Can an owners corporation appoint a strata manager?
Yes. In New South Wales, an owners corporation can appoint a licensed strata manager to handle some or all of its administrative and financial duties. Smaller schemes may choose self-management, but hiring a professional ensures legal compliance and smooth operations.
What Strata Management Involves
- Professional strata managers: A licensed strata managing agent can provide expert services for your strata scheme.
- Self-managed strata: For small buildings, the owners corporation may decide to manage the scheme themselves.
- Customised duties: Through a negotiated strata management agreement, the owners corporation decides which tasks—such as financial management or property maintenance—the manager will handle.
Key Tasks of a Strata Manager
- Meetings: Organising and conducting Annual General Meetings (AGMs) and committee meetings.
- Finances: Managing budgets, issuing levy notices, paying invoices, and arranging insurance.
- Property maintenance: Coordinating repairs and upkeep for common property.
- Compliance & advice: Guiding the owners corporation on legal obligations and complex strata issues.
How to Appoint a Strata Manager in NSW
- Vote at a meeting: Pass a majority vote at an AGM or extraordinary general meeting.
- Select a manager & review the agreement: Choose a strata manager, review their draft contract carefully, and negotiate terms if needed.
- Provide proper notice: Attach the draft management agreement to the meeting agenda so all owners can review it before voting.