These new powers will allow the regulator to intervene in cases where owners corporations defer action due to costs or individual owners delay repairs that would benefit other lot owners. By enabling Fair Trading to investigate and issue compliance notices, the reforms aim to ensure that maintenance responsibilities are upheld, thereby improving the overall condition and safety of strata properties.
Leanne Habib, CEO of management agency Premium Strata, highlighted the significance of these changes, noting that they will be particularly useful in extreme circumstances where an owners corporation is not taking reasonable steps to maintain the property. The ability for Fair Trading to intervene is expected to prompt more proactive maintenance practices among owners corporations.
From an insurance perspective, the failure to maintain properties can exacerbate issues with a building, affecting insurability and leading to higher premiums over time. Kimberley Jonsson, CEO of CHU, Australia's largest strata insurance underwriting agency, emphasised that these reforms should help ensure commonsense decisions are made when there is dissension among owners, ultimately benefiting the strata community as a whole.
These reforms are part of a broader effort by the NSW government to enhance transparency, accountability, and financial management within strata schemes. By granting Fair Trading increased authority to enforce maintenance compliance, the government aims to protect the interests of property owners and ensure the longevity and safety of strata-titled properties across the state.
