Rational to go national

There’s a wind of change blowing through strata, not just in NSW but the whole country. And despite Australia’s disparate strata laws, there’s a sense of a real opportunity to change things nationally.

It can’t happen too soon.  Within a few years more than half the population of our big cities will be living in strata.  Already, I’m told, more than half the real estate transactions – both sales and rentals – are in strata properties.

That’s all happening with the three major states – NSW, Victoria and Queensland having  strata laws that differ so wildly that you could believe they sat down and decided to do anything except what the other guys do.

Meanwhile, strata laws in West Australia, South Australia, the ACT, the Northern Territory and Tasmania are developing, often with what seems to be a contrary disregard for the experiences of the past 50 years on the East Coast.

Yet, despite the confusion at a local and national level, strata units remain the preferred choice for first-time home owners, newly arrived immigrants and downsizing empty nesters (three very vulnerable groups in strata terms).

And even if the politicians can’t agree on a single way forward, the guys at the pointy end – the strata managers – have joined forces to create one national body, Strata Communities Australia.

Now, they too have their issues – strata managers in West Australia don’t even have to be licensed, for instance – but at least they are joining forces so they can start singing off the same hymn sheet … eventually.

You can catch up with the latest developments at what looks like a truly interesting Lot Owners Forum, a full-day event as part of the Strata Community Australia (NSW) Annual Convention.  It’s on at Sydney Showground, Olympic Park, Homebush Bay on Saturday, October 8, tickets $44.  Go to THIS LINK for more details.

Before that, on Tuesday (September 20) you can join MC Indira Naidoo for the launch of the City of Sydney’s new Smart Green Apartments program.  To register (essential), go to THIS LINK for this free event at which your humble scribe will be on a panel.