest NSW strata reforms.
- Thoughts from a strata lawyerLong-running NSW strata blog on proxies, meetings and community title.
- LookUpStrata: NSW building defects guideDefect time limits, warranties and the steps committees should take.
For news, forums and podcasts from across Australia, see what owners are talking about.
Want it all explained in one place?
The New South Wales edition of The Committee Member Handbook walks through the job in plain English, written for NSW's own law.