levies Archives - Owners Corporation Network

NSW Urged to Push Through Strata Commission Ban

OCN Executive Director2025-04-08T16:15:44+10:00

Strata owner and consumer groups have urged the NSW government to press ahead with the removal of strata manager insurance commissions. The proposed reforms are needed to restore trust and transparency, the Owners Corporation Network and the Australian Consumers Insurance Lobby say. A letter to Better Regulation and Fair Trading Minister Anoulack Chanthivong and NSW Fair Trading commissioner Natasha Mann argues banning the commissions will level the playing field. “Consumers will be able [...]

NSW Urged to Push Through Strata Commission BanOCN Executive Director2025-04-08T16:15:44+10:00

Strata Commission Ban Sparks Clash Between Advocates and Industry

OCN Executive Director2025-04-08T16:09:39+10:00

Consumer advocacy groups are calling on the New South Wales government to proceed with its proposed ban on strata insurance commissions, arguing the reform is essential to addressing conflicts of interest and restoring trust in the sector. The Owners Corporation Network (OCN) and the Australian Consumers Insurance Lobby Inc (ACIL) have jointly urged policymakers not to abandon the reform, despite growing resistance from within the strata management industry. The pushback follows [...]

Strata Commission Ban Sparks Clash Between Advocates and IndustryOCN Executive Director2025-04-08T16:09:39+10:00

How apartment owners are being ripped off….

Jane McIlroy2024-09-11T11:56:12+10:00

Here's today's media UPDATE ABC Four Corners:> VIEW THE FULL EPISODE HERE ABC News: How apartment owners are being ripped off> http://ABC News Daily: How Apartment Owners Are Being Ripped Off ACCC Chair calls for a ban on Strata Insurance Commissions:> ABC News today Brokers and advocates call for public strata inquiry:> Call for a public inquiryAnd in the interest of fairness, Steadfast's response:> https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/au/news/breaking-news/steadfast-on-abc-strata-investigation-we-refute-the-allegations-504852.aspx Plus there's more Top consumer groups say 'it's [...]

How apartment owners are being ripped off….Jane McIlroy2024-09-11T11:56:12+10:00

Victorian HighLife Expo: listening to the voices of residential strata

Jane McIlroy2024-08-06T18:17:57+10:00

The recent HighLife Victoria Expo featured a range of activities, including webinars, stalls, and forums – along with a Listening Post. Operated by the Owners’ Corporation Network (OCN) and Strata Community Association (SCA) Victoria, this initiative gathered insights from expo attendees – owners, tenants and committee members – regarding their most pressing issues and desires for change within the residential strata sector. Read article:> https://www.docklandsnews.com.au/highlife-expo-listening-to-the-voices-of-residential-strata/

Victorian HighLife Expo: listening to the voices of residential strataJane McIlroy2024-08-06T18:17:57+10:00

Impact of Climate Risk on Insurance Premiums and Availability

OCN Executive Director2024-12-02T18:05:31+11:00

OCN made a detailed submission to the Senate Inquiry into the impact of climate risk on insurance availability and affordability, focusing on the undetected concentration of the strata insurance sector. We propose that the climate change narrative has masked an escalation in intermediary fees, commissions and profits. The compulsory aspect of strata insurance means it could be considered a form of state insurance, like motor liability or workers compensation, but states [...]

Impact of Climate Risk on Insurance Premiums and AvailabilityOCN Executive Director2024-12-02T18:05:31+11:00

Apartment owners being ‘penalised’ for other buildings’ defects

OCN Executive Director2024-08-06T18:12:49+10:00

Sky News host James Macpherson says the poor quality of strata apartment buildings is “killing owners”. His comments come as a new report from the New South Wales government, which looked at 600 new or near new strata buildings, and found 53 per cent of them had serious or major defects within six years of being built. “Even if they don’t have defects in their building,” he said. “The Owners Corporation [...]

Apartment owners being ‘penalised’ for other buildings’ defectsOCN Executive Director2024-08-06T18:12:49+10:00

Dire warning for Aussies in apartments

OCN Executive Director2024-05-06T19:01:29+10:00

Australians who’ve tried to escape colossal house prices by living in an apartment face another looming disaster. Amid challenging circumstances for prospective home buyers, purchasing an apartment or a unit has been a viable means of escaping the rental crisis for many, but it has also proven to be a strategy that comes with potential downsides of its own, such as: Building defects Rising cost of repairs Rising cost of insurance [...]

Dire warning for Aussies in apartmentsOCN Executive Director2024-05-06T19:01:29+10:00

Strata reforms send bills soaring from just $5,000 to $60,000

OCN Executive Director2024-04-12T16:37:22+10:00

9 APRIL 2024 In response to emergency evacuations the NSW government response was the NSW Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020, which imposes complex obligations on practitioners and builders to ensure safeguards. An overarching law, the same regulations apply to new buildings as existing ones. NSW is the only state to enforce such rigour. Patch repairs to mixed-use buildings and strata apartments – the fastest-growing form of Australian property ownership – [...]

Strata reforms send bills soaring from just $5,000 to $60,000OCN Executive Director2024-04-12T16:37:22+10:00

‘Unjust and unfair’: How Karen nearly lost everything to strata debt

OCN Executive Director2024-03-28T11:50:16+11:00

3 MARCH 2024 Karen Go was nearly made bankrupt two years ago by the strata manager of her block of flats in Sydney’s east over nearly $20,000 in strata levies and legal fees. She was one of 306 NSW residents, or more than one a week, who faced forced bankruptcy proceedings from strata debt between 2019 and 2023, a legal process that means they can lose their homes over debts as low [...]

‘Unjust and unfair’: How Karen nearly lost everything to strata debtOCN Executive Director2024-03-28T11:50:16+11:00

Strata committees can cause grief for apartment owners. Here’s where conflict starts, and how to avoid it.

OCN Executive Director2023-09-28T14:05:10+10:00

28 SEPTEMBER 2023 There are almost 3 million apartments or townhouses around the country that have one thing in common: they're covered by a strata scheme. It means the people who own those properties pay regular strata fees to cover any costs related to shared space. Strata committees — elected volunteer owners — make day-to-day decisions about things like building maintenance, repairs, renovations and other big-ticket items. They're important decisions. But strata committees [...]

Strata committees can cause grief for apartment owners. Here’s where conflict starts, and how to avoid it.OCN Executive Director2023-09-28T14:05:10+10:00